Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele has debunked allegations that late actress Jumoke Aderounmu reached out to her during her battle with sickness that eventually killed her, but she ignored her messages.
Aderounmu passed away on Saturday at the age of 40 after battling an undisclosed ailment.
Akindele, who worked with Aderounmu on her TV serial, ‘Jenifa’s Diary,’ had taken to her Instagram page to mourn her.
However, a brother of the deceased shared a post on his Instagram account, stating how someone who ignored his late sister during her predicament was now mourning her on social media.
Many, who suspected he was referring to Akindele, thronged to the actress’ page to lambast her.
Reacting to the backlash in an Instagram live session, Akindele explained that she was depressed and dealing with her own “trying moments too” when Aderounmu was sick.
She said, “Some people are telling me to keep quiet since I’ve reached out to the deceased’s brother and explained. But I think I deserve… Somebody commented on my page that I may bury my children. I think that is serious. Why? What have I done wrong?
“The late Jumoke Aderounmu, I met her years ago. She was an actress, so I gave her some roles. She featured in Jenifa’s Diary and Industreet. And that was it. She acted her role, got paid and left.
“Recently, my attention was brought to a post by Jumoke’s brother. He was so upset that nobody checked on Jumoke. I said I know he is grieving. I know it’s not easy to lose someone. I’ve lost my mum. Nobody knows what I went through. I was depressed after losing my mum.
“So, I reached out to Jumoke’s brother. I said, ‘I’m so sorry. I feel your pain. Nobody told me that your sister was sick. I don’t turn deaf ears to people that are in need that are next to me. They wrote that I don’t help, I do help but I don’t make noise about helping. I believe giving should be done privately.’
“I don’t beef any filmmaker, I do my things, I face where I’m going. The records I’ve been able to break are by the grace of God. Do not forget I’ve got my trying moments too.
“My mum passed away during COVID-19, I was backlashed politically, and I lost my marriage. Somebody is now saying that I will lose my children. I think that is too much.”
