Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele has finally spoken out amid swirling controversies, including recent allegations of underpaying actor and skit maker Ijoba Lande.
In a candid conversation with media personality Chude Jideonwo, the award-winning actress and producer opened up like never before, revealing how personal tragedies and public scrutiny nearly broke her.
Akindele, known for her strong public persona, admitted:
“I do not like to mourn… I almost died.”
She detailed how the compounded weight of losing her mother, going through a failed marriage, suffering a crushing political defeat, and raising her children alone had pushed her to the edge.
“My heart was aching, and something happened online. For the first time, I went live on social media, and I’m like, you all should leave me alone.”
On the issue of Ijoba Lande, who previously accused her of paying him just N90,000 for a month of work, Funke denied knowing him personally:
“This person came to act in my movie, got paid, and left. Why are you accusing me of something I didn’t do wrong?”
She continued:
“Do you know what I’m going through? I lost my mum, my marriage fell apart, I lost in politics, and I have to get back to work. I have children I’m raising alone, and you are stressing me. So, for the first time, I cried. I broke down for weeks.”
In a twist, Ijoba Lande later apologised to the actress, correcting the record that he was actually paid N190,000 not N90,000 as he had initially claimed.
Fans and celebrities have since rallied around Akindele, praising her resilience and calling for more empathy in the face of her vulnerability.
