Ex-Big Brother Naija housemate, Erica Nlewedim has revealed that her experience on the reality show was emotionally traumatic, saying she would not participate in another reality programme despite the financial benefits.
The reality star made this known during an interview on Toke Moments, where she discussed the psychological impact of her time on the show and her decision to seek professional help afterwards.
“I’ll never go to a show like Big Brother Naija again in my life. I’m happy I did it because, of course, it changed my life money-wise, but I’m never doing it again if I’m given the opportunity,” she said.
“I was getting like three years of back-to-back insults. I had to see a therapist because of that show.”
Erica said she initially did not realise the impact the criticism was having on her until she began experiencing anxiety.
“At first, I didn’t know that it was getting to me. It was like after three years of back-to-back insults,” she said.
“When I open Instagram, I just see notifications. I was always anxious, and I don’t like that.”
Erica said she sought therapy in 2024 and took a break from acting during the year to focus on herself.
“I went to therapy in 2024. 2024 was my quiet time. I didn’t act in any movie,” she said.
“I just decided to take a break in 2024. It was just last year I decided to start coming back. I’m happy I did that because there were a lot of things that I didn’t even realise were affecting me.”
In 2021, the reality star disclosed that she experienced a “full-blown anxiety” after her time on the BBNaija reality show.
She participated in the 2020 edition of BBNaija, where she was disqualified from the reality show for breaching the house rules.