Nollywood actress Dayo Amusa has publicly refuted claims that she is living with HIV, after a viral video by a content creator falsely named her among Nigerian actors said to be HIV positive. Amusa, known for her roles in both Yoruba and English-language films, addressed the controversy in a video statement posted on her Instagram page.
The Origin of the Rumour
- The claims surfaced when a content creator referenced a 2019 social media post by Amusa, in which she discussed her HIV status.
- Amusa clarified that her original post was meant to educate the public on HIV awareness and encourage people to check their status, emphasizing that her test at the time was negative.
The actress expressed shock and disappointment at the misrepresentation of her post, stating that she is HIV negative and that the viral video was a distortion motivated by sensationalism.
She warned that she intends to take legal action against the individual responsible, hoping to set a precedent against the spread of false information.-
In her words:
“The purpose of that post was to educate people on the importance of knowing their HIV status. It’s shocking that someone picked it and enlisted me with others, claiming we are HIV positive without any proper investigation. I am not going to let this slide. I will make you a scapegoat”.
The rumour has drawn widespread criticism from both fans and fellow industry professionals, who condemned the irresponsible dissemination of unverified information.
Amusa has emphasized the emotional impact such rumours have not only on her but also on her family and supporters, highlighting the broader harms caused by the spread of misinformation online.
In 2019, Amusa shared her negative HIV result to promote public health education, stating that knowing one’s status is important and that being positive should not be stigmatized, as treatment and support are available.
The actress has reaffirmed that her status remains negative and encouraged the public to resist stigmatization associated with HIV status disclosure.
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