ACTRESS ENIOLA BADMUS APOLOGISES, SAYS “I CHOOSE PEACE” AS OLD FEUD, PAST CONFRONTATIONS AND FRIENDSHIP HISTORY RESURFACE
A viral moment on Isbae U’s Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast has reignited the longstanding rift between Nollywood actresses Laide Bakare and Eniola Badmus. After Badmus visibly reacted when Bakare’s name was mentioned, Bakare accused her colleague of ingratitude, claiming she had supported her financially and professionally when she struggled to secure acting roles. The controversy, which intensified on October 19, 2026, took a new turn on October 20 when Badmus publicly apologised and called for peace.
HOW THE CONTROVERSY STARTED: ENIOLA BADMUS’ REACTION TO LAIDE BAKARE’S NAME
The latest drama involving Nollywood actresses Laide Bakare and Eniola Badmus began after a clip from Badmus’ appearance on Nigerian content creator Isbae U’s Curiosity Made Me Ask podcast went viral on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
During the interview, Isbae U mentioned Bakare as one of his favourite actresses. Badmus responded with an audible hiss and a noticeable change in facial expression, a moment that quickly caught the attention of viewers.
The host maintained that he was entitled to his personal preference, making it clear that he could choose his favourite actress regardless of how his guest felt about the choice.
Badmus replied:
“Yes, yes, that so you have your choice.”
She subsequently added:
“Apologies on that. Yeah, I’m listening.”
Isbae U continued to defend his position, saying:
“I have my choice. Okay, you can do too much to my choice. Okay.”
Although Badmus did not launch a direct verbal attack on Bakare during the reported exchange, her visible reaction became a talking point online, particularly among viewers familiar with the actresses’ history of disagreements.
What might have appeared to be a brief moment during an interview soon developed into another chapter in their public feud.
For Bakare, the incident appeared to reopen old wounds. She took to Instagram on Monday, October 19, to criticise Badmus, accusing her of repeatedly disrespecting her despite what she described as years of friendship, assistance and support.
The actress’ response transformed a viral podcast moment into a wider discussion about their troubled relationship, with social media users revisiting previous confrontations between the pair.
“NUISANCE NI LADY YI SHA!” LAIDE BAKARE EXPLODES IN ANGER
Bakare did not hide her displeasure over Badmus’ reaction during the podcast interview.
In a strongly worded Instagram post on Monday, October 19, she accused her colleague of repeatedly damaging her reputation and warned that she would no longer remain silent.
She wrote:
“Nuisance ni lady yi sha! Must you always damage my character publicly? Several times I have warned you to stop, but since you have decided to bring me down at all cost, you will surely hear from me.”
The actress continued by expressing disappointment over what she perceived as Badmus’ disrespect when her name was mentioned during the interview.
She wrote:
“See your facial expressions at the mention of your biggest benefactor’s name? Omo ale. That helped you to grow in life. Honestly, you are indeed an ingrate and I won’t let this slide.”
Bakare also insisted that she would not allow another person’s alleged insecurity to distract her from her personal journey.
In her words:
“I will never allow someone else’s insecurity to become my distraction. I know my journey, I know my worth, and I know how much it has taken me to get here.”
Her comments attracted widespread attention because they suggested that the latest disagreement was not simply about a facial expression but about a much deeper breakdown in a relationship that had once involved friendship and professional connections.
However, Bakare’s accusations that Badmus had repeatedly tried to damage her reputation remain her personal allegations. The viral clip establishes Badmus’ visible reaction, but it does not independently establish the intentions Bakare attributed to her colleague.
“I USED TO SUPPORT HER FINANCIALLY” BAKARE RECOUNTS HER ALLEGED HELP
As the controversy gathered momentum, Bakare revisited her claims that she had helped Badmus financially and professionally during the earlier stages of their relationship.
According to reports published on October 20, 2026, Bakare said she had supported Badmus when she struggled to attract filmmakers willing to cast her.
She was quoted as saying:
“I used to give Eniola Badmus money very well when she was ugly and fat. I used to help her with money when nobody wanted to use her in their movies cos of her stature.”
The remark introduced another dimension to the dispute, shifting attention from Badmus’ podcast reaction to Bakare’s account of the support she claimed to have provided.
Bakare has maintained that she played a role in helping Badmus grow professionally and believes that her former friend has failed to acknowledge that assistance.
