Sunday night had the Nollywood industry buzzing after a fresh controversy went viral online, involving Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham at the premiere of The ‘Return of Arinzo,’ a film directed by Iyabo Ojo.
The star-studded event, held on Sunday at the Balmoral Event
Centre in Lagos ahead of the film’s 3 April cinema release, was expected to
celebrate Ojo’s directorial debut.
The premiere was attended by prominent figures, including
Rita Dominic, Mo Abudu, Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, Florence Ita-Giwa,
Iyabo Ojo, Eniola Badmus, AY Comedian and Shaffy Bello, among many others.
However, attention quickly shifted after a video surfaced
online that many interpreted as a public snub.
This Funke Akindele stupid no be small pic.twitter.com/sekeievFoA
— 𝓔𝓵𝓾𝓭𝓪𝔂𝓸 𝓑𝓲𝓫𝓲𝓽𝓪𝔂𝓸 ♥︎ (@eludayo_1) March 29, 2026
Enter snub
In the widely circulated clip, Abraham, donning a purple
gown, is seen moving around the venue, greeting colleagues before approaching a
table where Akindele was seated alongside other industry figures, including
Mercy Aigbe, Shaffy Bello and Iyabo Ojo.
Abraham appeared to greet Akindele warmly, touching her arm
and leaning in to address her for more than 5 seconds. Akindele, however,
maintained a forward gaze throughout the moment caught on cam and did not
visibly acknowledge the greeting.
Abraham then moved to greet other prominent guests seated to
the right of Akindele.
However, the extended part of her dress [chest region]
accidentally brushed against Funke Akindele’s hair. Akindele turned sideways to
adjust her hair on her own but did not respond to Abraham’s greeting.
Even when Abraham made a second attempt—presumably in case
Akindele hadn’t heard the first greeting—there was still no response.
The footage quickly gained traction on social media, sparking intense debate among netizens, with opinions sharply divided over whether the moment reflected deliberate disregard or a misunderstood interaction.
Immediate fallout
Shortly after the incident, Abraham expressed displeasure in
a now-deleted post.
In widely circulated screenshots of her comment under an
Instagram post, she wrote: “I have unfollowed her. God forbid a bad thing. If I
ever greet her again, that means I’m a bastard!”
Subsequent checks confirmed that Abraham had unfollowed
Akindele on Instagram, and that Akindele had reportedly returned the gesture.
The mutual unfollowing has further fuelled speculation that tensions between the two actresses may have resurfaced.
Open wounds, long-running rivalry
The latest development has reignited long-standing
discussions about a perceived rivalry between the two Nollywood stars, one that
has spanned over a decade.
Their relationship is often traced back to the early 2010s
within the Yoruba film sector, where Akindele had already established herself
as a leading figure, while Abraham was emerging as a formidable contender.
Industry gossip and fan comparisons reportedly intensified competition,
creating factions and amplifying tensions.
By 2021, the rivalry reached a peak during a high-profile
box office clash between Akindele’s Omo Ghetto: The Saga and Abraham’s The
Ghost and the Tout Too.
Their 2024/2025 also featured a major box-office clash
between the actresses over ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ and Toyin Abraham’s
‘Alakada: Bad and Boujee,’ which sparked intense allegations of bias in
screening practices.
Allegations of behind-the-scenes competition and negative
narratives surfaced at the time, although none were formally substantiated.
Reconciliation attempts
Despite the tension, there have been notable efforts to ease
relations. In April 2024, Abraham publicly addressed the issue in an Instagram
post, acknowledging that industry gossip and unhealthy competition had
contributed to the narrative. She called for a more positive outlook, stating
that both actresses could thrive without rivalry.
Akindele responded briefly and amicably, a move many
interpreted as an acceptance of the olive branch.
Further signs of reconciliation emerged in September 2025,
when both actresses were seen grooving and interacting warmly at a movie
premiere, sparking optimism among fans that the long-running speculation had
finally been laid to rest.
