Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has addressed the controversy surrounding the perceived snub between Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham at the premiere of her film The Return of Arinzo in Lagos.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday night, showed Toyin approaching Funke and other guests to greet them, but Funke appeared not to acknowledge her before walking away—sparking widespread reactions online.
Reacting via Instagram on Tuesday, Iyabo clarified that the moment was tied to a deeper, long-standing tension between the two actresses.
“For those maligning my character… this is the first and last time I will be talking about anything like this,” she wrote, before revealing her past efforts to reconcile both parties.
According to her, she had gone so far as to plead with both actresses to settle their differences.
“I tried my very best to settle both of them, cried, knelt down, begged both parties to embrace peace… they both later did,” she said, adding that there was an agreement to keep future issues private.
However, she explained that tensions resurfaced in December after Toyin allegedly raised concerns about her movie performance in cinemas, suggesting possible sabotage—an accusation that fans interpreted as directed at Funke, which reignited the rift.
Iyabo also addressed speculation about Toyin’s absence from The Return of Arinzo, revealing that the actress was initially cast but withdrew at the last minute.
“Toyin was supposed to be in it but said she was exhausted and had to travel… it cost me a lot to rewrite the story, but she apologized, we made up,” she explained.
Expressing disappointment over the renewed public drama, Iyabo said she no longer wishes to mediate between the two.
“Honestly, all this saddened me because the sky is big enough for all… at this point, I can’t beg anyone anymore. I honestly don’t want to get involved anymore.”
The situation escalated further after reports emerged that Toyin reacted to the incident online, allegedly stating, “If I ever greet her again, that means I’m a bastard,” before deleting the comment.
Both actresses have also reportedly unfollowed each other on Instagram, fueling speculation that their relationship may have deteriorated again.
Despite the controversy, Iyabo reaffirmed her support for both colleagues and announced that The Return of Arinzo will hit cinemas nationwide from April 3.
