Juliet Kings, the mother and manager of teen actress Angel Unigwe, has responded to allegations of unprofessional conduct and contract breaches made by veteran actor Kanayo O. Kanayo.
Kanayo accused “Kings of breaching contracts and holding producers to ransom in a video posted on his Instagram page.”
He also threatened to disrupt any movie production involving Unigwe and warned producers against employing her.
Kings dismissed Kanayo’s claims as baseless falsehoods and announced that legal action has been initiated against him.
“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,” she stated.
She added that their lawyers have been contacted and legal steps have been taken to address Kanayo’s defamatory remarks and threats.
“We have since taken legal steps to address these defamatory 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,” Kings said.
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Kings called on security agencies and organizations to protect her and her daughter from aggression, thuggery, and vandalism. She urged the public to disregard Kanayo’s allegations and support their stance against cyberbullying and harassment.
“We must stand together against this kind of injustice and ensure a safe and respectful working environment for all professionals in the industry,” she added.
Kings also labeled Kanayo’s statements and threats as cyberbullying, causing emotional distress for her and her daughter.
She highlighted that “these threats reflect a broader issue of gender-based oppression, emphasizing that they have faced derogatory and defamatory remarks because they insisted on compliance with the terms of the agreement.”
“It’s disheartening to see such behaviour in an industry that should be built on mutual respect and professionalism,” she said.
To clarify the situation, Kings stated that Unigwe’s filming hours have always been twelve hours per day, depending on the producer’s schedule. She stressed that her daughter holds the terms of any contract she enters into as sacred and is fully committed to fulfilling all lawful obligations.
According to Kings, “Unigwe participated in a film project from June 17 to June 19, 2024, under clear and agreed terms, including a daily wrap time of 9:00 p.m.”
Despite the agreed wrap-up time, Unigwe accommodated an additional forty-five to fifty minutes of filming on the final production day in the spirit of goodwill.
“Upon completion of the shoot, we left the location without protest from the director or the production manager, having performed our obligations,” Kings noted.
She expressed shock at Kanayo’s allegations and threats, stating that they jeopardize Unigwe’s safety and rights.
“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,” Kings said.
In response, Kanayo told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday that he has not received any court order and will respond when he does.
“I’m unaware of any letter (court order). Don’t forget I’m a lawyer, so I will respond when she brings it up. I haven’t received anything, but I’m waiting. I want to get it done the minute she brings it,” he said.