Kumawood actor, Mr. Beautiful
Ghanaian actor Clement Bonney, popularly known as Mr. Beautiful, has revealed that his support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) led to his exclusion from the Kumawood movie industry.
In an interview with Adom FM, Mr. Beautiful shared that many producers were concerned that featuring him in their films would negatively impact sales, especially in Kumasi, which is the stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr. Beautiful recounted how producers directly told him that his political affiliation with the NDC was not well-received in Kumasi, making them hesitant to cast him.
He mentioned that Paul Gee, a prominent figure in Kumawood, had personally told him that they could not cast him in movies because the industry was dominated by people from Kumasi, many of whom support the NPP.
According to him, this situation reflects Ghana's immature understanding of democracy.
He pointed out established democracies like the United States, where celebrities can openly support political parties without affecting their careers.
Mr. Beautiful highlighted how American celebrities like Stevie Wonder can openly support political candidates without facing such repercussions.
"We are not yet mature enough to understand democracy, so when I say it didn’t affect me, then it’s a lie. I was sidelined in the movie industry, which reduced the quality of content my followers had to enjoy. There is only one Mr. Beautiful, so if you sideline me and think you can replace me with someone else, it won’t work," he said.
Mr. Beautiful also shared an incident in South Africa, where he went to shoot a commercial.
Upon discovering his NDC affiliation, the marketing director refused to proceed with the project, citing his political stance as the reason.
"They brought me back to Ghana," he recalled.
Reflecting on his political activism since 2012, Mr. Beautiful noted that it has inspired others to openly support their preferred political parties.
He added that political differences should not lead to hate, likening it to a football match between Hearts and Kotoko, where rivalry does not equate to hostility.
ID/ ADG
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