NIGERIA: Ini Edo begs Censors Board as CAN kicks against ‘A very dirty Christmas’NOLLYWOOD actress and filmmaker Ini Edo has made an emotional appeal to the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to allow her latest movie, A Very Dirty Christmas, remain in cinemas amid mounting criticism from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the film’s title.
In a video posted on her verified Instagram page, the actress pleaded with the authorities to consider the context of the film, urging them to watch it before taking any regulatory action and insisting that the title was symbolic rather than an attempt to offend the Christian faith or God.
“I’m just begging to say, please, I did take money from investors to do this film. If you pull it just because of the title, perhaps you should see the film. If it dishonours Christians in any way, if it dishonours God in any way, I will pull it,” Edo said.
She further appealed to religious leaders and authorities to judge the film based on its content rather than its title alone.
“All I’m begging you, my fathers and my mothers; go and watch this film and see if it degrades Christians and God. If it does, I will pull it,” she added.
Edo explained that the title was chosen to tell a story and provoke conversations, noting that there was no malicious intent behind it. According to her, no objections were raised at the time the title was selected, adding that she would not have gone ahead with the project if she believed it would offend religious sensibilities.
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“If I had any reservation from anywhere, we would not have used the title. I would never have been a part of anything that I would have felt like it would dishonour God, because the only reason why I’m here is because of God,” she said.
The film, produced by the Akwa Ibom-born actress, has drawn criticism from CAN, which described the title as offensive to the Christian faith. The association said Christmas is a sacred season marking the birth of Jesus Christ and symbolising purity, peace, love and redemption, arguing that associating it with the word “dirty” diminishes its spiritual significance.
CAN called on the producers and promoters of the film to reconsider the title, issue a public apology, and take steps to ensure that religious symbols and sacred seasons are treated with due respect. Responding to the backlash, Edo, who described herself as a devout Christian, apologised to anyone offended by the movie’s title, maintaining that there was no deliberate attempt to insult the Christian faith.
She said efforts were being made to address the concerns raised, including the possibility of changing the title. Meanwhile, the National Film and Video Censors Board said the film was duly approved and classified after undergoing the prescribed censorship process.
The board added that while it reserves the right to withdraw any film for further review in the public interest, the movie was cleared after being examined within its narrative and thematic context by the Film Censorship Committee.