According to TNS sources, Funke Akindele removed Toyo Baby from Jenifa’s Diary over what the latter termed ‘bad pay’.
The source revealed that Toyo Baby was cut off from the TV series for requesting an increment in pay which didn’t go well with Funke Akindele who feels she’s an ingrate being that she rose to stardom through her appearance on the widely-watched show.
Sources close to producers of Jenifa’s Diary disclosed that Funke via her production manager and younger sister [Abimbola] pays actors between N3,000 and N150,000 (per episode/season of the show) depending on the role.
An actress who spoke to TNS under the condition of anonymity via text message narrated how she was paid what she termed ‘peanuts’ by Funke’s team after being part of an all-night party scene on Jenifa’s Diary.
Her words: “I got a text message from Sceneone Productions that I had been selected to act on Jenifa’s Diary and I will be part of a party scene. I was so excited that I told my entire family about it. Mind you, it wasn’t my 1st time acting but d feeling of being on Jenifa’s diary was a big deal for me. I was asked to come with 5 different party costumes. Location was Amen Estate, Eleko.
After filming with over 30 girls the whole night, Funke came to address us and advice that money shouldn’t be our priorities at this stage; that was when it occurred to me that something awkward was about to happen….just then, the Production Manager, Mr Osmond whispered something to Funke’s sister, Abimbola & she started paying us each 3K. Can u imagine?, 3K for all night shoot!…on Jenifa’S dIARY!… I was so mad, some of us had to turn down the money shaa….couldn’t face my mom to explain to her wat happened the next morning.”