A creative dispute has erupted in Nollywood as filmmaker Lily Perez accused fellow director Chinneylove of allegedly copying elements from her film, A KRISTMAS TO LOVE. Perez claims that the similarities between the two movies point to a troubling lack of originality.
On her Instagram, Perez detailed several parallels, citing similarities in the lead character’s name, key plot points, and even specific scenes. According to her, these overlaps go beyond coincidence and suggest a clear case of creative deficiency.
“So our film, A KRISTMAS TO LOVE, came out on December 4, 2025—my birthday—and three weeks later another popular writer/producer clearly stole our storyline and tweaked it,” Perez wrote. “The disrespect to viewers is mind-boggling.”
Perez highlighted that her lead character, named Kristmas, was mirrored in Chinneylove’s film, which also features a female lead called Christmas. She also pointed to nearly identical scenes, such as moments involving one lead caring for the other when sick, albeit with minor gender role reversals. The storyline—a young man who initially dislikes Christmas but finds love along the way—further intensified her claims.
“This isn’t just about a familiar theme; it’s about copying another writer’s work without any creativity,” Perez added, expressing frustration over the perceived similarities in casting and character choices. She also praised her fans for noticing the parallels and raising awareness.
Chinneylove, however, strongly denied the allegations, insisting that her film was entirely original. She explained that the story was conceived independently and written by her on her bed, long before filming began.
In her defense, Chinneylove said an actor on set mentioned the resemblance on the first day of filming, but she dismissed it as a common coincidence in the rom-com genre. “If I had bought the script or story idea from someone, it would have been a concern. But everything in my film was 100% my idea,” she explained.
She elaborated that even if she had been aware of a similar storyline, she would have adapted or changed elements to make it distinct. “As filmmakers, we constantly tweak stories and characters on set. Using the same actor, the same character name, and the same backstory intentionally would make no sense. Everything in my film was conceived independently.”
Chinneylove also reflected on the dynamics of online accusations, questioning why the situation quickly escalated into claims of plagiarism due to her large platform. “Remember, there are always different sides to every story. What if my film had come out first? Would this even be a controversy?”
This clash highlights the increasingly common disputes in Nollywood, where overlapping story ideas and creative inspirations can lead to public allegations. Both filmmakers maintain their positions, leaving audiences and industry insiders debating whether the similarities are coincidental or evidence of creative borrowing.