Former Big Brother Naija star Erica Nlewedim has opened up about the severe emotional toll the reality show took on her, revealing that years of nonstop insults forced her to see a therapist.
In a candid interview on Toke Moments podcast hosted by Toke Makinwa, the actress and entrepreneur made it clear she would never return to a similar platform.
“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. I was getting like 3 years of back-to-back insults. I had to see a therapist because of that show,” she said.
Erica, who featured on the 2020 Lockdown edition, explained that the backlash continued long after she left the house. The constant online criticism and public insults affected her mental health so deeply that professional help became necessary. One report noted she eventually sought that support around 2024.
Despite the pain, she acknowledged the financial and career transformation the show brought. Since exiting the house, Erica has built a successful path in Nollywood, appeared in movies and commercials, secured brand ambassador deals, and launched her own skincare business. She remains one of Nigeria’s most recognisable reality TV stars.
In related comments from the same conversation, Erica also touched on body image struggles after the show. She recalled being a skinny girl all her life before entering the house, only to gain significant weight afterward.
“All my life I was always a skinny girl before being auditioned into Big Brother Naija. I came out and started gaining excess weight for the first time. A fat woman saw me and asked me if I was dragging weight with her.”
Erica’s honesty has sparked conversations about the hidden mental health costs of reality television fame in Nigeria. While many celebrate the opportunities BBNaija creates, her story highlights the prolonged emotional price some housemates continue to pay years later.