Posted by Chinenye on Fri 19th Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
eteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has addressed widespread online rumours suggesting he is critically ill, firmly dismissing the claims as false after videos about his health spread rapidly across social media.
(Francis Duru. Photo by GistLover)
Veteran Nollywood actor Francis Duru has come out to deny rumours that he is critically ill, calling videos circulating on social media about his health false and misleading.
In a video shared online, the actor responded to growing concern over his wellbeing after a string of posts alleged he was battling a terminal illness.
Addressing the claims directly, Duru insisted that the information being spread was untrue and urged members of the public to be cautious about believing everything they come across online.
He explained that he was making the video specifically to respond to the circulating claims about him being critically ill.
His clarification followed weeks of speculation fuelled by videos and posts suggesting he was seriously unwell.
After the actor spoke out, reactions on social media were mixed. Some users said they were relieved to hear directly from him, while others said they remained worried about his appearance.
A number of commenters also criticised the spread of unverified claims online, describing it as irresponsible and harmful.
Reactions from social media users
Several commenters condemned the spread of the false claims, with one describing it as an attempt to tarnish the actor's image for the sake of clicks, and another noting how easily fabricated content spreads online.
Other users, however, said they remained concerned despite his denial. Some said he appeared frail or unusually slim, with a few speculating that he might simply be on a diet, while others said his tone in the video itself sounded off to them.
One user expressed weariness with the steady stream of bad news involving public figures, while another dismissed the entire episode as another instance of Nigerian "fake news."
“I’m making this video regarding the video circulating online of me being critically ill.” — Veteran actor Francis Duru has debunked rumours of him being terminally ill. pic.twitter.com/wLncT4CfyU
— YabaLeftOnline (@yabaleftonline) June 19, 2026