A Virginia teen and a Hollywood actress allegedly had encounters with the same African spirit

Gibourney Sidibe claims to have had an encounter with a West African spirit.Photo byIMDb screenshot

Calling on the unknown can have consequences

Beetlejuice is now playing in Virginia theaters, and many who watched the film say the trickster ghost's name thrice to summon him. There have been no reports of problems with those who call on this fictional character, but this has not been the case with Papa-Legba, a spirit revered in West African and Louisiana Voodoo.

In 2020, nineteen-year-old Katelyn Restin of Virginia Beach "allegedly" drowned in her bathtub two days after telling friends she summoned and saw the entity. Two Roanokers, D. Toney and N. Coles, associates of Katelyn's friends, say they have been assured the story is true.

Don't do this at home (or anywhere else)

While some may doubt that calling on this spirit will summon him, Gabourney Sidibe (Precious) is a believer. The Hollywood Reporter says she was required to say a Latin chant, including Papa's name, while on the set of American Horror Story.

When she complied, a light fixture began to shake. The light fixture fell when she again called on the Afircan spirit, but she was told to keep filming. Sidibe also says she heard scratching outside her trailer.

On two separate occasions, the actress says something touched her face twice. Sidibe was so rattled that production stopped for a short time, and she later called a Catholic friend to pray for her.

In his hit song "Superstition," Stevie Wonder sang, "When you believe in things you don't understand, you suffer." Keep this, as well as Gabourney Sidibe and Katelyn Restin, in mind should you be tempted to call upon Legba.