Veteran Nollywood actor Chiwetalu Agu has sparked discussion online after speaking about the different social consequences men and women may face over similar choices, particularly when it comes to their sexual history.
In a video shared on social media, Agu argued that people should not assume that engaging in the same behaviour means they will experience the same consequences.
Using relationships as an example, the actor said a man could have sexual relationships with several women and still find someone willing to settle down with him, while a woman with fewer sexual partners could face rejection because of her past.
“A man can sleep with 30 to 40 women and still end up with a woman who is ready to settle down with him. A woman can sleep with 7 to 10 men and end up being rejected simply because of her past,” he said.
Agu further argued that a man’s sexual history may be more difficult to establish, while a woman’s past could attract greater scrutiny and social judgement when it becomes known.
“There will hardly be any evidence that a man slept with 30 to 40 women and even if there is, it may not be a problem to some people. But there may be millions of pieces of evidence that a woman slept with 7 to 10 men which is likely to cause a major issue,” he said.
The veteran actor described this as an example of how people can engage in similar behaviour but experience different outcomes.
“What favours Mr. A might not favour Mrs. B. People don’t always face the same social consequences for the same behaviour. The behaviour is the same, but the consequences are different,” he said.
Agu also extended his argument beyond relationships, using drug use to explain how a person’s financial background can affect the consequences of their actions.
He noted that a wealthy person’s child may have access to expensive treatment and rehabilitation if drug use causes problems, while another person without similar resources may struggle to recover from the same situation.
“Don’t assume that because someone is doing something with you that you will both suffer the consequences equally. We are all humans, but some humans have more to lose than the others,” he said.
Agu ultimately urged people to think beyond the immediate excitement or gratification attached to their decisions and consider what could happen if things went wrong.
“Always learn to look before you leap. Before you act, think about the consequences of your action. Think beyond the moment,” he advised.
He added that people should ask themselves how badly they could be affected by a decision and whether they have the resources to recover from the consequences.
“Wisdom is not knowing what you can do. It is knowing what you cannot afford to do,” Agu said.
His comments have since generated reactions online, with discussions focusing on sexual double standards, personal responsibility and whether men and women are judged differently for similar relationship choices.
