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  • “I Really Tried To Reach You” — Funke Akindele Breaks Down Over Alexx Ekubo’s Reported Death

    Popular Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has reacted emotionally to the reported death of fellow actor Alexx Ekubo, revealing that she repeatedly tried to see and speak with him before his passing.

    The actress shared the tribute on her Instagram page while reflecting on their final conversations and the unanswered messages she sent to him.

    “You Kept Saying You Were Fine”

    Funke Akindele disclosed that she constantly checked on the actor through calls, chats and voice notes, but he repeatedly assured her that he was okay.

    “I really tried to reach out to see you one more time, but guess you knew best. May your kind soul rest in peace Alex,” she wrote.

    In another emotional message, the actress admitted she was devastated after realising the reunion they discussed would never happen.

    “It’s so hard. Chai. Going through all the messages I sent. You kept telling me you are fine. I kept sending voice notes. Alex. Chai. God knows best. I really wanted to see you!!! You said we will see soon. You ghosted me. Chai. Rest well ore mi,” she added.

    Fans React To Emotional Tribute

    Her tribute quickly sparked emotional reactions online, with many fans sympathising with the actress and describing the message as painful and heartfelt.

    Several Nigerians flooded social media with prayers and condolences, while others said the post reflected the hidden struggles many people quietly battle behind closed doors.

    The tribute has also reignited conversations around Alexx Ekubo’s disappearance from social media months before reports of his death surfaced online.

    Tributes Continue Pouring In

    Since news of the actor’s reported passing emerged, colleagues, fans and public figures within the entertainment industry have continued to mourn him online.

    Alexx Ekubo was widely recognised for his roles in Nollywood films, television productions and comedy projects, becoming one of the most familiar faces in the Nigerian movie industry.

  • Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind the Scenes’ Leaves AMVCA 2026 Without Award Despite ₦2bn Box Office Run

    Funke Akindele’s blockbuster film Behind the Scenes has become one of the biggest talking points following the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) after the movie failed to secure a single award despite multiple nominations and record-breaking commercial success.

    The film, which dominated Nollywood conversations for months, went into the AMVCA with nominations in several major categories, including Best Movie, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor.

    Major Nominations, No Win

    Behind the Scenes starred Scarlet Gomez as a wealthy real estate mogul dealing with family pressure and financial responsibility often described as “black tax.”

    The movie also featured Funke Akindele, Uzor Arukwe, Tobi Bakre, Iyabo Ojo, and several other top actors.

    Despite its strong nomination run, the awards went to other productions during the ceremony held in Lagos on Saturday night.

    Linda Ejiofor emerged as one of the biggest acting winners after clinching Best Lead Actress for The Serpent’s Gift and Best Supporting Actress for The Herd.

    Meanwhile, My Father’s Shadow dominated the night with wins for Best Movie, Best Director, and several technical categories.

    Film Breaks Nollywood Records

    Although the film left the AMVCA empty-handed, Behind the Scenes had already secured its place in Nollywood history through its box office performance.

    Distributed by FilmOne Entertainment, the movie became the first Nollywood production to cross the ₦2 billion mark at the box office.

    Reports also showed that the film generated between ₦2.1 billion and ₦2.7 billion domestically while setting multiple records across Nigeria and diaspora markets.

    The movie reportedly became the fastest West African film to hit ₦1 billion and also emerged as the highest-grossing Nigerian film in Africa, the UK, and Ireland.

    It further recorded the biggest single-day gross in Nollywood history on Boxing Day.

    Debate Over Awards and Commercial Success

    The outcome has since reignited conversations about the gap between commercial success and award recognition in Nollywood.

    While films like My Father’s Shadow gained critical acclaim and dominated jury votes, blockbuster productions such as Behind the Scenes continue driving the industry’s financial growth and cinema culture.

    Funke Akindele, already regarded as one of Nollywood’s biggest commercial filmmakers, has consistently dominated the box office in recent years with projects like A Tribe Called Judah and Everybody Loves Jenifa.

    The film was also recently released on Netflix, further expanding its global reach.

    Mixed Reactions Trail AMVCA Outcome

    Reactions online have remained divided since the awards night, with many fans expressing disappointment over the movie’s shutout despite its cultural impact and commercial dominance.

    Others, however, argued that awards are often based on artistic and technical considerations rather than box office numbers alone.

    As conversations continue after AMVCA 2026, Behind the Scenes remains one of Nollywood’s most commercially successful productions, proving once again that audience acceptance and award recognition do not always go hand in hand.

  • Funke Akindele Explains Why She No Longer Attends Physical Church Services

    Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has said she no longer attends physical church services on Sundays, citing discomfort over constant public attention during worship.

    Actress speaks on church absence

    In a video shared on her Snapchat on Sunday, the filmmaker was seen preparing her children for church while explaining her decision.

    “Do not ask if I am going to church. I am not going to church. Anytime I go to church, it is me that they take picture of. I will join online,” she said.

    Distraction from media attention

    Akindele explained that the frequent attention from both media and fellow worshippers has made it difficult for her to participate fully in church activities.

    The actress, known to attend the Celestial Church, suggested that the lack of privacy has affected her ability to worship without distractions.

    Mixed reactions trail decision

    Her comments have since sparked debate across social media, with users sharing differing opinions.

    Some supported her stance, arguing that celebrities deserve privacy even in places of worship, while others insisted that physical fellowship remains important.

