A video capturing Nollywood actress Funke Akindele ignoring her colleague Toyin Abraham at a recent movie premiere has gone viral, igniting widespread debate across social media platforms.
The highly publicized incident took place during the premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s new film, “The Return of Arinzo”. The star studded event was hosted at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos.
In the viral footage, Abraham is clearly seen attempting to greet Akindele at a table. However, Akindele did not acknowledge the gesture and “instead kept her gaze elsewhere,” completely ignoring her fellow actress. Following the snub, Abraham walked away from the table and proceeded to greet Ojo.
The awkward encounter quickly became a trending topic on social media, with fans and observers questioning the motives behind Akindele’s public reaction. Opinions on the matter have been sharply divided online.
“Some users argued that Akindele’s behaviour was childish,” the report noted, adding that “others suggested Abraham shouldn’t have greeted her if they were not on good terms.”
One social media user, identifying as Prince Adeshina, took to X to share their thoughts on the interaction.
“It was maturity on her part to greet Funke Akindele, but in return, Funke Akindele behaved like a child,” Adeshina posted. “I am not sorry,” they added.
Another user known as Tabliod offered a contrasting view.
“Toyin should have done the same,” the user wrote. “There is absolutely no reason you greet someone you are not in good terms with. Save the hypocrisy, no one needs it.”
Adding fuel to the controversy, Adeshina also claimed that the fallout has escalated online.
“First, Toyin Abraham has unfollowed Funke Akindele and has promised never to greet her again,” Adeshina alleged in a separate post. “Game on,” they declared.
While the exact origin of the tension between the two prominent actresses remains unclear, reports of past disagreements have circulated for years. Rumors of a feud first surfaced in 2021 following the release of Abraham’s film “The Ghost and the Tout Too”.
However, in 2024, Abraham publicly addressed the situation. She explained how external “rumours fuelled rivalry between her and Akindele,” which ultimately led to “damage and unhealthy competition” between them. At the time, she claimed that their relationship had improved after they both realized “they could both thrive without negativity.”
Representatives for either actress have yet to issue an official statement regarding the recent premiere incident.
