Young Offenders star Demi Isaac Oviawe has branded Noel Grealish a “bigot” and a “racist” who should resign.
The Nigerian-born actress claims the Independent deputy targeted the African country by asking if some of the cash sent from here came from crime.
The Galway West TD said an “astronomical” €3.4billion (over an eight-year period) was sent to Nigeria from Ireland – but official figures later revealed only €17million a year is sent.
Demi, 18 – whose father, mother and uncle all send money home to Nigeria – told how she was deeply upset by the politician’s claims.
She added: “I think what he said was blatantly ignorant and actually disgusting.
“I felt he just targeted Nigeria. I was in Nigeria not two and a half weeks ago and it makes sense for people to send money home.
“The world we live in and life in Nigeria are poles apart.
“Growing up, my mum, my dad and my uncle would all have sent money home to their family members because life over there was extremely hard and difficult especially if you didn’t go to school.
"It is just common sense to send money home if you are working and you have the resources to help out.”
Grealish has yet to apologise for his claims but Demi believes he should simply resign.
The Cork star told the Irish Mirror: “His career is over, because he did this to just get a front page and a few headlines.
“Was it worth it to say something so racist and bigoted and to get called out by the Taoiseach? I hope he resigns.
“He won’t of course, I think he is enjoying this free publicity. It is disgusting.
“In Ireland it seems to be one step forward, two steps back, when it comes to racism because all he has really done is made life worse for the Nigerian population in Ireland.
“Who is he to make these remarks about a Third World country and good people who are just trying to do the right thing?
“He probably believes no Nigerian person has any power in the public eye to challenge what he is saying and it was cheap and nasty.
“That’s the reason he really went for it and I would love to know how he even managed to get this topic into conversation in the Dail.
“Surely the health service is a more pressing matter? It is so wrong.”
