An African adage has it that when handshake goes beyond the elbow, it becomes a wrestling bout. That is precisely what is playing out between Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele and top blogger, Linday Ikeji. The genesis of the tango, which has already resulted in a court action by Akindele emanated from a seeming harmless post by Linda in her blog on Toyin Aimaku’s divorce saga. For the ‘Jenifer’ lead actress and producer Linda Ikeji “went too far” as she said it is a mockery of her marital woes.
As a result, the management of the star actress has threatened to sue popular blogger Linda Ikeji, over the post on her blog with a caption, “Did Funke Akindele shade Toyin Aimakhu last night?”
Funke reportedly condemned in strong terms, what she terms an unwarranted post by Linda for ascribing a harmless picture on Instagram’s page to be a mockery of the alleged separation between her colleague, Toyin Aimakhu and her husband, Adeniyi Johnson.
In a letter written to Linda Ikeji and made available to the media, the award winning actress said, “While Linda went too far and assumed the role of a mind reader and a judge in her Sunday, January 25, 2015 post, ‘Did Funke Akindele Shade Toyin Aimakhu Last Night?’, she has exposed the favourite actress to cynical comments and hasty judgments.
It further stated that, “Her post, did not only portray the Funke Akindele’s brand in bad light, it has promoted unhealthy rivalry where there is none. Meanwhile, as a law abiding citizen and well-loved by all and sundry, Funke, through her lawyers, had on, Sunday, January 25, 2015 – same day -, written a letter to Linda demanding a retraction and apology within 24 hours or face action within the ambit of law.
Linda Ikeji had posted earlier that, “Something happened last night but I was too tired to write it… and then I woke up this morning and almost forgot about it. *sigh*. I may be reaching and Funke may not have been referring to Toyin but let me tell you what happened and you decide for yourself.
“It’s not news that Toyin Aimakhu and Funke Akindele don’t see eye to eye. If you Google, you will find a few posts of reports of the two actresses beefing each other. In fact, sometime in 2013, Toyin tweeted at an ‘aunty Agbaya’ who was going around tarnishing her image. Toyin made reference to herself being married while the ‘Agbaya’ was single and jumping around. This was a few months after Funke Akindele’s marriage crash like a tokunbo engine. A lot of people felt Toyin was referring to Funke.
“Well, yesterday after news hit social media that Toyin Aimakhu’s marriage to Adeniyi Johnson had crashed, Funke went on instagram and posted what you see above (a shading smiley) and under it she wrote “Yes, You!” with two tongue out smiley.
Many of her followers immediately picked up on it and accused her of shading Toyin because her marriage had also failed. When fans criticized her for the post, Funke Akindele removed it but not before I screen-grabbed it. So that’s happened. You think it had to do with Toyin?”
It was on this post that Linda has been asked to apologize or face the court actions.
Efforts to get Linda to speak on issue have proved futile. Not even the post on her facebook inbox was replied as at the time of going to the press.