Award-winning filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has disclosed that he recently had a heated phone conversation with actress and producer Funke Akindele following public reactions to his comments on film promotion in Nollywood.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Sunday, Afolayan said Akindele reached out to him directly after his remarks were interpreted by some as criticism of colleagues who rely on dance-focused campaigns to market their movies.
According to Afolayan, the call was tense and emotional.
“She called me and said, ‘I know you don’t like me, but please don’t mention my name in your interviews.’ She was shouting and then ended the call,” he recounted.
Despite the incident, Afolayan stressed that there is no personal animosity between them, describing their relationship as long-standing and cordial.
“I found it strange because she’s like a sister to me. We’ve known each other for a very long time. Back in our university days, I used to visit her hostel, and I’m also friends with her sister. So I honestly don’t know where that reaction came from,” he said.
He maintained that his comments were not directed at Akindele or any individual filmmaker and insisted that he holds no ill feelings toward her, emphasizing mutual respect built over years of professional and personal interaction.
