VIDEO: Netizens react as Funke Akindele snubs Toyin Abraham at movie premiere

A viral video from a star-studded movie premiere in Lagos has reignited long-standing rumors of a rivalry between Nollywood icons Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi after Akindele appeared to repeatedly snub Ajeyemi’s attempts to greet her

A viral video from the star-studded premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s latest film, The Return of Arinzo, held in Lagos on Sunday, March 29, 2026, has sparked fresh controversy within the Nollywood industry. The footage captures actress Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi approaching a table where Funke Akindele was seated. Despite Ajeyemi appearing to say “Aunty Funke” in an attempt to initiate a greeting, Akindele maintained a stern expression and pointedly looked away without responding. The interaction became increasingly awkward as Ajeyemi proceeded to greet the man seated next to Akindele and Mercy Aigbe, before attempting once more to acknowledge Akindele, who continued to ignore her presence.

The incident has stunned many followers of the Nigerian film industry, as fans believed the two box-office titans had finally buried the hatchet in 2025 following public social media interactions and a friendly appearance at a prior premiere. The rumored rivalry dates back to 2021, when the simultaneous release of The Ghost and the Tout Too and Omo Ghetto: The Saga led to intense fan comparisons and allegations of professional friction. While Ajeyemi has frequently dismissed these rumors and praised Akindele’s work, the “real-life” tension displayed on Sunday suggests that the underlying issues between the two most successful female filmmakers in Nigeria may remain unresolved.

Moment Funke Akindele ignored Toyin Abraham twice 💔

At the Return of Arinzo premiere, Funke Akindele allegedly snubbed Toyin Abraham when she greeted her.

Apparently Funke Akindele ignored Toyin because she said…..Show more pic.twitter.com/ZEiCAirpKb

— Mazi Tee (@Mazitundeeednut) March 30, 2026

Public reaction to the video has been polarized, with social media platforms buzzing with heated debates over etiquette and authenticity. Some fans defended Akindele’s refusal to engage, with Instagram user seunfunmi_ewa commenting, “What I see in this video is what they call ‘let’s keep it real’. For her to ignore Toyin here definitely they’re not on talking terms before the premier, so why is she acting? for the camera? Just leave Funke alone.” Conversely, others praised Ajeyemi for taking the high road, as phoenix_akonam noted, “I am glad she tried greeting, and that happened, so that people will not just assume and blame Toyin.” As the video continues to trend, neither actress has issued an official statement regarding the encounter.

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