Priscilla Ojo Mkambala Defends Mother Iyabo Ojo Amid Arinzo Premiere Controversy
Priscilla Ojo Mkambala has stepped forward to publicly defend her mother, veteran actress Iyabo Ojo, amidst ongoing social media reactions to a viral moment involving Nollywood stars Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham. In a heartfelt post shared on her Instagram page, Priscilla expressed frustration over what she described as unfair criticism directed at her mother for issues she is not directly involved in.
Social Media Backlash and Defense
Her comments come several days after numerous social media users called upon Iyabo Ojo to intervene following an awkward interaction captured on video between Akindele and Abraham at the recent premiere of The Return of Arinzo. Priscilla wrote passionately, "Always misunderstood, always blamed, even when she's not the one in the mix," suggesting a consistent pattern of controversies emerging since the announcement of her mother's latest film project.
She further claimed that these controversies appear strategically aimed at disrupting the film's potential success, while confidently asserting that despite these distractions, the movie would perform exceptionally well at the box office. Priscilla also addressed specific criticism regarding her mother's public silence and subsequent responses, stating that Iyabo Ojo's actions are frequently misinterpreted by the public and media alike.
Pattern of Misinterpretation
"When she's quiet, they twist the story. When she speaks, they get angry about the truth and still twist the story," Priscilla explained, highlighting what she perceives as a no-win situation for her mother in the public eye. She described Iyabo Ojo as someone who consistently supports others both publicly and privately, yet often does not receive equivalent support in return during challenging times.
According to Priscilla, much of the criticism directed at her mother stems directly from Iyabo Ojo's willingness to defend others in various conflicts. "Most of the time she gets dragged is because she's always fighting people's battles offline and online, but when it's time for them to fight for her, they go mute," she added, pointing to what she sees as an imbalance in reciprocal support within their social and professional circles.
Viral Premiere Incident
Priscilla concluded her defense by expressing unwavering confidence in the success of The Return of Arinzo, urging fans and supporters to actively back its cinema release scheduled for April 3, 2026. Her remarks follow significantly heightened online discussions after a video from the film's premiere went viral across multiple social media platforms.
The event, held on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at Balmoral Hall within the Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos, showed Toyin Abraham approaching Funke Akindele to offer greetings. Akindele, who features prominently in the film, appeared not to acknowledge the greeting, maintaining a notably straight and unresponsive facial expression throughout the brief encounter.
Online Reactions and Previous Mediation
The clip sparked immediate and diverse reactions online, with some social media users interpreting the moment as clear evidence of underlying tension between the two celebrated actresses. Others directed their criticism specifically at Iyabo Ojo, questioning her role as a mutual associate and friend to both parties, and suggesting she should have mediated the apparent discord.
In response to this particular wave of backlash, Iyabo Ojo had previously stated that she had made substantial efforts in the past to settle differences between Akindele and Abraham, but would no longer involve herself in mediating between them, indicating a decision to step back from such interpersonal conflicts.
