IN SHORT: Contrary to online claims, popular Nollywood actor Zack Orji is very much alive.
A Facebook post claims that Nigerian actor Zack Orji has died.
The post, dated 23 March 2024, reads: “BREAKING! Reports just reaching me now that Another Nollywood Legend, Zack Orji Reported Dead!! Rest well, you fought gallantly to survive. God what's going on.”
The Nigerian film industry is popularly known as Nollywood. According to some reports, the industry will be worth $14.8 billion by 2025.
Similar posts about Orji’s alleged death were found here and here.
Celebrities in Nigeria are often the target of false death rumours. But has Orji passed away? We checked.
‘I’m in good health’
The actor was reportedly taken to hospital on 31 December 2023 with an undisclosed illness.
In an Instagram video on 8 April 2024, he said: “I’m in good health and sound mind.”
The National Film and Video Censors Board said the actor was still alive.
The organisation’s executive director Dr Shaibu Husseini told Africa Check: “I am confirming to you that it is just a mere rumour. Zack Orji is ill. They are making arrangements to fly him abroad for further treatment, but he is not dead. I don't know where they got the story from. It is misinformation, maybe to gain traction on their social media platform.”
Emeka Rollas, national president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, also refuted the claim that Orji had died.
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