Veteran Nollywood actress Ngozi Nwosu has opened up about surviving domestic abuse in her former marriage, revealing that she suffered physical violence even during pregnancy.
Speaking on Real Life Matters With Aunty Ayo, a podcast hosted by actress Ayo Adesanya, Nwosu said she no longer views marriage as a “do-or-die affair” and urged women to prioritize their safety over societal expectations.
“I don’t believe marriage is a do-or-die affair,” she said.
The actress condemned the trend of people trivializing abuse on social media, stressing that those who have experienced real violence would know that survival, not publicity, becomes the priority.
“There’s this notion I want to correct people go on social media to post pictures saying, ‘He slapped me, he did this, he did that.’ When you see real beating, correct pummeling, you won’t even remember social media. You’ll forget about it and start struggling for your life.”
Nwosu revealed that she silently endured abuse in her marriage and chose not to make her struggles public at the time.
“I have not told people until now the kind of domestic violence I went through in marriage. Even when the press came after me, I told them I didn’t want to wash my dirty linen in public. It was well while it lasted, but I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience, the actress disclosed that she had initially decided to walk away from her wedding because of abuse but was persuaded to stay.
“He beat me even in pregnancy, and I said this marriage is a no-no for me. My senior sister knelt down and begged me, saying he was sorry and asking what the world would say.
I agreed, but once beaten will always be beaten. If you take it once, you must be ready to take it for the rest of your life.”
Expressing sympathy for women in similar situations, Nwosu referenced the late gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu, whose death was linked to domestic violence, urging women to leave before it’s too late.
“When this thing is too much, you have to move. It’s your life we are talking about here, not that person’s life,” she added.
Through her story, Ngozi Nwosu joins other women in the entertainment industry using their voices to raise awareness about domestic violence and the importance of self-preservation.