Actress Victoria Inyama has apologised to the public following backlash over her comments on female circumcision.
The controversy began after an Instagram live session with media personality Daddy Freeze where she spoke about her experience and expressed support for the practice, describing it as beneficial to her.
Her remarks drew criticism from many who said the practice is harmful and should not be encouraged.
In a video shared on Daddy Freeze’s Instagram page, Victoria said she had been uninformed about the issue and acknowledged the reactions she received.
She said conversations with a midwife and people close to her helped her understand the seriousness of the issue, noting that her experience differed from what many girls and women face.
“A few weeks ago, on a talk show with Daddy Freeze, we were talking about issues like we always do, and I was just mentioning the root cause of certain issues and what I think or why I think it was done at that time. That’s where the FGM thing came up. Our ancestors thought that female circumcision would control the urges of women; unfortunately, I didn’t know the gravity of what it is in most places. FGM is bad. A midwife called me to explain this, and now I understand. It is nothing like what I went through; I never knew they stitched and thought it was just the basics. Even my prophetess in church, who is like my mother, told me she was in the hospital for a week over her episode, and she was only 15. For that to have happened to her and to everybody out there, I am sorry if my argument and comment came across as uninformed. Yes, I was totally uninformed about this FGM thing; now I am informed. So, now I am going to do better”.
Female genital mutilation is widely condemned by organisations such as the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund due to its health risks.
In Nigeria, the practice is banned under the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, although it still occurs in some communities. Victoria said she will be more informed in future discussions.
