Ini Edo Officially Addresses CAN About Her Controversial Christmas Movie

Nollywood actress Ini Edo has continued to actively promote her latest film, A Very Dirty Christmas, despite the controversy surrounding its title and objections raised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The controversy began after CAN described the film’s title as offensive and disrespectful to the Christian faith. In a statement signed by its President, Daniel Okoh, the association questioned the appropriateness of linking Christmas with the word “dirty” and called on relevant authorities to intervene.

In response, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), through its Director General, Shaibu Husseini, acknowledged CAN’s concerns. While noting that the movie had initially passed all required legal and regulatory processes, Husseini disclosed during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the board has now directed the filmmaker to modify the movie’s title. He emphasized that beyond technical approvals, the NFVCB has a responsibility to promote mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.

Despite the directive, Ini Edo has not publicly addressed the instruction. Instead, she has continued to promote the film since its cinema release on Thursday, December 18. The 43-year-old actress has shared several promotional posts on her Instagram page, encouraging fans to see the movie in cinemas nationwide.

Responding to the criticism in a statement, Ini Edo explained that the film was designed to spark conversation and reflect real-life human experiences. She stated that art often employs contrast to provoke thought and reflection, adding that the movie’s title is metaphorical and aligned with the story’s themes.

The actress also stressed that all necessary approvals were obtained prior to the film’s release, including clearance from the NFVCB and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC). She expressed surprise that objections only surfaced after the movie’s release, despite the title being widely promoted across various media platforms for some time.