Clinton Joshua sparks debate over refusal to kiss in movies

Fast-rising actor, Clinton Joshua, has stirred debate online after explaining his decision not to take on kissing scenes with female colleagues.

Speaking in a recent interview on TVC’s E Splash, Joshua said his choice is deliberate and tied to how actors are often typecast in the industry.

He said, “Because this is Nollywood, I feel like when you are good at something, producers are likely to give you the same role repeatedly. I didn’t want to be boxed in a certain way. I didn’t want to kiss half the girls in Nollywood.”

Despite frequently playing romantic roles, Joshua has not been seen sharing a kiss on screen. He has, however, built a growing fan base through his performances in love-themed films, relying on emotional delivery, eye contact and on-screen chemistry to portray intimacy.

His stance has since generated mixed reactions on social media. While some fans praised his boundaries and acting style, others questioned his versatility.

One user, yhudiejames, wrote, “Clinton redefined acting in Nollywood. I didn’t even realise he wasn’t kissing in movies because he played romantic roles so well. He creates emotion and leaves you imagining more.”

Another user, sylviasylvesteretoruomo, added, “He acts well in romantic roles even without kissing. Kissing is not something you can use to rate an actor’s talent.”

However, not all reactions were favourable. A user, brizzy69jq, criticised the actor, writing, “This boy no sabi act.”

The conversation continues to spark wider discussions about acting choices, creative boundaries and audience expectations in Nollywood.