Media personality Dior Adiele has opened up about some of the painful experiences that shaped her childhood, speaking about alleged abuse, family challenges and the emotional impact they have had on her over the years.
Adiele made the revelations during a recent episode of the Talk to B podcast, where she recounted allegedly being abused by three of her uncles between the ages of six and 13.
According to her, the incidents happened within the family environment, despite her parents’ efforts to shield her from perceived dangers outside the home.
She explained that her upbringing in a traditional Igbo household came with different expectations for her and her brother. While her brother enjoyed greater freedom because he was regarded as the family heir, Adiele said she was frequently restricted from going outside.
She noted that although the restrictions were meant to protect her, they ultimately left her vulnerable to abuse within the home.
“Imagine being locked in a four-bedroom flat, and the things that they thought they were protecting me from by not letting me go out to play now started to happen to me inside the house, like right under their noses. Like if they were even paying attention, they would have found out.”
Adiele emphasised that what happened to her was not an isolated incident, revealing that the alleged abuse occurred repeatedly over several years and involved three different uncles.
“Because it wasn’t once. It wasn’t twice. It wasn’t even… It was three different, on several occasions. It wasn’t a one-time thing. From six going on seven till I was 13.”
Speaking about the period that followed, Adiele disclosed that she started smoking at around 13. She said the habit continued for several years until she became pregnant at 20, which she described as the turning point that led her to quit.
The media personality also spoke about the struggles her brother experienced while growing up. She described him as intelligent and talented but said she noticed significant changes in his behaviour after he returned from school.
She recalled that the family eventually sought professional help for him. However, according to Adiele, her mother withdrew him from rehabilitation centres on two occasions and took him to church because she believed his condition had a spiritual cause.
Adiele further alleged that her brother later became violent towards their mother. She recounted an incident in which he allegedly grabbed their mother by the neck and attempted to throw her from an upstairs floor.
Despite the difficult memories surrounding her childhood, Adiele said she still loves her parents. However, she maintained that loving them does not mean ignoring what she believes they did wrong.
“I love my parents, but I’m not going to erase their failure. I wouldn’t have come out to talk about it if they had taken accountability.”