LAGOS – Social media celebrity and actor, Wunmi Star, has called for stricter regulation of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, warning that the growing practice of prioritising social media popularity over professional acting experience in casting decisions could undermine standards and threaten the future of the country’s movie industry.
Wunmi Star, who spoke in an interview on Saturday, expressed concern over what she described as an emerging trend in which film producers increasingly cast social media celebrities in movie roles at the expense of trained professionals who have spent years honing their craft.
She warned that the practice, if left unchecked, could undermine the credibility of the industry, discourage foreign investors and weaken opportunities for international partnerships.
“Without holding briefs for anyone, it is a too dangerous trend in the entertainment industry for producers to continue to [favour] social media figures against professional actors,” she said.
According to her, the entertainment industry is a serious business that requires professionalism, discipline and established standards, particularly as Nigerian films continue to attract attention beyond the country’s borders.
“We must know that our friends around the world are watching and they know that entertainment is a serious business and attempt to trivialize the multibillion-dollar industry will be flagged by them. They won’t want to invest in the industry here in Nigeria and they also won’t want to partner or do anything with us,” she said.
Adewunmi also expressed concern over what she described as an increasing tendency among some social media personalities, particularly TikTok creators, to equate online popularity with professional expertise in filmmaking.
She argued that while social media has created new opportunities for talent discovery and visibility, popularity alone should not be mistaken for the skills, experience and discipline required to succeed in the movie industry.
“I understand that in the quest to get more popular, TikTokers in particular are beginning to measure shoulders with industry experts. That is not good enough; this will only present us as a joke in the sight of other professionals around the world,” she said.
The actor maintained that the issue was not necessarily about excluding social media personalities from the entertainment industry but about ensuring that professional standards remained the guiding principle in casting decisions and other aspects of film production.
She stressed that the industry needed a well-established regulatory agency capable of setting and enforcing standards, regardless of an individual’s financial standing, popularity or influence.
“Regardless of the kind of money anyone could have, there must be a standard, and such standard can only be enforced through a well-established regulatory agency. The world is not static, and Nigeria must not continue in the days of old,” she said.
Adewunmi’s comments come amid broader conversations about the growing influence of social media on entertainment, where online followership and digital visibility have become important considerations for producers seeking to6 promote their projects and attract audiences.
She also urged actors to remain committed to their professional values despite the pressures and temptations they might encounter in an increasingly competitive industry.
