Nollywood actress Irewole Olaniyan has reacted to allegations that she was involved in a romantic relationship with a married man for almost three years.
The controversy began after Mary Edris, who identified herself as the man’s wife, accused the actress of having an affair with her husband in a lengthy social media post.
Mary claimed she had previously reached out to Olaniyan privately to confront her over the alleged relationship.
According to her account, the actress initially denied knowing that the man was married, saying he was not her type, while allegedly using derogatory remarks to describe him and claiming that she had blocked him.
Mary, however, alleged that the relationship continued despite the actress’s denials.
She further alleged that her husband financially supported Irewole’s movie projects, funded her trips, bought her expensive bags and sponsored her lifestyle.
Responding publicly to the allegations, Irewole admitted that she had a relationship with the man but said she ended it immediately after discovering that he was married.
The actress said they only went on a few dates before she became aware of his marital status.
She also explained that one of the restaurants they visited during their dates had posted a video from one of their outings, which subsequently became part of the controversy surrounding the alleged relationship.
Irewole maintained that she did not knowingly engage in a relationship with a married man and said she walked away once she learnt the truth.
In her own words, the actress stated: “Good evening, everyone. First, I’d like to thank family, friends, and fans who have been in my corner for over 24 hours since this debacle started on social media. I’m aware that a post has been circulating on blogs since Friday about me dating a married man. I’d like to address this issue ONCE: I am not with this man, and I haven’t been with him since I found out he was married.
“We had a few dates, and one of the restaurants made and posted a video of us from one of those dates; I had no issue because I wasn’t hiding and didn’t know he was married then. I believe Maryam found out about this restaurant date a year later, and I’m glad she did, because I had left her husband even before she reached out to me, and I let her know that when she did. I told her her man isn’t my type and apologised, and she accepted the apology, even though she never agreed that I didn’t officially date the said man; that was the end of it.
“However, the said man wouldn’t stop reaching out to me. And in his continued attempts to reach out to me, I believe Maryam found out and decided to put her message out to the world.
Maryam would be in my DM saying all sorts of things, threatening me and saying she’d tarnish my image because I have a public image. She’d always allude to my lifestyle and eating in restaurants with my actual MAN as being with married men. On some days, I’ve been forced to respond to her because I’m only human.
“One of those times was my response to her yesterday, when she made the post. There’s no hard work I’m showing her because I don’t want her husband, and I don’t need him. I only responded because I felt she was doing this for clout and targeting me.
“She’s always said she’d tarnish my image, and she’s tried to get what she wanted. I genuinely didn’t know he was married, and I’d never even gone on a date with him if I knew”.
