Tomi Adeyemi, Nigerian-American author, has described the
upcoming Paramount Pictures adaptation of her bestselling novel ‘Children of
Blood and Bone’ as “the worst thing I have ever had to live through,” alleging
a traumatic behind-the-scenes experience that left her with panic attacks and
severe physical pain.
Adeyemi, who co-wrote the screenplay, broke her silence in a
lengthy video shared on her Instagram page on Wednesday.
She said she had endured the situation for about a year and
a half and decided to speak publicly because remaining silent had worsened her
pain.
“I am going to post this so ideally I don’t talk about this
anymore. What I’m about to share is not a secret to the people involved. It’s a
reality that I’ve had to live with for about a year and a half, and everyone
involved, at least at the highest level, has been made aware of this reality,
and they haven’t done anything to make it better,” she said.
“If anything, they’ve only antagonised me, and I accept
that. But I also accept that if I don’t say something, I think it’s just going
to be worse.”
Adeyemi alleged that she left the set of the film
“hyperventilating and sobbing” and has continued to face antagonism behind the
scenes.
She said she returned to the United States suffering from
severe physical symptoms and panic attacks, adding that the experience
convinced her she would never watch the finished film.
“I’m not going to speak on what I endured to make it through
the young adult trilogy, and I’m not going to speak about everything that I
also suffered through or endured to make the adaptation a reality,” she said.
“I’m actually only going to speak about what happened after
I left that set of my own film adaptation, hyperventilating and sobbing. There
are many witnesses, so it’s not really a secret.
“I came back to America and suffered such severe somatic
pain and so many panic attacks. I knew it was so bad that I would never ever be
able to watch this film, and I made peace with that.
“But as it is being marketed, And as I am still being
antagonized behind the scenes, which is where I hoped all of this would stay,
it’s become apparent to me that reality needs to at least be made known, so
that you guys can understand how this film, which I worked on to make it a
little better for us to be alive, is also the worst thing I have ever had to
live through.
“I don’t wish to speak on it anymore. I don’t know if that’s
possible.”
The author stated that the film’s ongoing marketing campaign
had made it difficult to keep the experience private.
“I understand that I have a public presence, and that this
is a global project. It’s probably useless posting a video. I really don’t
know. I don’t do things like this, but I also understand that being silent
about it is making the pain a lot worse,” she said.
“And even though it feels awful to share this, it’s better
to share it and have it known and understood before I see a bunch of you for
this new book. So please understand, I never want to hear about this project
again. I don’t have anything to say about the people who made it. I do not care
anymore.
“I’m trying to move on. This video might make it worse, but
I don’t know how it can be any worse. So I’m just going to share that and let
it live.”
As of the time of filing this report, Paramount Pictures had
not publicly responded to the author’s comments.
‘Children of Blood and Bone,’ based on Adeyemi’s bestselling
fantasy novel inspired by Yoruba mythology, is scheduled for release in IMAX on
January 15, 2027. The film’s cast members include Nigerian singer Ayra Starr.
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