Veteran actor Chiwetalu Agu had to step in personally this week to correct some wild gossip: no, he is not dead. The rumors, which spread across social media, prompted him to show up on camera and speak directly to the public — calm, a bit cheeky, and emphatic that he’s still very much alive.
I watched the clip and, well, it’s the kind of short, sharp intervention you want from someone who’s been around a long time. He didn’t over-explain. He didn’t beg. He simply told people to ignore the lies and, with that familiar mix of humor and gravitas, warned that he’s not going anywhere just yet.
What he said — plain and simple
In the video he posted on Instagram, Chiwetalu addressed fans and relatives by name. He asked them to dismiss the false reports about his death and even to report the account that started the story. That last bit matters: false death notices spread fast, and they leave people hurt, confused, and sometimes worse.
He introduced himself in the way he often does — a little formal, a little proud: Chief Chiwetalu Agu, okenmiri n’ezoru Oha 1 of Etiti Amokwe, Enugu State. And then he made the main point: he’s not dying anytime soon. He repeated it with a bit of flourish, the kind of line only a seasoned public figure can pull off and still sound sincere.
Also read: Looking for a Daughter-in-Law (Yes, Really): Charly Boy’s Unconventional Search
Then came the more colorful part. He said, bluntly, that he would be the one burying his enemies. It’s dramatic, yes — but also funny, in a slightly old-school Nollywood way. He framed it with the proverb-like, almost playful lines about who digs a pit and who falls in it. It sounds like theater, and perhaps that’s intentional. He’s an actor; a certain amount of showmanship makes sense. Yet underneath the theatrics is a serious point: he’s alive and planning to be around for his grandchildren.
That line about carrying his grandchildren stuck with me. It’s unexpectedly tender. For someone who can trade in bombastic declarations, to say he wants to be there for his kids and grandchildren is humanizing. It shifts the energy from performance to something more personal. I think a lot of fans probably felt reassured by that.
On suing — or not
He also addressed the idea of legal action. He said that if a big blogger had circulated the bogus claim, he would have considered suing for defamation and the economic damage such rumors can cause. But he added a practical, almost rueful note: the blogger who shared the story isn’t that big; they’re still “struggling with likes.” So, he’s not taking the matter to court this time.
That’s interesting because it shows two things about how public figures see the world now. First, rumors can damage reputation and business — that’s not theoretical. Second, there’s a cost-benefit decision here: sometimes people choose not to escalate because the offending party isn’t influential enough to make the fight worth it. Maybe that’s sensible. Maybe it’s also a bit forgiving. Or maybe it’s cynical. It depends on how you look at it.
I found the mix of pride, humor, and restraint oddly familiar. It’s the voice of someone who has dealt with gossip and public drama before and who knows when to fight and when to ignore. Frankly, I respect that. He could have been angrier. He could have been silent. Instead, he did what many public figures do in moments like this: he corrected the record, added a touch of personality, and moved on.
Why these rumours matter
False reports about death are more than annoying; they can be harmful. Families get upset. Fans mourn needlessly. And for the person at the center, such stories can affect business, mental well-being, and relationships. In some cases they even create dangerous situations — fraudsters use “death” reports to manipulate others, or they give rise to conspiracy talk that gets out of hand.
So the immediate, clear correction from Chiwetalu was important. He didn’t need to create drama to make the point. A calm video, direct address, and a little theatrical emphasis were enough. It’s the modern-day, social-media-era version of issuing a public statement — quick, visible, and personal.
Also read: A Fairytale in Frost: Temi Otedola and Mr Eazi’s Intimate Icelandic Wedding
A small, human moment
Watching the clip, I couldn’t help but notice the tiny contradictions that make it feel real. He acts like a proud chief and a performer, and then he mentions his grandchildren in a sentence that softens everything. He jokes about burying his enemies, then says he won’t bother suing an insignificant blogger. He’s confident and a little playful; he’s also pragmatic.
That mix is what makes it feel human, not a scripted PR reply. People are messy. Public figures are too. Sometimes they’re theatrical, sometimes they’re tender, sometimes they’re pragmatic. Chiwetalu showed all these sides in a short video, and that’s why it landed.
I don’t know what will happen next. Maybe the rumor will fade. Maybe another will pop up. Maybe this will remind people to double-check before sharing explosive claims. At the very least, his fans — and anyone who cares for him — can relax, for now: he’s alive, he’s carrying on, and he’s still got that old Nollywood sparkle.
Keywords: Chiwetalu Agu, death rumours, Nollywood, defamation, social media.
Leave a comment