Nollywood powerhouse Funke Akindele has opened up about one of the most painful periods of her life — a time marked by grief, heartbreak, and overwhelming pressure.
In a deeply emotional interview with Chude Jideonwo, the Jenifa’s Diary star revealed that she suffered a major breakdown while dealing with the death of her mother, the end of her marriage, online accusations, and the pressure of raising her children alone.
“I do not like to mourn. I remember when my mom passed on, I just wanted to get out of it quickly… And it affected me. I almost died,” she confessed.
The multi-award-winning filmmaker admitted that she tends to push through pain without fully processing it — a coping mechanism that eventually took its toll.
“My heart was aching, and something happened online… For the first time, I went live and said, ‘You all should leave me alone!’”
Funke addressed an incident where she was falsely accused of underpaying someone who worked on her film, adding that the backlash came at a time when she was already dealing with multiple personal battles — including the collapse of her marriage and her unsuccessful political bid.
“Do I know this person? No. The person came to act in my movie, got paid, and left. Why are you accusing me of something I didn’t do?”
“I lost my mum, my marriage fell apart, I lost in politics, I have to get back to work, I have to earn a living. I have children I’m raising alone — and you’re stressing me?”
According to Akindele, the emotional weight became unbearable, and for the first time in her public life, she allowed herself to cry and be vulnerable.
“So, for the first time, I cried. I broke down for weeks.”
Despite it all, Funke continues to stand tall, juggling her career, motherhood, and personal healing, proving once again why she remains one of Nollywood’s most resilient and admired stars.
