Veteran filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has finally broken his silence on the heated controversy involving box office queen Funke Akindele. The tension arose after a viral video showed Afolayan describing high-energy promotional tactics, like excessive dancing, as draining, a comment Akindele perceived as a direct slight.
The Phone Call
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News, Afolayan disclosed that the situation escalated rapidly, leading to a direct and heated phone call from the actress.
He revealed:
“Funke Akindele called me yesterday and yelled at me. She said, ‘Mr Afolayan, I know you don’t like me, but stop mentioning my name in your interviews.’ Then she cut the call on me,”
Clarifying the Context
Afolayan insisted his words were taken out of context. He explained that the original remarks were made at a film business forum focused on cinema profitability and that he only cited Funke as an example of success, not as a target for criticism. To prove his goodwill, he noted that he had recently recommended her as a role model to aspiring filmmakers in Kaduna.
He stated:
“I have nothing against Funke. Just last week at a film festival in Kaduna, I told young people to adopt her as a model. I never said she should not dance or promote her films,”