Her frustration appears to stem partly from the contrast between the relationship she says they once shared and the public disagreements that have characterised their interactions in recent years.
Nevertheless, her comments about Badmus’ former appearance have also raised questions about the boundaries of public criticism.
Even if Bakare’s claims about providing financial assistance are accurate, the allegations do not independently establish every detail of their professional history. Likewise, references to another person’s physical appearance do not strengthen the factual basis of a dispute about friendship or career support.
The controversy therefore presents two separate issues: Bakare’s claims about her past assistance and the language she has chosen to use while expressing her disappointment. Both deserve to be considered independently rather than treating one as proof of the other.
ENIOLA BADMUS BREAKS HER SILENCE, APOLOGISES TO LAIDE BAKARE
The dispute took a different turn on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, when Badmus issued a public apology following the widespread attention generated by the podcast clip.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the actress acknowledged that her reaction could have appeared dismissive and apologised for the impression it created.
She wrote:
“On reflection, I realise my reaction when Laide Bakare’s name was mentioned during my recent interview could have come across as dismissive, and for that, I sincerely apologise.”
Addressing Bakare directly, Badmus added:
“Laide, whatever our differences, I choose peace and I genuinely wish you well.”
The actress also reflected on personal growth, suggesting that maturity sometimes requires people to let go of disagreements rather than continue to revisit them publicly.
She stated:
“We’re all growing, learning and becoming better versions of ourselves. Sometimes maturity is simply knowing when to let go and move forward.”
Badmus concluded her message with an appeal for reconciliation, writing:
“Joo maa binu. No negativity. No grudges. Let love lead and peace reigns.”
Her apology introduced a more conciliatory tone into the dispute. However, she did not publicly confirm Bakare’s separate claims about financial assistance or career support.
The statement is significant because it acknowledges the effect of her reaction without necessarily endorsing every accusation made against her.
Whether the apology will lead to reconciliation remains uncertain, but it provides an opportunity for both actresses to step back from the public confrontation.
FROM FRIENDSHIP TO PUBLIC FEUD: THE HISTORY BETWEEN THE TWO ACTRESSES
The latest disagreement is not the first time Bakare and Badmus have publicly clashed.
Their relationship has reportedly spanned many years, with Bakare previously describing Badmus as a childhood friend from their University of Ibadan days.
Bakare has also claimed that she invested time, money and professional support in their relationship because she valued their friendship.
Over the years, however, the relationship has deteriorated, with disagreements increasingly playing out in public.
THE 2024 BOOK-LAUNCH CONTROVERSY
One of their widely reported disagreements followed Bakare’s book launch in 2024. Badmus made a remark on social media that was interpreted as mocking Bakare’s outfit at the event.
She wrote:
“Ewo ninu yin lo wo Aso Pastor Ajidara. Abeg who??”
The comment attracted attention because it was widely understood as a reference to Bakare’s appearance at her own event.
Bakare expressed disappointment over the remark, questioning why someone she regarded as a friend would appear to ridicule her rather than celebrate her achievement.
The disagreement added to the tensions between the actresses and prompted renewed questions about whether their friendship had broken down.
THE APRIL 2025 CONFRONTATION AT A LAGOS FILM PREMIERE
Their disagreement resurfaced in April 2025 at the premiere of Eniola Ajao’s film Owambe Thieves in Lekki, Lagos.
Videos of the event circulated online, showing the actresses involved in a heated exchange.
During the confrontation, Badmus was reported to have said:
“Don’t film us together, we’re not friends.”
The incident attracted considerable attention because it appeared to confirm that the relationship between the pair had deteriorated beyond an ordinary disagreement between colleagues.
Bakare subsequently shared private messages and made further allegations about the history of their relationship, including claims that she had helped Badmus professionally when others were reluctant to cast her.
The confrontation reinforced the impression that their dispute had been building for some time, rather than emerging solely from the latest podcast interview.
PROFILE OF LAIDE BAKARE
Laide Bakare, also known as Olaide Bakare, is a Nigerian actress and film producer associated with the Yoruba-language film industry.
She has built a career through acting and film production and is known for her outspoken public personality and active social media presence. Bakare has frequently used her platforms to express her views on personal experiences, professional relationships and developments within the entertainment industry.
Her dispute with Badmus has attracted attention partly because she has presented their relationship as one involving years of friendship and support.
In the latest controversy, she has portrayed herself as a person who feels betrayed by someone she believes she helped during a difficult period.
