Filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele has pushed back against online claims suggesting she deliberately ignored Fuji musician Wasiu Alabi Pasuma at a recent public event, insisting that the viral narrative misrepresents what actually happened.
The controversy began after a video circulated on X, posted by a user identified as #UOladiti, with a caption implying that the actress “snubbed” Pasuma in public.
The short clip quickly gained attention, fuelling widespread debate on social media.
Reacting directly to the allegation, Akindele took to her X account on Sunday to reject the interpretation of the footage, describing it as false and harmful.
She stated that there was no moment of disrespect between her and the Fuji star, stressing that she had actually greeted him, interacted with him, and even danced with him at the event.
According to her, Pasuma is a senior colleague she holds in high regard, adding that the online claim was an unfair distortion of their interaction.
The viral clip in question showed a busy indoor celebration where Akindele was seen engaging with actress Fathia Balogun during her birthday event, while Pasuma was briefly shown seated at a table, momentarily looking at his phone as guests moved around.
The footage, however, was accompanied by on-screen text suggesting she intentionally ignored the Fuji legend, a framing that contributed to the spread of the “snub” narrative online.
Further videos from the same event present a different context, showing a longer sequence in which Akindele is seen warmly approaching Pasuma, greeting him, smiling, and engaging in friendly interaction before moving on to other guests at the gathering.
Observers who shared the extended footage noted that the viral version appeared to have been selectively edited, capturing only a brief moment and omitting the full interaction between both personalities.
The event itself, held in honour of Fathia Balogun’s birthday, featured several notable guests, including TikTok personality Ashabi Olose, with multiple recordings from different angles showing Akindele interacting freely with attendees throughout the occasion.
The clarification comes amid a pattern of public scrutiny around Akindele’s interactions at events, following a separate viral incident at the premiere of The Return of Arinzo, where she was criticised for not immediately acknowledging actress Toyin Abraham when greeted.
In her latest response, however, Akindele firmly rejected the narrative, describing the viral interpretation as negative and misleading, and calling for an end to what she characterised as deliberate attempts to distort harmless public moments.
