Veteran Nollywood Actor Hanks Anuku Laments How A Viral Video Suggesting He Was Mentally Unstable Ruined His Career

Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku has spoken out about how a viral video, which falsely depicted him as struggling with mental health issues, had a devastating impact on his professional career and personal life.

The misleading video clip surfaced online in 2022, showing Hanks Anuku wearing worn-out clothing and seemingly engaging in a monologue, which led to unfounded speculation and false assumptions about his mental health.

Following the viral spread of the video, Nollywood actress Shan George quickly came to Hanks Anuku’s defense, clarifying that he was not struggling with mental health issues, as many had believed, and affirming that he was in fact perfectly sane.

Adanma Luke countered Shan George’s assurance, suggesting that Hanks Anuku’s mental health was indeed a concern, while the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) launched an investigation to get to the bottom of the matter and determine the truth.

In a conversation with Facebook content creator Lucky Udu, which went viral on Sunday, Hanks Anuku clarified that the video was actually a scene from a movie set.

The actor said the people circulating the video were trying to destroy his image

Hanks Anuku revealed that he was prepping for a role as a character struggling with mental issues, and the video captured him in the process of method acting, where he was seeking inspiration by visiting the environment and meditating to get into character.

Hanks Anuku expressed his frustration over the devastating consequences of the misinformation, which led to the loss of friendships, producers, and acting opportunities, leaving him feeling isolated and without a job. 

Anuku added that he went through pain and was “heartbroken” that “someone could do this to me”.

He said, “I was trying to get into character for a role I was going to play, a madman role. Someone who was not in his correct senses or right frame of mind,” he said.

“So I had to go naturally to visit the environment on how I would play it in that same neighborhood. I was just showing the way the director wanted me to do it, meditating and getting into character.

“I lost friends, producers no longer contacted me for jobs. I lost a lot of money, I lost jobs, and I was jobless. People did not care about me. It was God who directed my footsteps to a good soul.

“I went through pain, if you were in my shoes you would feel it. I was heartbroken for these people to do this to me.”

Photo credit: Daily Post Nigeria – X