Nollywood Actresses Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham Spark Rivalry Rumors After Public Snub

A viral video from the star-studded premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s directorial debut, The Return of Arinzo, has reignited long-standing rumors of a rift between Nollywood icons Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham.

The incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos, where Abraham was seen moving through the venue to exchange pleasantries with her colleagues. In the widely circulated footage, Abraham, dressed in a vibrant purple gown, approaches a table where Akindele is seated alongside industry figures such as Mercy Aigbe and Shaffy Bello.

Abraham appears to greet Akindele warmly, even touching her arm, but Akindele maintains a forward gaze and does not visibly acknowledge her presence, leading many to interpret the moment as a deliberate public snub.

The fallout from the event was swift, as Toyin Abraham reportedly expressed her frustration in a now-deleted social media comment, stating that she has officially unfollowed Akindele and vowing never to greet her again.

Checks on Instagram shortly after the premiere confirmed that both actresses had mutually unfollowed each other, a move that fans have interpreted as a confirmation of renewed hostilities.

This development is particularly surprising to some observers, as Akindele had publicly defended both herself and Abraham against online body-shaming just days prior, an act many viewed as a sign of industry solidarity.

The perceived rivalry between the two cinema “queens” has spanned over a decade, often fueled by their intense competition for box office supremacy.

As of early 2026, both women have achieved historic milestones; Abraham’s Oversabi Aunty became the first solo directorial debut by a female to cross ₦1 billion in February, while Akindele’s Behind The Scenes recently became the first Nollywood film to surpass the ₦2 billion mark.

While neither actress has issued a formal statement regarding the Sunday night encounter, the incident has dominated online discourse, with netizens divided between those who criticize the snub as “childish” and others who argue that Akindele was simply maintaining her personal boundaries.

 

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