Nollywood actress Oge Okoye has opened up about the long-term consequences of a viral social media scandal involving claims she stole photos of pet dogs.
The actress, in a recent statement, shared how the incident once led to her being denied a visa at an embassy.
Speaking about her decision to reduce her social media presence, Oge said, “Social media can make or break you. In my case, it cost me a lot, and I learnt the hard way.”
She recounted a painful experience where an embassy official denied her visa application after discovering the infamous dog theft story while searching her name.
According to Oge, the official remarked, “Sorry, we cannot have you in our country, so things don’t get missing.” The actress admitted she was devastated, having invested heavily in the trip, and described the ordeal as a turning point.
“I regret my actions of trying to fake it to impress people who do not really care about me in real life,” she confessed.
The controversy dates back to March 2017, when American reality star Kenya Moore accused Oge Okoye of stealing photos of her pet dogs and passing them off as her own.
Oge had posted the pictures on Instagram with the caption, “Yipee, my new babies just arrived. #Rob#Rosy.”
The incident sparked widespread backlash, with Nigerians criticizing the actress, prompting her to disable comments on her Instagram page.
Now, years later, Oge Okoye uses the experience as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of social media and the importance of authenticity.