Nollywood award-winning actor, Jim Iyke, whose real name is James Ikechukwu Esomugha has revealed that he paid fellow actor Uche Maduagwu to beat him up in their controversial altercation.
The actor added that it was all publicity stunt, for his film, ‘Bad Comments’.
Recall in August 2021, Jim Iyke, in a video which went viral, beat up Uche Maduagwu for questioning his source of wealth.
Following the viral video, many reactions trailed the internet, as to the reason Jim Iyke had to manhandle his fellow actor, even though it was obvious Uche Maduagwu has being a very controversial critic.
However, speaking in an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, on With Chude show, which was published on Wednesday, January 5, Jim Iyke noted that the incident ‘was orchestrated’.
“It was orchestrated, I can say it now. I’ve given you two scripts. Do I look like the kind of person that just before the introduction of one of the most important works in my entire career would go and jeopardize it with that? No, I’m too strategic,” he said.
While disclosing the reason for pulling such a stunt, the actor added: “I wanted to tell them to paint the picture of what it was like in the social media ecosystem. I can orchestrate anything and you will perceive it. It’s about perception.”
Iyke then disclosed that he paid Maduagwu and they had an agreement before the event took place.
“I called the man; we had an understanding. I paid very well for it, rolled out the script, called Moses in, we shot it and we’re about to release the ending of it. I’m not stupid. I will never make that kind of mistake,” he said.
Iyke added that the effect of the stunt gave his film, ‘Bad Comments’, a needed publicity.
“We buried over ₦20m in the promotion of that film and people were still viewing it with a certain degree of cynicism. Immediately there was a scandal, it caught fire,” he noted.
Watch video below.