‘No feud, fans pitted us against each other,’ Omotola speaks on relationship with colleague, Genevieve

Veteran Nigerian actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde has dismissed claims of a long-standing feud between herself and her colleague Genevieve Nnaji.

In an interview with Yanga FM, the 47-year-old film star explained that the alleged rift was created and sustained by fans, much like the rivalries often projected onto popular musicians.

She said competition and comparisons were common early in their careers, but theirs was exaggerated by public perception rather than real conflict between them.

She added that despite not being close friends, she and Nnaji maintained communication and a cordial working relationship off camera.

“The alleged feud is similar to what fans do with music stars like Wizkid and Davido. At the time, they started with us, we were their first practical example. Really, they were the ones who started the quarrel before we even realised there was one,” she said.

“The fans began the quarrel before we knew we were supposedly quarreling. So we had to catch up with the narrative, even though there was actually no quarrel.

“We were young then, and there were conversations about who the hottest actress was, with actresses being pitched against each other. There was some tension, which is normal, but fans interpreted it differently.

“People don’t have to be best friends, but we talked. Behind the scenes, we communicated.”

Nnaji and Omotola, who rose to fame concurrently, were both considered icons at the peak of their careers. Their similar stature has led to frequent comparisons, though they have collaborated just once, in the 2010 movie ‘Ije: The Journey’.