Filmmaker Funke Akindele has denied accusations leveled against her by Adeola, the brother of late actress Adejumoke Aderounmu, claiming she neglected his sister during her illness.
Aderounmu, known for her roles in popular TV series like ‘Jenifa’s Diary’, passed away last week, prompting an outpouring of condolences on social media platforms.
However, in a scathing Instagram post on Monday, Adeola accused Akindele of neglect and criticized her condolence message as insincere.
He alleged that despite attempts to reach out to Akindele while his sister was sick, she did not respond.
Reacting to the accusations during an Instagram live session on Tuesday, Akindele refuted the claims, stating that she was unaware of Aderounmu’s illness.
She clarified that she had intended to contact the late actress for her upcoming movie projects.
Funke said: “Somebody commented on my page ‘May you bury your children’. I think that is serious. Why? What have I done wrong? I am doing this because I hold my fans dear to my heart. If you keep saying I am not going to talk, people will accuse you wrongly for what you did not do. I am not ready because I am so unhappy,” she said.
“I met the late Jumoke Aderounmu years ago as an actress. Gave her some roles. She featured in ‘Jenifa’s Diary’, ‘Industreet’, and that was it. Acted her role, got paid, and left. So, sometimes, I just messaged Jide Awobona, because Jide and Jumoke were close somehow. I asked Jide where is Jumoke. Please call her and ask after her. He said she said she wants people to be calling her for jobs. And I said let us call her for jobs. And you all know that after ‘A Tribe Called Judah’ I have not done any project. There are a lot of people. There are a lot of talents on TikTok because I want to discover talents.
“Paschaline Alex just reached out to me that they wrote something online. I just went there and I saw Jumoke’s brother. He was upset. I said I know he is grieving. I understand. I lost my mum. Nobody knew what I went through. I was depressed losing my mum.
“So, I reached out to the guy. I said I am so sorry you lost your sister. I said nobody told me that your sister was sick. Paskaline did not tell me anything. I said I do not turn deaf ears to people who are in need and next to me. I do help but I do not make noise about helping people. Giving should be done privately.
“I had to do this because this has to do with somebody’s life. I am so unhappy. Because you do not know what I am going through. I work round the clock. I do not beef with anybody. I have got my trying moments too. Marriage, politics, lost my mum, remember?
“I sent a message to Jumoke’s brother, he did not reply. I am very strict. I do not take nonsense. Whoever works with me that wants to go can go. Whoever wants to stay can stay.”
