Iyabo Ojo’s movie premiere for The Return of Arinzo turned into a night of glamour and unexpected tension on Sunday in Lagos. The red carpet event drew Nollywood’s top names under bright lights and clicking cameras as stars arrived in stylish looks and greeted one another.
The real attention, however, shifted to a front-row table where Funke Akindele sat with Iyabo Ojo and Mercy Aigbe. Toyin Abraham walked over, paying pleasantries to the actresses and offered a respectful greeting to Funke Akindele as well but Funke stayed expressionless and gave no reply at all. Toyin appeared surprised and uncomfortable in full view of the crowd and cameras as she gently retreated from the table.
The clip of the embarrassing moment spread rapidly online.
Toyin Abraham moved quickly to express her displeasure about the interaction. She unfollowed Funke Akindele on Instagram and shared a direct message in a post that read,
“I have unfollowed her. God forbid bad thing. If I ever greet her again, that means I am a bastard.”
Funke later unfollowed her in return.
The two actresses have been cast as box-office rivals for years. Fans frequently compare their projects and look for any sign of shade between them. Past issues have involved film sequels and other perceived slights.
Last year the pair appeared to move past those differences. Toyin celebrated Funke’s birthday, attended one of her premieres, and wrote an open letter praising her N1 billion cinema achievement. They also shared lighter moments together, such as dancing at a separate event.
More recently Toyin teased plans for an Alakada sequel. Some observers linked it to Funke’s Jenifa franchise direction, and Toyin responded with a post about personal growth and moving forward.
Read Toyin Abraham Slams Funke Akindele Fan Before Celebrating Major Award
Many argue Funke Akindele could have shown basic courtesy during the exchange. Public premieres bring the industry together in front of fans and cameras, and a simple acknowledgment would have kept the focus on the celebration. Any personal matters would have been better handled in private instead of turning a festive night into fresh online debate.
As at the time of making this report, neither actress has added further public comment. The video keeps circulating and fans remain divided, with some praising Toyin’s directness and others supporting Funke’s choice to stay silent. Whether this marks a lasting split or another brief flare-up in their closely watched relationship remains to be seen.