Juliana ‘Toyo Baby’ Olayode Admits She Lied to Nigerians About Her Virginity | Read Statement

22-year-old fast-rising Nollywood actress, Juliana Olayode, has owned up to deceiving Nigerians that she was a virgin, PremiumTimes reports.

Many Nigerians who respected the talented actress for her stance on sexual purity, were shocked when she confessed, in her book, ‘Rebirth From Grass to Grace’, that she lost her virginity when she was 17-year-old to her married music teacher.

Unfortunately, the Internet never forgets. The actress, who became famous after starring in Funke Akindele’s hit series, Jenifa’s Dairy, as ‘Toyo baby’ had granted several interviews wherein she claimed to be preserving her virginity until she marries.

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The actress, however, explained why she lied.

“People had assumed I was a virgin. I had never said I was but I had never corrected their assumptions either. So, I was still in that fix.

Shortly after my confession, Ebony Life TV called me for an interview. I went and for the first time in my several interviews, I was asked point blank if I was a virgin. I tried to evade the question, but my interviewer was not having it.

She demanded for a yes or no. I did not see the question coming and I lied. I said, “Yes, I am a virgin”. Immediately the interview was over, I hurried to the bathroom in the studio and cried. I felt terrible for lying and told God I was sorry.

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I called Dee on my way home and confessed my wrong. I explained further when I got home. The next thing he said shocked me. He said, “Call her and confess the truth. Ask for a rescheduling of the interview; do it again and undo your mistake.”

I was not going to do that. I felt it was my secret and the whole world need not know about it. I was upset with myself, however, for answering her. I could have insisted I could not tell.

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So, I proposed never to answer such again. Easier said than done, right? Shortly after, I was on another TV interview, Crux Of The Matter, with Elsie.

I was invited to talk for sexual purity while the other guest spoke against. In the process of the discussion, around the time when it was heated, I was asked out of the blues again if I was a virgin. And before I knew it, I heard myself lying again. I was mad at myself.

I was on another TV interview that trended for a while. It was On The Couch, with Lady Ariyike. I talked about sexual purity, but thankfully I was not asked if I was virgin. After that one, I decided to stop interviews altogether. I was tired of lying or having to dread lying if I was asked straight up.”

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Mixed reactions have trailed the release of the book.

In the book, the actress also discusses her struggles, which include hawking on the street, experiencing sexual abuse, how a pastor once tried to abuse her sexuality and how she dropped out of school.