Beninoise actress/musician, Ella Martins has decried the rumours that she and Nollywood starlet, Genevieve are lesbians just because they were seen on camera kissing.
She explains the scandalous effect the rumour has had on her family and career in this new interview with Vanguard’s Potpourri.
Excerpts:
What are you working on now?
My new album and my new single is Baby Chocolate. It is my fourth album as an artiste.
Is there anything bothering you?
I wanted to have an interview especialy after the allegation of lesbianism between me and Genevieve Nnaji
You became popular in Nigeria after that allegation of lesbianism between you and Genevieve. How did that little scandal affect you and your career?
Yes, it has affected my emotional life, because everybody now believes I am in a relationship with Genny and my family is not happy about it. It has really affected my career and image at home.
Have you had any similar issue back home before then?
I have never been tagged that before. It is something that is completely new to me. There has never been a time I was accused of being a lesbian. One little thing happened about me and Genevieve Nnaji and everyone now believes I am a lesbian. It is very touching and depressing.
What actually happened between you and Genny that sparked the allegation?
Hmm, you know I speak more of French than English, so, it is a little hard for me to express myself fully. What happened is that Genny and I were in a club in Lagos and her phone got missing. Later, I think a paparazzi or someone got hold of it and started sharing some contents about me and Genny online. I don’t see anything abnormal in the pictures but people started talking that we must be lesbians and all.
What kind of pictures are you talking about?
As normal persons and friends, we do take normal pictures at home and in other places but I don’t know why the online magazine showed Genevieve and I kissing, I am surprised and don’t know where they got those pictures from.
So, you and Genevieve were never kissing each other in any pictures you took together?
We kissed, but it was nothing extraordinary, it was normal kiss between girls. I mean girls do kiss each other normally, even guys do too. When I was dating Fally Ipupa we used to kiss and now that we are separated and are good friends we still continue kissing like we used to. My fear is I receive strange calls saying that in a few days’ time they will be releasing more pictures about us.
You still received calls over the incident?
I am a very popular figure in my country and a lot of people are jealous of me. So many of them would like to see me go down and this may be a good excuse for them to start something.
When they call you on phone, do they ask for anything or sound like blackmailers?
No, just to say they will expose our dirty secret and I don’t have any dirty secret.
If you have no dirty secret why are you now scared?
You don’t understand, even the pictures they released online was worked on, adulterated to make it look different from the actual pictures. We kissed as normal girls, not as romantically or sexually as they projected in the pictures posted online.
What is the relationship between you and Genevieve Nnaji?
We have been good friends since 2004. We met when Kenis Music organised an award and since then we have been good friends. We talk often and whenever I am in Lagos we meet up and have fun as friends. I have had no peace since the pictures leaked online. Everybody now calls me Genny’s wife back home.
Sincerely, are you and Genevieve Nnaji sexually involved?
No, never. I am neither a lesbian nor is Genevieve. We are just two close friends, showing profound emotions for each other by kissing.
You said you once dated Fally Ipupa, or is it that you are heterosexual?
Please, please, I don’t know what you are talking about. How could I have dated Fally Ipupa and still be a lesbian. It just doesn’t add up. Ask Fally, I am very straight. If I am a lesbian, why hasn’t the story come out before? Why is it coming out now when it involves Genevieve? Don’t you see the handiwork of the devil in the whole business?
Do you also have a man you are currently dating?
Hmm. I am actually dating a President, but I prefer to keep it secret. In my country everybody once accused me of dating former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria.
Did you?
No, but they believe it 100 percent