- Actor Femi Branch is accused of physically assaulting the First Assistant Director during the final day of shooting a disturbing incident in a Nollywood film production.
- The victim, the production’s 1st A.D., reported an altercation on Day 8 of a 9-day shoot, as the cast and crew prepared for their final scene.
A Nollywood production was recently thrown into disarray after veteran actor Femi Branch was accused of physically assaulting the film’s First Assistant Director (1st A.D.) on what was supposed to be the penultimate day of shooting.
The incident allegedly occurred between 3:30 PM and 4:30 PM on Day 8 of a 9-day shoot. The cast and crew were preparing to wrap up at one location before transitioning to their final setup. According to the Assistant Director, tensions flared during a routine camera setup involving two camera units—Camera A outside the location and Camera B inside.
While the 1st A.D. and Director of Photography (DP) were still adjusting Camera B, the director suddenly began rolling on Camera A without notifying key crew members.
“I was hitting the door for them to open because the DP wanted to go out and confirm the frame,” the victim recalled. “When Femi Branch shouted they were filming, I questioned what they were filming when the DP and 1st AD were still inside.”
What began as a verbal disagreement escalated quickly. The actor allegedly hurled insults, telling the Assistant Director his “head is not correct.” The AD, standing his ground, reminded Branch of his authority to halt filming if 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 altercation stunned the crew, who rallied in support of their colleague. After wrapping the scene, they moved to their next location at Lekki Conservation Centre, but filming came to a standstill. In a rare show of solidarity, the crew refused to proceed unless Branch issued a formal apology.
“When he arrived at the new location and was asked to apologize, he refused and tried to leave,” the AD explained. “The crew locked the gate to prevent him from escaping.”
With production costs rising and daylight fading, the Executive Producer intervened, caught between a furious crew and an unraveling schedule. Under mounting pressure, Branch eventually apologized to both the Assistant Director and the rest of the team, allowing filming to resume.
This incident has sparked conversations across Nollywood about professionalism, power imbalance, and the importance of workplace safety. The crew’s unified stance sends a clear message that abusive behavior no matter who it comes from will not be tolerated.
As of the time of this report, Femi Branch has not issued a public statement regarding the allegations. The production has since wrapped, but the fallout from the confrontation remains a hot topic within the industry.
