Toyin Abraham, Funke Akindele’s ‘Snub’ Moment At Premiere Sparks Fresh Rift Talks
The Nollywood industry was abuzz on Sunday night following a viral moment involving Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham at the premiere of Return of Arinze, a film directed by Iyabo Ojo.
The star-studded event, held at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos ahead of the film’s April 3 cinema release, drew several prominent figures across the entertainment industry.
Guests in attendance included Rita Dominic, Mo Abudu, Femi Adebayo, Odunlade Adekola, Florence Ita-Giwa, Eniola Badmus, AY Makun and Shaffy Bello, among others.
However, what was intended to celebrate Ojo’s directorial debut was quickly overshadowed by a video clip that circulated widely on social media.
In the footage, Abraham, dressed in a purple gown, is seen greeting colleagues before approaching a table where Akindele was seated alongside other guests.
Abraham appeared to greet Akindele warmly, touching her arm and leaning in to speak for several seconds. Akindele, however, maintained a forward gaze and did not visibly acknowledge the greeting in the moment captured on camera.
Apparently, Toyin Abraham knelt down as always to greet Funke Akindele at The Return of Arinzo movie premiere but she ignored and kept a straight face. Why though? That’s embarrassing. pic.twitter.com/5vZlcTlyKA
— Oluwatobi (@_tobyblush) March 29, 2026
Second Attempt
In a subsequent attempt, Abraham moved along the table to greet other guests. During this interaction, a part of her outfit reportedly brushed against Akindele’s hair, prompting the latter to adjust it without engaging Abraham.
A second attempt by Abraham to initiate a response also appeared to go unanswered.
The clip quickly gained traction online, triggering widespread debate, with opinions divided over whether the interaction reflected deliberate disregard or was simply misunderstood.
Shortly after the incident, Abraham appeared to express her displeasure in a now-deleted social media post.
Screenshots circulating online show a comment attributed to her stating, “I have unfollowed her. God forbid a bad thing. If I ever greet her again, that means….”
Checks on their socials indicated that both actresses had unfollowed each other on Instagram, further fuelling speculation about renewed tension between them.
