The glitz and glamour of Sunday night couldn’t mask the underlying friction as the rumoured feud between Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham finally reached a breaking point.
The tension between the two stars took center stage at Iyabo Ojo’s “Return of Arinzo” premiere, turning a high-profile red carpet into a very public showdown.
What should have been a night of celebration for Nollywood turned into a moment of whispered intrigue, as guests watched an awkward exchange unfold between two of the industry’s biggest box office forces.
According to eyewitnesses at the star-studded event, Toyin approached a table where Funke was seated alongside Iyabo Ojo and Mercy Aigbe, exchanging warm pleasantries with the duo.
However, the atmosphere reportedly shifted the moment she turned her attention to Funke, who appeared unwilling to reciprocate the greeting.
Witnesses said Toyin politely greeted her, saying, “Aunty Funke, ekalẹ,” a Yoruba expression for “good evening,” but was met with silence.
Undeterred, Toyin was said to have repeated the greeting a second time, perhaps hoping it had gone unheard in the bustle of the venue, yet Funke still did not respond.
The snub, subtle yet unmistakable, quickly became the talking point of the evening, with several guests visibly stunned by the exchange.
Observers noted that Funke maintained her composure throughout, engaging in conversations with others at the table, while seemingly ignoring Toyin’s presence entirely.
For many industry watchers, the incident only confirmed what had long been speculated—a deep-seated rivalry that has simmered between the two actresses for years.
The relationship between Funke and Toyin has often been described as competitive at best, with both stars dominating the Nigerian box office and commanding massive fan bases.
Tensions appeared to escalate recently when Toyin publicly aligned with Kunle Afolayan, who had criticized Funke’s now-signature style of promoting films through energetic social media dance campaigns.
Author
Leave a comment