However, her account represents one side of a complicated personal disagreement, and the full history of their relationship is not independently established by the statements released during the current controversy.
BIOGRAPHY OF ENIOLA BADMUS
Eniola Badmus is a Nigerian actress who gained widespread recognition through her performances in Yoruba-language films and later established herself as a familiar figure in mainstream Nollywood.
She is known for her energetic performances and roles in films including Omo Ghetto, which helped increase her popularity. Beyond acting, Badmus has maintained a visible public profile through social media and political involvement. She has also served as a Special Assistant to the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.
Her career has brought her a substantial following, alongside the public scrutiny that often accompanies celebrity life.
In the latest dispute, she became the focus of attention after her reaction to Bakare’s name during the podcast interview went viral.
Her subsequent apology suggests a willingness to acknowledge how the moment may have appeared to viewers and to move forward despite the unresolved differences between the two actresses.
PUBLIC REACTIONS: WHY THE CONTROVERSY HAS DIVIDED OPINION
The disagreement has prompted discussion across Nigerian entertainment media and social platforms, with people debating the actresses’ history, the meaning of Badmus’ reaction and Bakare’s allegations of past support.
Rather than establishing one clear winner, the controversy has exposed different expectations about friendship, gratitude, respect and how public figures should handle personal disagreements.
THOSE WHO SYMPATHISE WITH LAIDE BAKARE
Some viewers believe Bakare has a right to express her disappointment if she genuinely feels disrespected by someone she once considered a close friend.
Others have focused on her allegations of financial and professional assistance, arguing that people should acknowledge those who supported them during difficult periods.
Some also criticised Badmus’ reaction during the interview, maintaining that a neutral response would have prevented the incident from becoming a major public controversy. However, these arguments do not independently prove that Badmus deliberately intended to undermine Bakare.
THOSE WHO SUPPORT ENIOLA BADMUS
Supporters of Badmus have argued that people are entitled to their personal preferences and should not be forced to praise every colleague.
Some viewers also questioned whether a facial expression, without a direct verbal attack, was sufficient justification for such a strongly worded public response.
Others praised Badmus for apologising and expressing a desire to move forward, viewing her statement as an opportunity to prevent the disagreement from escalating.
A further argument concerns the role of past assistance in personal relationships: even if someone has helped another person, that assistance should not automatically become a lifelong obligation or a reason to humiliate them publicly.
CRITICISM DIRECTED AT BOTH ACTRESSES
Some observers believe both women could have handled the situation more carefully.
Badmus’ reaction was criticised as potentially dismissive, while Bakare’s remarks about her colleague’s appearance were viewed by some as unnecessarily personal.
Others argued that public exchanges of accusations rarely resolve the underlying issues and can instead damage the reputations of everyone involved.
The disagreement has also prompted broader criticism of celebrity culture, in which private conflicts can become viral entertainment.
CONCLUSION: WILL ENIOLA BADMUS’ APOLOGY END THE FEUD WITH LAIDE BAKARE?
Ultimately, the renewed disagreement between Laide Bakare and Eniola Badmus demonstrates how a brief moment during an interview can reopen years of unresolved tension.
What began with Badmus’ reaction to the mention of Bakare’s name on Isbae U’s podcast quickly developed into a public dispute involving allegations of ingratitude, claims of past financial and professional support, personal insults and renewed scrutiny of their former friendship.
Bakare maintains that she supported Badmus during a difficult period and feels that her colleague has repeatedly disrespected her. Badmus, meanwhile, has acknowledged that her reaction could have appeared dismissive and has publicly called for peace.
The controversy raises a question that extends beyond Nollywood: How should people handle past acts of kindness when a relationship breaks down?
Genuine support deserves appreciation, but it should not become a weapon for humiliating another person. Equally, personal disagreements do not have to be expressed through public gestures that may appear dismissive or provoke further hostility.
For the actresses, the next step matters more than the viral exchanges themselves. Whether they eventually rebuild their friendship or simply decide to maintain their distance, ending the cycle of public accusations would allow both women to focus on their careers.
For their fans, the episode is also a reminder that social media often reveals only fragments of complicated relationships. A viral clip may show a reaction, and a public statement may reveal someone’s anger, but neither necessarily tells the complete story.
For now, Badmus has apologised, while Bakare’s grievances remain at the centre of the controversy. Whether the apology marks the beginning of lasting peace or simply another pause in their longstanding feud remains to be seen.
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