Actress and podcaster Biola Adebayo has apologised following the backlash trailing her recent interview with convicted actor Baba Ijesha, stating that her role was strictly professional and not intended to defend his actions.
“I would never enable anybody. The interview was not to exonerate Baba Ijesha or to agree with whatever he was saying. I would never be an accomplice to a paedophile or a rapist,” Adebayo said in an Instagram video on Tuesday, explaining that she was simply doing her job and asking difficult questions.
The popular podcaster has deleted the interview from her page too.
However, her apology has done little to calm criticism, particularly from actress and comedian Princess, who has strongly condemned the interview, describing it as insensitive and harmful to the victim and her family.
In an emotional Instagram video, Princess questioned Adebayo’s decision to offer a platform to Baba Ijesha, especially given her own claims of being a survivor.
“You said you have also been a victim of rape. Would you, Biola, be confident if the person you claimed raped you — because I’m going to use ‘claim’ now — went on TV many years after assaulting you and starts casting aspersions on your family, saying Biola lied? How would you feel? Would you feel good?
“Since it’s not you and it’s not your child, it’s okay. Since it’s for views and it’s for money, it’s okay. Since it’s something that will bring people to your page, to your channel, it’s okay. You didn’t stop to think that the child in question is the child of a colleague and an acquaintance.
“Nobody puts a gun to your head that you should upload that video. You have my number. We have spoken on the phone. You have never for once stood by me during the problem or asked after the child.
“You are not a Christian, Biola. You are not a Christian, because if you were a Christian, you would not be looking for a way to cause pain and damage to a fellow human being, to a child. You will work, you will make your money, you will do your interviews, but you will know where to draw the line. Biola Adebayo, you are wicked and you are insensitive,” Princess said.
She added that the fallout from the interview has triggered renewed harassment online.
“Since that video you did came out, people have continuously trolled, insulted me, sent me messages that I’ve just been blocking, blocking,” Princess said.
Baba Ijesha was convicted in 2022 for sexual assault and indecent treatment of a child and is currently listed on Lagos State’s Sexual Offenders Register.
The court sentenced him to five years and three years imprisonment to be served concurrently.
Last month, the actor released a 10-minute track titled ‘Eniware Daran’ to explain his side of the story.