Nollywood producer Biodun Stephen has pushed back against critics who claim film producers are responsible for the strain intimate scenes place on actors’ personal lives. In a recent video posted to Instagram, Stephen argued that managing marital boundaries is the personal responsibility of both the actor and their partner.
Addressing complaints regarding on-screen kissing, Stephen emphasized that performers understand the demands of the industry before accepting roles. She pointed out that actors retain the agency to reject scenes that conflict with their personal values, noting that she often respects such boundaries while filming. However, she maintained that when a story requires romantic intimacy to ensure believability, she will include it to preserve the artistic integrity of the project.
According to Stephen, the burden of maintaining a marriage belongs to the individuals involved, not the production team. She stressed that her primary obligation as a professional is to ensure performers are treated with respect and presented in a positive light, rather than micromanaging their domestic situations. She concluded that no actor is forced to perform against their will, and it is unreasonable to blame directors for the personal complications that arise from a professional career in entertainment.
