Sometime before the end of 2018, one of Nigeria’s top actresses, Toyin Abraham was in the company of one of her allies; Nkechi Blessing at the office a mutual friend. There was some sort of celebration, so everyone was having a good time.
But not long into the banters that inter-spaced the wining; another top artiste, Fathia Balogun Williams joined the already full room. As soon as she walked in, the air of camaraderie changed, and palpable tension enveloped the room.
Miss Balogun, whose face was full of excitement while at the door immediately wore a frown; this told everyone in the room that something was amiss.
It didn’t take long to know what was wrong though. As soon as Blessing looked back from her sit and saw who was coming; she leaped up like something burned her buttocks.
The plump actress ran towards Faithia Balogun and instantly crawled on her knees in apparent penitence from some offense she had committed against the much more accomplished Delta-born actress.
Before she made too much advance, Blessing started shouting her apologies. She swore she did not want to hurt the older actor and told of how this and that happened but Balogun walked past her like she did not exist. It was at the point that Abraham took over!
Even though still oblivious of what the misunderstanding may be about, she rained a bowl of abuses and curses on Blessing for ever contemplating anything that might offend Fathia Balogun.
In a matter of minutes, the three ladies dragged themselves out of the room and went into discussions that took the better part of one hour, after which they all came back in smiling with promises that whatever it was would never happen again.
Sources in the know told eelive.ng during the week that Fathia Balogun Williams’ hurt was about an earlier Instagram post where Ngozi Blessing had indicated that actresses, with the exception of one or two with legitimate means, indulged in pastimes like prostitution and such. eelive.ng learned that Williams felt really offended by this post and told everyone who cared to listen that she lived by legitimate means
That is an example of the frequent controversial spats and social media trolling and tantrum-throwing that have become commonplace among Nigerian entertainers, especially actresses.
For reasons other than promoting their craft, or for the promotion of their jobs; these actresses are carving niches for being in the news for mundane issues like boyfriend-snatching and allegations of bad-mouthing more successful colleagues successes.
When that happens, erstwhile friends become enemies not giving a scruple about washing the dirty linens in full public glare mostly to the chagrin of their fans.
eelive.ng gives you a few examples of these social media spats, which a few observers suggest are utter shameless unless that they are meant for some publicity ends.
Iyabo Ojo v Fathia Williams
Recently, top Yoruba Producer and actress, Iyabo Ojo in a cryptic Instagram post threw jibes; at an undisclosed colleague and former friend, that was later identified as Faithia Williams.
The hints she gave in the post, clearly gave out the personality her jibe was targeted at, even without mentioning names.
According to Ms. Ojo, she poked Williams for circulating false news about her being in a coma for three days, after all the supposed kind gestures she (Iyabo) has done for her in the past; which according to the former Included traveling to Turkey with her to celebrate her birthday two years before.
Eelive.ng findings reveal that Mrs. Williams, the 51-year-old who was at the receiving end of her friend’s vituperation, actually celebrated her 49th birthday two years ago in Turkey with the former in attendance.
In what appeared like a calculated verbal abuse, Ms. Ojo’s post was made on her friend’s birthday. Ojo, in her post, spoke about “One Agbaya in Nollywood”( shameless older person in Nollywood) who she also described as a ‘terrible person’ and a ‘witch.’
She went on: “You never cease to amaze me and I’m not surprised [because] you remain the number one agbaya in Nollywood… No self-respect at all. You envy the young ones and pretend to love the ones that you benefit from. Somehow at the end, you still are not loyal. O ku ku si ma tun te bo ni be ni ishh.( At last, you will end up disgraced over this issue)
”After all I did for you 2 years ago to celebrate your bday in Turkey, you still snitched on me giving media fake news that I was in a coma for 3 days. You wish bcos you knew about my surgery, I knew you hoped & prayed I died”
“That’s why you never came to see me afterward but guess what my God pass you, he is mightier than you, my God disappointed you & your team. I’m still living girl”, she continued.
“You are a witch!! Yes o!!… but guess what I’m that lioness who will always come out victorious no matter how hard you try to pull me down or destroy my name spiritually.”
“Darkness and light can never be on the same page & I make bold to say you are a terrible person. Back off, witch. Enjoy your birthday” she added.
Although some reports have fingered the cause of their public spat to rivalry over a certain man, who lives in Turkey, Ojo dismissed the suggestion insisting that her scuffle with the woman she one rollicked with was the report more of spiritual warfare than it is physical.
A source also told us that the allegations that William told lies about her friend may have come from rumours that Ms. Ojo has gone into a coma after a body enhancement surgery she was supposed to have had the European country a couple of years back.
Tonto Dikeh versus Toyin Lawani and Stella Dimoko
In November 2019, when popular blogger Stella Dimoko took on actress Tonto Dikeh, the social media was awash with assorted messy secrets uncovered.
Dimoko accused Tonto Dikeh of prostituting herself and living a fake life to deceive her fans on social media. The blogger further accused Miss Dikeh of contracting her to lead a campaign of calumny against Ms. Toyin Lawani, a celebrity fashion designer and actress with whom Dikeh had fallen out four years earlier.
