A disturbing incident has rocked a Nollywood film production, with popular actor Femi Branch accused of physically assaulting the film’s First Assistant Director during what should have been the final day of shooting.
According to an exclusive account from the victim, who serves as the production’s 1st A.D., the altercation occurred on Day 8 of a 9-day shoot between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM as the cast and crew prepared to film their final scene at the location before moving to their next setup.
The confrontation began during a routine camera setup involving two units – Camera A positioned outside and Camera B inside the filming location. The Assistant Director and Director of Photography were inside coordinating the Camera B frame when the director unexpectedly began rolling on Camera A without proper communication.
“I was hitting the door for them to open because the DP wanted to go out and confirm the frame,” the victim recounted. “When Femi Branch shouted they were filming, I questioned what they were filming when the DP and 1st AD were still inside.”
What followed was a verbal exchange that quickly escalated. Branch allegedly insulted the Assistant Director, suggesting “my head is not correct,” prompting the crew member to defend their authority to halt filming when necessary.
“He flared up asking who I was to talk back at him,” the victim stated. “As he came inside shouting at me, I told him he can’t intimidate me and that I was well within my right – that was when he hit me.”
The incident sent shockwaves through the production, with the entire crew rallying behind their assaulted colleague. After completing the scene and moving to their next location at Lekki Conservation Centre, the crew made an unprecedented stand.
“There was a consensus with the crew members that they won’t film until he apologizes to their AD,” the victim revealed. The production came to a complete halt as crew members refused to work until Branch made amends.
When Branch arrived at the new location and was asked to apologize, he initially refused and attempted to leave. However, the crew’s determination was evident when they prevented his departure by locking the gate, forcing a confrontation that had the Executive Producer scrambling to salvage the production.
With daylight fading and production costs mounting, the Executive Producer found himself caught between an angry crew demanding justice and an expensive production grinding to a halt. The crew maintained their position that cameras would only roll on the Assistant Director’s instruction following a proper apology.
“The EP came to me begging he was losing money and promised [Branch] would apologize before he leaves,” the victim recounted. Eventually, after filming resumed under pressure, Branch did apologize to both the crew members and the Assistant Director.
This incident highlights ongoing power dynamics and workplace safety concerns within Nollywood productions. The crew’s unified response demonstrates a growing intolerance for unprofessional behavior, regardless of an actor’s star status.
The entertainment industry has increasingly focused on creating safer working environments, and this incident serves as a reminder that no one – regardless of their celebrity status – is above basic professional conduct and respect for their colleagues.
As of press time, Femi Branch has not issued any public statement regarding the incident. The production has since wrapped, but the impact of this confrontation continues to reverberate through industry circles.
This is a developing story. We will continue to monitor for any official responses from the parties involved.
