Veteran Yoruba Nollywood actor Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, has stirred conversation after sharing his unfiltered views on romantic relationships between bosses and apprentices in the theatre industry. In a viral interview on Feel Right News TV, the seasoned performer argued that consensual interest between a senior actor and a younger trainee is not inherently wrong, as long as no force or pressure is applied.
Taiwo Hassan stressed the importance of mutual agreement and personal boundaries.
“It’s not a crime for a boss to ask his apprentice out. Contentment is satisfaction. There shouldn’t be a problem with a boss dating his apprentice as long as he didn’t force her.”
He added that some individuals join theatre groups with more than just acting ambitions in mind.
“Some girls do learn theatre because they want to date the boss.”
Drawing from his own early days at the iconic Odunfa Theatre, the actor recalled how attraction often played a role in group dynamics.
“When I was at Odunfa then, some girls would come because of Yinka Quadri, some because of me, and some because of Abbey Lanre. You can come to me and I will ask if you don’t mind if we can be dating each other. There’s nothing bad in it.”
He acknowledged that such situations are not always one-sided and admitted to his own experiences without glorifying them.
“If I say I have never done it, I’ll be an hypocrite but we didn’t spoil each other’s lives over it. It’s only a problem if you promise the girl what you can’t deliver.”
The veteran’s comments have sparked mixed reactions online, with some praising his honesty about the realities of the theatre environment while others have raised concerns about power dynamics and the potential for exploitation in mentor-apprentice settings. Supporters argue that as long as both parties are adults and consent is clear, personal relationships should not be criminalised.
Taiwo Hassan, a household name in Yoruba cinema for decades, has built his reputation through consistent roles and a no-nonsense approach both on and off screen. His latest remarks reflect a broader conversation about relationships, consent, and professional boundaries within Nigeria’s entertainment industry, where close-knit theatre groups and film sets often blur the lines between work and personal life.