Until 2015 when a major social media war broke out between the actresses Dikeh and Lawani, they were the best of friends.
But in that year, stories about a breach in confidence concerning the affection of a male interest broke the chord between the two-friend turning them into bitter enemies.
The two actresses called each other out employing all sorts of invectives to outdo each other. This duo ranted about the man alleged to have been and the cosmetic surgeries that they have embarked on or not.
Lawani accused her erstwhile friend of owning her $15,000.00, which she denied. And all of this came up again in 2019 when Dimoko alleged that she was hired to do dirt on Lawani.
Reacting to the allegations, Lawani posted: “Wow wow wow God is not Asleep o, God is not a sleeping God o. The same person you pay to tarnish my image is now ratting you out, pls everyone one grab your popcorn, I’m coming, wait.”
She did not get a corresponding reply from her old friend.
Lizzy Anjorin and Toyin Abraham
This was one of the most talked-about feuds in 2019. Liz Anjorin had taken to her Instagram account to poke fellow actress; Toyin Abraham of filing reports to the Saudi Arabian Government alleging that she was involved in trafficking of drugs traffics into the Middle East country.
According to Anjorin, this led to her being thoroughly searched at the airport. Anjorin also claimed that Abraham often opened fake social media accounts to troll her colleagues online.
Fans of both stars took sides with their favourite celebrities creating one of the most pronounced war of words on the Nigerian social media space. At some point, Abraham’s legal team threatened to sue Anjorin. In response, Anjorin’s lawyers also threatened to counter sue.
Their fight brewed and became even messier with Anjorin alleging that Abraham had delivered her baby, Ireoluwa, at a local trado-medical centre, contrary to her claims that she was delivered of the baby in a London, United Kingdom Hospital.
To put a lie on this allegation, Abraham shared a video of herself and son in a London hospital, in what appeared like a shortly after birth.
It took the intervention of the President of Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria, TAMPAN, Bolaji Amusan, to get both actresses to sheath their swords.
Anita Joseph and Uche Elendu
In November 2019, Anita Joseph called out her sometime best friend and colleague; Uche Elendu over perceived jealousy and disagreement in a much-publicised video.
Joseph alleged that Elendu who sells hair was unhappy with her because she was modeling hair for another brand. She alleged that this made her old friend contend that not having her friend on her side would detract from the credibility of her own products.
The beef got aggravated with both parties calling themselves unprintable names; until a fellow actress and queen of controversy, Tonto Dikeh intervened to pacify both camps.
Among other entertainers who have faced-off with each other on social media were MI and Vector, Tiwa Savage and Charles Anazodo.
Bad Press or Sensationalism
Contrary to the belief that controversy is bad press, it appears that the entertainers have found a way to turn these controversial altercations to their advantage.
PR Specialist, Godspower Oshodin told eelive.ng that “Although, different entertainers already knew what they want to be known for. From day one, some of them already made up their mind to thrive on controversy and sensationalism. It works for some, while it doesn’t work for some.”
Bewaji Francis, a lifestyle blogger agrees with Oshodin, he said: “You cannot separate entertainment from lifestyle; these two are like conjoined twins. Beyond seeing their favourite actresses on screen in movies and in music videos; fans are interested in how they live their everyday lives.”
“So these numerous gists give fans more to chew about how they live their lives. It’s good media material, and as a lifestyle blogger, these gist drives reaction for my blog.”
Speaking further, Oshodin explains that “Most of these actresses use these controversies to stay in the consciousness of their fans; even while they are not working on any project. They stay in the news, it helps them stay in Vogue. It’s good for them, for those who use it well.”
Bewaji thinks fans love crazy entertainers who are not regular. So news and drama over boyfriend-snatching, dissing one another, and the likes are a good catch for fans.
“You know people like to watch other people who have the guts to do what they cannot do personally. Hence, fans like to see their favorite celebrity pose make for a photoshoot or troll one another over boyfriend snatching stories. Fans like these stories because they can relate to them.”
Joy Obasi, a regular social media user also agrees that’s these gists about celebrity fights are usually good reads. And it helps fans connect with their favourite celebrity on a deeper level; by identifying with their high and low moments.
Philip Olatunji, a good music collector, thinks its sheer waste of time, following those stories about celebrities’ fight. In his words, “the one thing I’m interested in about these actors and actresses are their works; for me, it’s the music, anything apart from that is not my business exactly. They have their personal lives to live, and I have mine.”
A source within the industry, however, thinks that these controversies inflict consideration image damage on the industry. The actress, who claimed to feel really disturbed by the recurrent spats told eelive.ng that she did not think these exchanges are publicity stunts.
Her words; ” I do not think that so many of us are as communications savvy as to successfully engaged in such stunts. I just think these people are fickle and uncommitted.
“That is why they are friends together enemies tomorrow. Human beings would always have conflicts but the mark of maturity is that you resolve your conflicts without making a public show of it”
She however clarified that but for the fact that some of these outbursts, which include allegations of people prostituting themselves and all rob off on other actresses who have no hand in such games.
She admonished her colleagues to “learn a bit more of maturity and endeavour to resolve their misunderstandings without public opprobrium on the industry .”