Veteran Nollywood actor Dele Odule has called for public accountability in cases of public humiliation, arguing that private apologies do not adequately address the damage caused by public disrespect.
The actor shared his views in an Instagram post, where he insisted that individuals who embarrass others publicly should also take responsibility publicly rather than attempting to resolve the matter behind closed doors.
“Never accept a private apology for public disrespect, never ever,” Odule wrote.
He argued that when someone is disrespected in front of others, a private apology does little to restore the person’s dignity or correct the public perception created by the incident.
“If you embarrassed me in front of people, you don’t get to repair it behind closed door. Publicly disrespect requires public accountability,” he stated.
Odule further suggested that private apologies may sometimes be more about easing the offender’s conscience than genuinely addressing the consequences of their actions.
“Otherwise, you’re not fixing what you did. You’re just trying to make yourself feel better,” he added.
The veteran actor maintained that respect should be restored in the same setting where it was damaged, emphasising the importance of matching the form of an apology to the nature of the offence.
“Respect should be restored where it was broken,” he wrote.
His post has brought attention to conversations around public humiliation, personal dignity and the role of accountability in resolving interpersonal conflicts.
