Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson is getting flak for a video that went viral.
A video going popular showed Nollywood star Mercy Johnson rallying support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. This put her in the middle of a controversy. The well-known actress has had a good image in Nigerian entertainment for a long time. However, her public support for the political party is now getting her a lot of negative feedback from fans and people on social media.
It’s clear from the video that Johnson really wants the people of Edo State to vote for the APC in the future elections. It’s usual for famous people in Nigeria to support a political candidate, but Mercy Johnson’s video caused a huge backlash that no one saw coming. Some people say that her support for the APC, which is currently being criticised for a number of problems with how Nigeria is run, goes against what ordinary Nigerians want and feel, especially her fans who don’t feel linked to the political elite.
There were a lot of different responses on social media right away. Some fans were upset that the actress openly joined a political party. They said they had long admired her work and values and now felt let down by her choice. Many people think that Mercy Johnson’s change from an entertainer to a political supporter has made it harder to tell the difference between political views and celebrity impact, making her fans feel betrayed.
Not all comments, though, were bad. The APC and people who believe Johnson has the right to say what she thinks about politics defended her, saying that celebs, like everyone else, can speak out for political causes. These fans claimed that the backlash against the actress was unfair and based on a lack of understanding about the choices she made for herself. These people saw Johnson’s involvement in politics as an example of her duty to the community and an inspiration for others to do the same.
The harsh criticism has not gone away, even with these defences. Many people on social media have said that Mercy Johnson doesn’t understand the problems that regular Nigerians are facing. This shows that there are a lot of worries about the APC’s leadership at both the state and national levels. People don’t like how the party acts on problems like the economy, unemployment, and safety. Because of this, some people see the actress’s support as support for the status quo, which they see as not meeting the needs of the people.
People are also arguing again about the role of celebrities in politics because of the scandal. In Nigeria, artists, musicians, and other famous people often have a lot of power over their fans, and the political views they support can change people’s minds. But it’s still not clear if their fame should be used to change political choices, especially since their fans might not agree with them.
As Mercy Johnson deals with the effects of the film, the road ahead may not be easy. Even though she hasn’t said anything in public yet