    One user wrote, “She is right, even church no get privacy again for celebrities,” while another added, “Online church is not the same thing, physical fellowship matters.”

    The development has further stirred conversations around privacy, celebrity culture, and worship practices in Nigeria.

  • Funke Akindele Calls Out Air Peace Over London Flight Delay, Stranded Passengers

    Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has criticised Air Peace over what she described as poor handling of a prolonged flight delay that left passengers stranded at London’s Gatwick Airport.

    Passengers left waiting for hours

    Akindele raised the alarm on Friday, saying travellers had been at the airport since early morning without clear communication from the airline.

    “Passengers (including elderly people) have been stranded since 6:30am… with no proper communication,” she wrote.

    She said the delay was initially attributed to a bird strike, with promises of hotel accommodation that were yet to be fulfilled.

    Frustration over lack of support

    According to the actress, passengers remained at the baggage claim area for hours without access to their luggage, food, or rest.

    She added that elderly passengers were struggling, while families were exhausted from the long wait.

    “People are still sitting at baggage claim hungry, exhausted, and without their bags,” she said.

    Situation persists despite complaints

    In a follow-up post shared with a video, Akindele said the situation had not improved several hours later.

    “Since 7am… it’s almost 4pm — no bags, no hotel, no proper updates. Passengers are stranded,” she stated.

    She called on the airline to release passengers’ luggage and provide immediate assistance.

    Air Peace responds to backlash

    Air Peace, in its response, expressed regret over the situation and said the disruption was caused by factors beyond its control.

    The airline noted that safety remains a priority and assured that efforts were ongoing to assist affected passengers.

    It urged travellers to remain patient while arrangements were being made.

    As of the time of filing this report, there was no confirmation that luggage had been released or that hotel accommodation had been provided.

  • Funke Akindele Reacts to Viral Clip Claiming She Snubbed Pasuma at Event

    Popular Nollywood actress Funke Akindele has reacted to a trending video online claiming she snubbed Fuji musician Pasuma at a public event.

    The clip, shared on X by user @UOladiti, alleged that the actress ignored a greeting from the music star, sparking widespread reactions on social media.

    https://twitter.com/i/status/2048179051567763636

    Akindele Clears the Air

    Responding via her X page, Funke Akindele dismissed the allegation, insisting the claim was false and misleading.

    “Snub? Hell no. Stop the negativity pls. I saw him, greeted him, danced with him. Pasuma is my Egbon. Pls you all should stop this evil,” she wrote.

    She added that she holds Pasuma in high regard and would never ignore him in public.

    Details of the Encounter

    The actress explained that she met Pasuma at Fathia Williams’ 55th birthday celebration, where they exchanged greetings and even danced together.

    She further supported her clarification with a video clip showing a warm interaction between both entertainers.

    Online Debate Continues

    The original post gained traction amid comparisons to a previous viral moment involving alleged tension between Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham at a movie premiere.

    While some users questioned the initial clip, others praised Akindele for addressing the matter directly and clarifying the situation.

    The incident has once again highlighted how quickly celebrity moments can be misinterpreted and amplified online.

  • Toyin Abraham Unfollows Funke Akindele after Public Snub at Iyabo Ojo Premiere

    What was meant to be a milestone night for veteran actress Iyabo Ojo has been largely overshadowed by a viral moment between two of Nollywood‘s biggest names, Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, after a widely circulated video showed Akindele appearing to deliberately ignore Abraham’s greeting at Sunday night’s premiere.

    The incident occurred at the premiere of Iyabo Ojo’s film, The Return of Arinzo, held at the Balmoral Event Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    What happened

    Funke Akindele was seated at the same table as Iyabo Ojo and Mercy Aigbe when Toyin Abraham came over to greet them. While Ojo and Aigbe both acknowledged Abraham’s greeting, Akindele looked away and said nothing, completely ignoring her colleague. Abraham was visibly left in an awkward position and walked away from the table.

    A separate angle of the same incident shows Abraham, dressed in a purple gown, arriving at the table after the screening was about to begin, greeting those present. Akindele maintained a stern expression and did not respond.

    Toyin Abraham reacts

    Abraham did not let the moment pass quietly. She unfollowed Akindele on Instagram shortly after the event and made her feelings known publicly. “I have unfollowed her. God forbid a bad thing. If I ever greet her again, that means I am a bastard,” she wrote.

    Akindele subsequently unfollowed Abraham, and both actresses are no longer following each other on the platform. Neither has issued a formal statement explaining the root of the current tension.

    The controversy has inadvertently dominated conversations that should have centred on Iyabo Ojo’s directorial debut. The Return of Arinzo, scheduled for a cinema release on April 3, attracted a star-studded audience, including Rita Dominic, Mo Abudu, Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, Florence Ita-Giwa, AY Comedian, and Shaffy Bello. Many observers have noted that the viral snub clip has eclipsed the film’s launch entirely.

    The tension between the two actresses has deep roots, though its exact origins have never been publicly confirmed by either party.

    The most recent flashpoint came in early February 2026, when filmmaker Kunle Afolayan publicly criticised the use of dance skits and social media challenges as a film promotion strategy, a method closely associated with Akindele. Toyin Abraham was seen as having sided with Afolayan’s position, a stance widely interpreted as a slight against Akindele. Iyabo Ojo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, and Mo Abudu all weighed in on the debate at the time