Funke Akindele, renowned filmmaker and actress, has candidly shared her experiences with personal loss, single motherhood, and the disappointment of her unsuccessful political venture.
In an emotional interview on the WithChude podcast, the award-winning star spoke about reaching a breaking point amid these life challenges.
Akindele, who often sees herself as a strong woman who doesn’t linger on pain, admitted that the death of her mother in 2022, coupled with relentless online bullying, left her deeply heartbroken.
The 47-year-old Lagos-born producer revealed that she broke down in tears for weeks, overwhelmed by the combined burden of her failed marriage, the responsibilities of raising her children alone, and her political setback.
“I do not like to mourn. I remember when my mum passed away. I just wanted to get out of it quickly. I like to get out of situations quickly. I do not allow myself to break down, and it affected me after my mum’s death because I was always ready to move on. ‘Move on, girl’. You are strong,” she said.
“I was forming (too strong). And it affected me after my mum’s death. And I almost died. It was aching.”
Akindele said the final straw came when online trolls attacked her over a work-related issue.
“And something happened online. And for the first time, I took my phone and went live. And I am like, you all should leave me alone. Do I know about this stuff?” she asked.
“No, this person came to me after my movie. Got paid less. Why are you accusing me of something I did not do? Do you know what I am going through? I lost my mum. The marriage ended. I lost in politics. I have to get back to work. I have to earn a living. I have children I am raising them all. You are stressing me.
“So for the first time, I cried. I broke down for weeks. I cried. I was alone. I did not want to eat. It is necessary to process this. It is necessary to reflect. It is necessary to cry. It is necessary to break down and come back afresh.”
