Lolo 1 Reveals She Was Raped by Prominent Broadcaster: ‘I Still See Him, and It Haunts Me’

Renowned Nigerian actress and media personality, Omotunde Adebowale-David, popularly known as Lolo 1, has opened up about a deeply painful experience,  revealing that she was raped by a fellow professional in the broadcasting industry.

She shared the harrowing account on the latest episode of her podcast, “Say My Piece,” released on YouTube on Friday. According to her, the sexual assault happened years ago, and the trauma still lingers, especially when she sees the man who violated her — someone she says is now a prominent figure in the media space.

Lolo 1 disclosed that the decision to speak now was tough, as naming her rapist would likely draw criticism for the delay in coming forward, especially given the man’s elevated status in the industry. She explained that many women respond to sexual violence with denial and self-blame, which complicates the healing process.

“I rarely talk about it. I’m still not ready to tell the full story,” she said. “When I shared it with my daughter, she held my hand and said, ‘Mummy, you’ve gone through so much.’ And I agreed.”

Recalling the emotional toll, she added, “I was raped only once, but it was by a colleague. I still see him around and each time I do, I feel a wave of panic. He’s now well known in the broadcasting industry. But if I mention his name now, won’t people ask why I waited six years until he got a major TV role?”

She emphasized the psychological effects of assault, explaining that denial is often the first reaction, followed by internalized guilt.