Nollywood actor Charles Born was overwhelmed with emotions as he relived the traumatic abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, revealing shocking details of physical and emotional torture that nearly cost him his life.
In a deeply moving interview on Ify’s Kitchen podcast, the actor fought back tears while opening up about his painful childhood experiences. He began, saying:
“My childhood isn’t the best in terms of love, care, and attention from my father.”
He described how his father would demean him psychologically.
“Tell me why the man that calls himself my father takes my picture and throw it behind the cupboard. It messed with my head. Do you know what it means for your father to look you in your eyes and say ‘you’re useless’? Say ‘you can never amount to anything’?”
The physical abuse, according to the actor, was equally harrowing.
“He used to soak this horsewhip in a custard bucket with pepper inside. He’d tell me to strip and begins to flog me. I’d be begging, shouting, but nobody would be listening.”
The repeated mistreatment pushed young Charles to the brink. He recalled a terrifying suicide attempt that was only stopped by a quick-thinking neighbour.
“I remember looking through the veranda and saying ‘I’m going to jump,’ and even though I didn’t say it out, I was going to jump. My neighbor was driving in and then he saw what was happening, then he started shouting like ‘what’s happening? What’s going on?’ He broke through our glass door and carried me to his flat downstairs.”
Charles Born has since undergone years of therapy and says he has forgiven his father, though the memories remain. In a follow-up message after the interview went viral, he wrote:
“I promise I’m fine and I’m healing well. Been in therapy for years!!!!! I have forgiven him!!! Still trying to forget but I have forgiven him.”