I Went Through Years of Abuse,I Never Spoke Up;I StartedChanging and Became This Unhappy Child-Ejoor

Nigerian actor Michael Ejoor has revealed that he endured years of verbal and physical abuse while growing up, saying the experiences deeply affected his childhood and contributed to his becoming withdrawn and unhappy.

Ejoor made the disclosure during an interview on Beyond with Ezinne, where he recounted how he struggled silently with the abuse instead of speaking out about what he was going through.

The actor explained that although he was naturally a happy child, his experiences gradually changed his personality. He recalled that he once wanted to become a paediatrician because he wished for every child to enjoy the same happiness he had experienced.

However, he said the years of abuse took a toll on him, causing him to lose his childhood enthusiasm and retreat from people around him. Rather than seek help or speak openly about the treatment he received, Ejoor said he internalised the pain and allowed it to affect his behaviour.

According to him, the experience made him increasingly unhappy and isolated, even though he was surrounded by people who loved him. He disclosed that he would lock himself in his room, argue frequently with his sisters and spend much of his time sleeping.

Ejoor said he did not fully recognise the love and support available to him at the time because of the emotional effects of what he was experiencing. He also explained that his decision to become more outspoken as an adult is partly connected to his childhood experience, as he no longer wants to remain silent when someone treats him badly.

Reflecting on the impact of not speaking up earlier, the actor said he is now determined to express himself whenever someone does something that hurts or offends him, believing that remaining silent contributed to the difficult situation he found himself in.

He said, “I went through years of abuse in every facet of it that you can, verbal, physical. And one thing I did was I internalised it. I never spoke up and I just started sort of changing and started recoiling, and, you know, I became this very unhappy child.”

He further recalled how he would isolate himself in his room, sleep for long hours and avoid opening the curtains, adding that despite being surrounded by love, he struggled for many years to recognise it.

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