Angel Unigwe’s Mother Denies Kanayo’s Allegations, Threatens To Take Legal Action

Juliet Unigwe, the mother of Nollywood teen actress Angel Unigwe, has denied the recent allegations made by veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo.

KanyiDaily recalls that Kanayo O Kanayo recently accused Angel Unigwe and her mother of breaching a contract.

In a video, Kanayo said that Angel Unigwe’s mother has a habit of violating agreements with movie producers after receiving payment.

The actor explained the nature of their agreement and warned movie producers not to engage Angel Unigwe for any film projects from July 2024.

He threatened to disrupt the production of any set that hires her, stating that he would personally ensure filming does not proceed if his warning is ignored.

This, he said, was a necessary measure to protect the integrity and smooth operation of the entertainment industry in Nigeria.

In a statement on Monday night, Angel Unigwe’s management responded to Kanayo’s accusations about Angel’s failure to meet contractual obligations for a film project.

The actress’ mother refuted these claims, emphasizing their adherence to the agreed filming schedule and expressing shock at Kanayo’s unfounded allegations.

The statement condemned the actor’s threats and highlighted the emotional distress caused to Angel.

Juliet Unigwe noted that legal action is being pursued to address the defamatory remarks and threats.

She described the issue as gender-based oppression, and urged the public to support them against cyberbullying and harassment.

It reads, “Statement Regarding False and Defamatory Statements Made Against Angel Onyi Unigwe by Kanayo O. Kanayo

“I am Chef Juliet Kings, the manager of Angel Onyi Unigwe. We have seen a video making the rounds on certain social media platforms, wherein I and Angel Onyi Unigwe of defaulting on our contractual obligations, particularly with respect to a movie production in which Mr. Kanayo O. Kanayo is involved; which video has led to several calls and messages of concern from our friends and professional colleagues.

‘First, we wish to state categorically and for the public record that as professionals, we hold sacred the terms of any contract we enter into and we are fully committed to performing all lawful obligations required of us under such contracts and as such, we vehemently deny the false accusations and slanderous statements contained in Mr. Kanayo’s video.

“We want to assure the public that we have done no such thing and are deeply hurt by these unfounded allegations.

“As a background to the events that led to this, between the 17th of June 2024 and the 19th of June 2024, Miss Unigwe participated in a film project under clear and agreed terms, most important of all being a daily wrap time of 9pm.

“Despite our concerns about the feasibility of filming fifty-seven (57) scenes in three (3) days, we proceeded based on the assurances we received from Mr. Kanayo O. Kanayo and his director, in person of Ndifreke Matthew, that the three days period will be sufficient for shooting and that the talent’s shooting time of 12 hours starting from 9am to 9pm is acceptable to them, moreso there will be no extension considering her prior engagement.

‘On the final day, despite the agreed terms regarding wrap up time of 9pm, we accommodated an additional 45-50 minutes of filming beyond the agreed time, which was done out of the spirit of goodwill and understanding that had existed between us, Mr. Kanayo and the film Director.

“Upon completion of the shoot, we left the location without protest from the director or the production Manager Mr Cosmos Nwaihe, having performed our obligations.

“It therefore came as a rude shock to learn of and more importantly watch and listen to the false, unfounded and slanderous statements attributed to Mr. Kanayo in the video in question, calling into question our professional ethics and more importantly threatening the very safety and right to dignity of Miss Unigwe, by threatening to disrupt and cause chaos at any set where she intends to work.

“These statements and threats, disseminated via video and social media platforms, are tantamount to an attempt at cyber bullying, they are entirely unfounded and have caused significant emotional distress to Angel and I.

“To clarify, there has never been any prior issue between Angel, myself, and Mr. Kanayo. In fact, I have long been a fan of Mr. Kanayo, which makes his defamatory video all the more shocking and hurtful. His actions have deeply wounded us, as we always held him in high regard.

“This situation highlights a broader issue of gender-based oppression, as we have been subjected to derogatory and defamatory remarks simply because we stood our ground and insisted on compliance with the terms of the agreement all parties had freely entered into.

“It is disheartening to see such behavior in an industry that should be built on mutual respect and professionalism and even more shocking from an individual who we hold in high esteem and is considered a veteran of the industry.

“In view of the above, we wish to reiterate our support for and firm stance against such unjust treatment and bullying tactics. Angel’s health, safety, and professional integrity remain our top priorities, and we will not tolerate any attempts to intimidate or defame her. Angel’s filming hours have always been and remain twelve (12) hours per day, depending on the producer’s timing.

“We would like to assure our friends and supporters that we have since taken legal steps to address these defamatory and slanderous utterances, as well as the threats against Miss Unigwe’s safety and we fully intend to follow the process to a logical conclusion. We are also exploring further legal action to ensure accountability and justice in this matter, as we will not be bullied in any manner or form.

“We urge the public to disregard the baseless falsehoods being spread and support us in standing against this new but not uncommon actions of cyber bullying and harassment.

“As stated above, our lawyers have been engaged and we now sieze this medium to call on all relevant security agencies and organizations to assist in protecting Miss Unigwe and I from any acts of aggression, thuggery, vandalism from any quarters and ensuring the safety and sanity of this industry.

“It is imperative that we stand together against this kind of injustice and ensure a safe and respectful working environment for all professionals in the industry.

“Miss Unigwe is a young, talented actress with a bright future ahead of her. It is heartbreaking to see her subjected to such treatment. We hope that by bringing this issue to light, we can prevent others from experiencing similar injustices.

“We ask for your support and understanding as we navigate through this difficult time. Thank you for your support and understanding.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Kanayo O. Kanayo recently celebrated his son Clinton Mbaise’s entry into the filmmaking world by accepting his first paycheck from a movie production and offering paternal blessings.