However, intermittent reports of subtle avoidance and
fan-driven comparisons persisted into 2026, suggesting that the relationship
may not have fully stabilised.
Ironically, just days before the latest incident, Akindele
had publicly defended both herself and Abraham against online body-shaming, a
gesture that some observers viewed as a sign of solidarity.
The events of Sunday night, 29 March, have now cast doubt on
that perception.
Bigger picture
Beyond personal dynamics, the comparison between the two
actresses has long been tied to their commercial achievements.
Akindele is widely regarded as Nollywood’s leading box
office force, with multiple record-breaking films, while Abraham remains a
consistent top performer with a strong fan base and successful releases.
The duo have both recorded major box-office milestones, with
Abraham’s ‘Oversabi Aunty’ surpassing ₦1 billion in February 2026, making her
the first debut solo director to achieve the feat, while Akindele’s ‘Behind The
Scenes’ (December 2025) grossed ₦2.4 billion.
Good morning, Akindele’s ‘BTS’ became the first Nollywood
film to cross ₦2 billion, and good morning, reinforcing her record as the
industry’s highest-grossing filmmaker with multiple billion-naira titles.
In recognition of these achievements, both actresses were
honoured by the National Film and Video Censors Board for their outstanding
commercial success and contributions to the growth of the Nigerian film
industry.
This competitive backdrop has continued to shape public
perception of their relationship, often amplified by fan narratives and social
media discourse.
As of this report, neither Akindele nor Abraham has issued
an official statement addressing the incident directly. With the story still
developing, the internet is anticipating either possible clarifications or
further unfolding in the coming days.
Reactions
The incident has dominated online conversations, with
reactions ranging from criticism to defence of both parties. While some social
media users have accused Akindele of public disrespect, others argue that
personal boundaries should be respected.
Supporters of Abraham, meanwhile, have praised her response,
describing her decision to unfollow as justified.
The situation has also inadvertently overshadowed Iyabo
Ojo’s milestone premiere, with many observers noting that the controversy has
eclipsed the film’s launch.
People would want to say funke Akindele is this and that, but it was clear before this event they weren't on talking terms, they could have resolved it before today, but toyin chose today of all days with cameras everywhere to do eye service greeting..she deserve it kpa 😂
— Victor Ogbaegbe 🇨🇦💐 (@naughty_libra07) March 29, 2026
Showing the public that you have issues with someone even while they are greeting you and kneeling down is beyond disgusting. One thing I love politicians for is no matter the issue between them, they greet and welcome each other as long term friends. Funke embarrassing Toyin to…
— One Voice (@speakout24) March 29, 2026
Well, let's just say she no Sabi put people for mind come dey fake smile. If she's got issues with you, you'll see it in her attitude. Some people are naturally like. Wealth or no wealth.
— YoSocial (@yosocialng) March 29, 2026
Now that is an actual rudeness you people should address and not what OmoT did.
— Ebo Emakhu (QrisEbo) (@EboEmakhu) March 29, 2026
This was RUDE and I don’t care whatever the beef was - the fact that the person you’re beefing with greeted you in public and even call you “aunty” on top, the least you can do is give a fake smile…
Dang! Pretending to be in good terms with someone when you’re truly not is a sin to Funke 😆
— 𝓑𝓞$𝓤𝓝 𝓛𝓘𝓞𝓝 🦁 (@bosun_xuser) March 29, 2026
She probably has a grudge, maybe from the kunle afolayan incident were toyin sided with kunle against Funke.
Moral: As a person you try Dey embrace self awareness.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayWe all judge Funke for her reaction, but let’s ask ourselves what Toyin Abraham could have done to deserve such a snub. Funke wouldn’t snub her like that if Toyin hadn’t done something behind the scenes that we know nothing about.
— Adua Abdulgafar (@adua_abdulgafar) March 29, 2026
Let’s not pretend Funke is the bad one.
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