- Erica Nlewedim says her BBNaija experience was traumatic and left her dealing with years of online insults.
- The reality star revealed that she sought professional therapy in 2024 because of the emotional impact of the show.
- Despite the experience, Erica says BBNaija transformed her career and finances.
Former Big Brother Naija housemate and actress, Erica Nlewedim, has opened up about the emotional toll of participating in the reality TV show, describing the experience as traumatic.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Erica made the revelation during an interview with media personality Toke Makinwa, where she said she would not participate in a show like BBNaija again despite the financial opportunities and career growth it brought her.
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The 2020 BBNaija Lockdown housemate said the constant criticism she faced online after leaving the show had a lasting effect on her.
According to Erica, she endured years of insults and eventually sought professional help to deal with the emotional consequences.
“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.
Erica added that the online backlash continued for about three years after her exit from the show.
“I was getting like three years of back-to-back insults. I had to see a therapist because of that show,” she said.
She revealed that she eventually sought therapy in 2024, several years after her participation in the reality show.
Despite the difficulties, Erica acknowledged that BBNaija had a major impact on her career and helped transform her financial circumstances.
Since leaving the BBNaija house, she has established herself as one of Nigeria’s prominent reality TV personalities. She has appeared in several Nollywood productions and commercials and has secured endorsement deals with various Nigerian brands.
Erica has also ventured into entrepreneurship with her own skincare business, expanding her career beyond reality television.
Her comments highlight the less visible challenges that can accompany the sudden fame and intense public scrutiny experienced by contestants on reality television shows.
While BBNaija has continued to serve as a major platform for launching entertainment careers, former housemates have also spoken about the pressures that come with public attention, online criticism and expectations after leaving the show.
For Erica, the experience ultimately came with both significant career rewards and an emotional cost she says she would not willingly repeat.
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