By Patrick Idowu
Controversial social media influencer and activist, Verydarkman, has criticized a newly released Nollywood movie loosely based on his life, saying he was neither consulted nor involved in its production.
The film, which gained traction online after its poster revealed veteran actor Gentle Jack playing a character named “VDM,” sparked conversation and speculation among fans and critics alike.
Reacting via his Instagram page, Verydarkman made it clear he was uncomfortable with the unauthorized portrayal, describing the movie as poorly executed and personally offensive.
“I have a problem with it, to be very honest. I’m not even happy with it,” he said in a video post. “Baba Gentle Jack should have written to me and said, ‘VDM, what is your story? I want to play your story.’”
While he acknowledged that the casting of Gentle Jack was visually on point, he dismissed the film’s storyline as “irritating” and “cringe-worthy.”
In a caption accompanying his post, he added: “By now, I am sure most of you have seen the movie Nollywood did where legendary Gentle Jack played me (Verydarkman). Honestly, I am not happy about the movie. It cringed me. I was so irritated even watching it. They got the right character and lookalike; however, the story was just irritating.”
The influencer’s comments have reignited conversations about intellectual property rights, consent, and ethical storytelling in the Nigerian film industry.
Many of his followers echoed his sentiments, calling on Nollywood producers to engage real-life subjects before dramatizing their lives.
As of press time, the producers of the movie have not issued a response.
