The controversy began after a video posted on showed what appeared to be Akindele walking past Pasuma during a crowded indoor gathering. The clip was captioned, “Moment Funke Akindele snubbed Pasuma in public. This is not looking good at all,” and quickly spread online.

Reacting on Sunday, Akindele dismissed the narrative, insisting there was no disrespect involved in her interaction with the Fuji star.

“Snub? Hell no. Stop the negativity pls. I saw him, greeted him, danced with him. Pasuma is my egbon. Pls you all should stop this evil,” she wrote.

Although the viral clip showed a brief moment where Pasuma was seated and appeared focused on his phone, a longer version of the video told a different story.

In the extended footage, Akindele was seen warmly greeting Pasuma, exchanging smiles, and interacting with him before moving on to other guests.

The event, held in honour of actress Fathia Balogun, had several celebrities in attendance, including TikTok personality Ashabi Olose.

Other clips from the gathering also showed Akindele engaging freely with guests throughout the occasion.

Supporters of the actress later shared the full video online, arguing that the initial clip was selectively edited to create a misleading impression.

The clarification comes weeks after another viral incident involving Akindele and actress Toyin Abraham at a movie premiere, which also generated online discussion.

According to him, a significant part of Nollywood’s struggles comes from within, as some individuals allegedly work against the success and progress of others in the industry.

He said that if given the opportunity to change one thing in Nollywood, he would focus on removing those he described as internal troublemakers.

Jim Iyke shared his views during an interview with the BBC, where he reflected on his experiences in the industry and the need for better professional conduct among practitioners. He noted that certain behaviours are hindering growth and should be addressed for the industry to move forward.

“If there is one thing I would love to change about Nollywood, it would be to purge saboteurs from the industry. The industry is full of saboteurs. They can’t help themselves. They need therapy,” he said.

Beyond his criticism of the industry, the actor also opened up about a personal moment that deeply affected him. He revealed that he was once moved to emotion after his son praised his acting career and spoke highly of him, an experience he described as very touching and unforgettable.