Actress Faces Defamation Notice After Alleging Sexual Harassment by Director
Actress Grace Wacuka has revealed that she has been threatened with a defamation lawsuit by Insignia Kenya Films Ltd after accusing one of the company’s top directors of sexually harassing her.
Wacuka claims that Insignia’s directors are attempting to silence her after she shared her experience in the Kenyan Professional Actors Forum WhatsApp group, which has 652 members.
After naming the alleged harasser in the group, Wacuka says she received a cease-and-desist letter from Insignia’s lawyers. She further alleges that her own lawyer is part of a conspiracy to silence her, claiming the lawyer urged her to remain quiet about the incident.
Recounting her experience, Wacuka says the harassment began in November 2022 while she was on the set of the TV series Single Kiasi.
“I was on set with Gathoni Mutua, filming a scene, and I struggled to perform it the way the director wanted. He told me that if I couldn’t do it right, he wouldn’t give me more work in the future. I started crying, and during a break, he approached me. I thought he was going to apologize, but instead, when we were alone, he took my hand, placed it on his a*s, and said, ‘Hold me like you love me.’ I was in shock and told him it wasn’t right, but he dismissed me,” Wacuka explained.
She said she confided in her family but didn’t report the incident to anyone on set. Days later, she confronted the director again, only for him to respond, “But you wanted it.”
Following this, Wacuka was not cast for Single Kiasi again.
A year later, another director from Insignia invited her to audition for a new project, Kash Money. Wacuka said she informed the director about the past incident and requested the matter be resolved before auditioning. However, the alleged harasser refused to apologize, prompting her to decline the audition invitation.
On January 16, 2025, Wacuka was served with a cease-and-desist letter, which cited statements she made in a TikTok video on January 18, 2025.
The letter, sent by NPA & Njeri Advocates on behalf of Insignia Kenya Films Ltd, stated:
“Your statements implied and led your audience to believe that our Clients are sexual harassers, unapologetic perpetrators of harassment, workplace bullies, and enablers of a hostile work environment. These allegations are entirely false. The defamatory statements also constitute online harassment and cyberbullying, causing significant reputational damage, business losses, and emotional distress to our Clients.”
The letter demanded Wacuka immediately:
- Cease referencing Insignia Kenya Films Ltd and its projects in any form of communication, including the WhatsApp group or other social media platforms.
- Retract her statements in the Kenyan Professional Actors Forum WhatsApp group no later than 8 p.m. on January 17, 2025.
- Issue an unqualified apology in the same WhatsApp group within the same timeframe.
The letter warned that failure to comply would result in legal action, with all costs and consequences falling on her.
Wacuka, who played the character Olivia in Single Kiasi, has yet to comment on whether she will comply with the demands or proceed with her accusations.
