RMD faces backlash over birthday wish to Omoni Oboli

After posting a birthday homage to fellow Nollywood star Omoni Oboli on social media, veteran actor Richard Mofe Damijo, often known as RMD, has sparked controversy.

Fans criticized the post for posting a picture of the two actors in what appeared to be a love stance, saying it was inappropriate.

In the picture, RMD and Oboli appear intimately embraced, a gesture many thought excessively intimate, especially given that both are married with adult children.

In the comments area of RMD's Instagram post, a number of followers expressed their disgust. "Out of all the innumerable pictures of Omoni Oboli, you choose to use this as a birthday picture?" commented one user, @Bignamek. I don't like this, sir. It's incorrect in every way. I understand that it's most likely from a movie set, but it's bad to bring fantasy into the real world in this way.

A wider discussion about limits, public opinion, and the thin line separating on-screen chemistry with in-person appearances has been spurred by the criticism.

"Na person wife you hold like that dey wish am good birthday?" said another follower, @KKendobaz. "Nawa o!" (You're holding a married woman in that manner while wishing her a happy birthday? How startling!

As a well-respected actor, some fans believed RMD ought to have been more careful about the image he shared. "This image feels wrong, knowing you are both married with grown-up kids," another fan said, adding @Mommy_ella. "To be honest, coming from someone so respected is disheartening."