Taye Arimoro Accuses Peggy Ovire of Assault on Lagos Movie Set as Nollywood Drama Erupts Online

Nollywood is once again in the spotlight after Nigerian actor Taye Arimoro released a series of emotional videos alleging that actress Peggy Ovire and her production team physically assaulted him during a film shoot in Lagos.

The disturbing clips, which surfaced on X and Instagram, show Arimoro visibly shaken, recounting what he described as a “painful betrayal and violent humiliation” on set — complete with claims of car tampering, verbal abuse, and multiple physical attacks.

In the footage, Arimoro fights back tears as he narrates how the confrontation began over what he called “a minor misunderstanding about shooting schedules.” He alleges that Ovire’s team “descended” on him after he questioned production delays and was forced to leave the location to protect himself.

His trembling voice and visible injuries quickly lent a layer of authenticity that sent social media into a frenzy, with fans and industry watchers debating whether this was another case of Nollywood’s growing culture of on-set aggression or a personal dispute gone too far.

Within hours of Arimoro’s post gaining traction, Peggy Ovire issued a fiery response on her verified Instagram page, denying the assault allegations and instead accusing Arimoro of attacking two crew members first. According to her statement, Arimoro “lost his temper and became violent” after arriving late and being asked to reshoot a scene. “We were all shocked by his outburst,” Ovire wrote. “My team acted to restrain him, not harm him. I will not be silent while someone flips the truth for sympathy.” Her post has since drawn thousands of reactions, including support from fellow actors like Frederick Leonard, who urged both parties to seek mediation rather than trial by social media.

The online firestorm that followed has split public opinion squarely down the middle. On one side are supporters of Arimoro, who see him as a victim of power dynamics in the industry — an underdog confronting a more influential colleague. On the other side are Ovire’s fans, who dismiss the video as a manipulative publicity stunt designed to draw attention at her expense.

Entertainment blogs like Instablog9ja and Pulse Nigeria have amplified the feud, pushing it into mainstream trending territory under hashtags like #PeggyVsTaye and #NollywoodAssault.

Several public commenters have now called for the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) to step in and investigate the matter formally. A widely shared X post reads: “The Actors Guild should suspend both Peggy and Taye until the truth is established. These unprofessional fights are ruining Nollywood’s reputation.” Others echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the industry has been plagued by similar incidents — from unverified assault claims to production crew mistreatment — that too often end without resolution or accountability.

This latest controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of Nollywood’s workplace culture, where reports of poor conflict management, underpayment, and power abuse continue to emerge from within the industry.

A 2023 survey by Nigeria’s Creative Workers Forum found that over 40% of film workers have witnessed or experienced on-set altercations that escalated beyond verbal disagreements. Critics say such repeated episodes are eroding professionalism and public confidence in Africa’s second-largest film industry.

For Arimoro, the emotional toll of the alleged assault appears to have gone beyond bruises. In one of his follow-up videos, he described feeling “broken and embarrassed” but vowed not to let the incident silence him. “I came to act, not to fight,” he said. “No actor deserves to be treated like that, no matter who they’re working with.” His plea for justice struck a chord with many younger actors who flooded his comments section with solidarity messages, calling for fairer treatment of emerging talents.

Meanwhile, Ovire has stood firm on her defense, hinting through her management that she might pursue legal action for defamation if the accusations persist without evidence. “We are open to proper investigation by AGN, but we will not tolerate smear campaigns,” a statement from her camp read.

As both sides dig in, the story has evolved beyond a celebrity spat into a reflection of Nollywood’s deeper structural issues — ego clashes, inadequate labor protections, and the blurring of professional boundaries in an industry that thrives on public drama. Whether truth or exaggeration, the Arimoro–Ovire conflict has once again shown how swiftly private disputes can become viral entertainment, testing public empathy and the credibility of Nigeria’s film sector.

For now, the Actors Guild has not issued an official statement, but calls are growing louder for disciplinary intervention. Until then, Nigerians online remain glued to their screens, watching another Nollywood scandal unfold in real time — a tale of fame, fury, and fractured reputations, scripted not for cinema but by the unpredictable theater of social media.

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