Actress Juliana Olayode has denied rumours of a rift between her and filmmaker Funke Akindele.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin, Juliana, popularly known as Toyo Baby, said there is no bad blood between them.
“Funke Akindele, she’s somebody I really respect and love. You know, I look up to her. She’s an amazing human being,” she said.
“So me and Funke Akindele are like mother to child, like industry mother to me. So no lele, no yawa, no nothing. Nothing dey!”
Juliana also spoke about her personal boundaries as an actress, stating that she would not accept movie roles that require her to kiss on screen.
“Before you go see me where I go kiss for film, maybe they cast me with my husband. That’s if I marry an actor, which I don’t want to marry an actor,” she said.
Reflecting on criticism she has received in the past, the actress noted that she has grown thicker skin over time.
“Until you see me for real hold my shirt or slap my face, by that time, I’ll know you’re dragging me,” she added.
Juliana rose to fame through her role as Toyo Baby in the television series Jenifa’s Diary, produced by Akindele. The show played a major role in her early career.
In 2023, Juliana publicly apologised to Funke after years of speculation about a fallout. She acknowledged Funke’s role in her rise in the industry and expressed regret over how their relationship had unfolded.
