CAN Raises Objection to Film Title “A Very Dirty Christmas”
Akure, December 17, 2025
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed strong concern over the title of a recently released movie, A Very Dirty Christmas, describing it as offensive to Christian beliefs and values.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, CAN said Christmas is a sacred period that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and symbolizes purity, peace, love and redemption. According to the Association, associating the celebration with the word “dirty” undermines its spiritual significance and reduces a solemn religious observance to something crude and sensational.
While acknowledging the importance of creative freedom and artistic expression, CAN stressed that such freedom must be exercised with responsibility and sensitivity. The Association noted that in a religiously diverse country like Nigeria, creativity should promote understanding and unity rather than provoke or offend deeply held beliefs.
CAN also questioned how the film’s title passed through regulatory and professional screening processes without objection. It therefore called on the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to clarify how the title was approved for public exhibition, especially during the Christmas season.
The Association further urged industry bodies, including the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and other Nollywood stakeholders, to take a firm position on the use of religious themes and symbols in ways that could offend faith communities.
In addition, CAN appealed to the producers and promoters of the film to reconsider the title and issue a public apology. It called for deliberate efforts to ensure that religious symbols and sacred seasons are treated with dignity, specifically urging the film’s producer, Ini Edo, to show sensitivity and address the concerns raised by the Christian community.
According to CAN, Nigeria is already grappling with significant moral and social challenges, and actions that trivialize sacred values risk deepening divisions and eroding mutual respect among citizens.
The Association reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful engagement, stating that it would continue to speak out whenever the dignity of the Christian faith is undermined in the public space.
The statement was signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Niger
