Socialite Oba Adeyemi has publicly questioned Nollywood actress Funke Akindele's response to the death of veteran actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, saying she should have issued a clarification or apology after facing backlash for posting birthday photos during the industry's mourning period.
In a recent interview, Oba Adeyemi acknowledged that Akindele may have scheduled her birthday posts before news of Ogogo's passing broke, but argued that the situation still required a public response from her. According to him, a clarification or apology video would have gone a long way in dousing the public outrage that followed.
Oba Adeyemi's Criticism of Akindele's Conduct
Oba Adeyemi claimed he found no condolence message from Akindele on social media and raised concerns about her absence from Ogogo's burial in Ilaro. He said: "I can't say she's a child because if she were to be, we would say fame and wealth got into her head. But I believe she had scheduled the post a night before the death of Ogogo. While I feel like her brain has small problem is because she should have apologized or lied after the dragging. That would've clarified the dragging. There was no proof that she was at Ilaro, during Ogogo's burial. Let's even say she didn't want to miss her birthday, she should've included a photo of Ogogo and say that her birthday would've been sweeter but Ogogo's death was a huge loss to her."
The controversy started after Funke Akindele, 49, marked her birthday with a series of polished photos on social media. In her post, she reflected on her journey, expressing gratitude to God and speaking about seasons of wins, lessons and personal challenges. The timing, however, drew criticism from many Nigerians who felt the celebration was tone-deaf given that the industry was simultaneously grieving Ogogo's passing.
Debate Over Public Figures and Grief
Oba Adeyemi's comments have since stirred fresh debate online, with opinions divided over whether celebrities should be held to a standard of publicly acknowledging every loss within their industry. Some feel Akindele's silence spoke volumes, while others argue that grief is personal and public figures should not be compelled to perform mourning for public consumption.
Legit.ng had earlier reported that Akindele's birthday post drew significant backlash from a section of her followers who felt she ought to have held back her celebration out of respect for the fallen Nollywood icon.
Funke Akindele Speaks on Sacrifices for Success
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Funke Akindele revealed the immense personal sacrifices she made while producing Behind The Scenes, which has grossed ₦2.7 billion at the Nigerian box office. She disclosed that the project demanded sleepless nights, missed meals, and abandoning social events to stay fully committed to her work. The actress was finally enjoying rest and self-care after the film's remarkable commercial success.
