Days after Daniel Etim-Effiong dominated conversations with his performance in “The Herd”, the actor is trending again this time for a viral kissing scene with Bolaji Ogunmola in the new film “Summer Rain.”
What began as praise for the pair’s on-screen chemistry quickly spiralled into a heated debate online, drawing millions of views and thousands of comments about marriage, boundaries, professionalism and romantic roles in Nollywood.
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Etim-Effiong portrayed Admichi Amadi, while Ogunmola took on the role of Murewa in Summer Rain.
On Tuesday, an X user known as Timi of Lagos posted a teaser from the film, remarking that no actors in Nollywood kiss better on-screen than Etim-Effiong and Ogunmola.
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Some users criticised Etim-Effiong for taking what they described as an excessive number of romantic roles despite being married, questioning why he appears in more kissing scenes than many unmarried actors.
While many agreed with that line of argument, others pushed back, defending the actor and insisting he was simply doing his job, a job they argued “puts food on his table”.
As the dragging intensified, some commenters joked that they could never marry an actor or actress because watching their partner “twist tongues in the name of acting” would be impossible to tolerate.
Below, PREMIUM TIMES highlights some of the reactions sparked by the viral clip.
Reactions
Ogunmola responds
However, the actress responded to the viral kissing scene between herself and Etim-Effiong in the comment section of the post.
She stressed that the moment was not created for publicity or shock value—rather, it was necessary to convey the film’s narrative, which required an intense and authentic portrayal of love, conflict, and vulnerability.
She explained that the kiss was purely for the purpose of the film and did not reflect any real-life romantic relationship between her and Daniel Etim-Effiong.
The actress added that the scene required a deep emotional connection and, as trained actors, they had to tap into the feelings needed to deliver a believable performance.
“Sigh. Honestly, the whole dragging is okay if people understand and maybe even watch the film. You clearly just want to have an opinion on something you have no knowledge about. As an actor, when a scene carries emotional weight, you must deliver it sincerely. That’s what storytelling is all about.
“Before shooting the scene, the production team ensured proper preparation and consent. Workshops and rehearsals were done to handle the moment with care and maturity. Bolaji noted that Nollywood is evolving in how it handles romantic scenes. We can tell powerful love stories while still maintaining professional boundaries”, Ogunmola said.
Climax
She further questioned her critics, asking whether she was expected to feel uncomfortable around her co-actor.
“The fact that you still don’t understand that we want more people to watch it so we will continue to post about it. Do you think anyone is that important to explain to? Are you our family members?”
Meanwhile, Ogunmola, in a statement posted on her Instagram page on Wednesday, said that every film reaches its climax at some point, and that particular scene represented it.
She added that when working with talented actors such as Effiong, there is no cause for panic, only the need to relax and trust the process.
“I heard you were enjoying this scene in particular and figured I’d share this bts moment from when we filmed the scene and I couldn’t stop screaming. So, going into directing this scene, I knew exactly what I wanted it to look like. Here’s how it went. We did the first take and I didn’t feel it. It felt like yet another scene and everyone on set was quiet. It did not evoke the feelings that it needed to. So, I helped them remember the journey that brought Admichi and Murewa to this moment.
“This scene was 10 years of tension that finally exploded and we needed to see it, feel it, desire it. So, on the second take, when I saw the tears pour down Bolaji Ogunmola’s face and that single tear fall as Etim Effiong held her face and stared into her eyes, I knew we had just made pure art! And yes, I couldn’t stop screaming. Yes, there’s the kiss but the beauty in this scene is much more than that”, she noted.
Backstory
While the actor has yet to respond to the criticism, this newspaper learnt that Etim-Effiong, during an interview on “Rubbin’ Minds”, said he often turned to prayer before performing any intimate scene in a film.
Etim-Effiong explained that his spiritual approach shaped his on-set routine and acknowledged that his frequent appearances in romantic roles, and the kissing scenes that come with them attracted public attention.
He, however, redirected the conversation to producers and audience expectations, suggesting that the industry remains heavily dependent on one familiar, marketable form of intimacy.
He said, “I believe that work is an expression of worship. When God made Adam, He placed him in the garden and instructed him to tend it; that act of obedience became his expression of worship. In my reality, my family is my garden, then my work; so it all becomes purposeful to me. The fact that I play a lot of romantic roles in the industry means I sometimes have to perform kissing scenes. I guess people feel it has become a bit too frequent, but the question should be directed to the producers: why is affection and intimacy often expressed in just one way?
“There are several other ways to show it. In most Nollywood scripts, you open a page and see, ‘they kiss passionately’. It’s done deliberately because that’s what sells, that’s what the audience wants. It’s simply a matter of demand and supply. However, I think the braver thing to do is to explore other forms of intimacy and find new ways to express affection. That, to me, is the way forward.”
However, this newspaper reported in March that Toyosi Etim-Effiong, the actor’s wife, dismissed concerns about her husband’s on-screen romance, saying he is free to kiss as many actresses as he wishes.
“You are my God-ordained husband. You can kiss as many girls as you like,” she said on her Transparent Talk Show.
Her response followed fans’ questions about how she felt regarding his intimate scenes in a new film, where he shared a passionate kiss with a fellow actress.
Toyosi said she is frequently asked about his roles, but it does not trouble her because he always returns home to her.
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