Omotola Dismisses Enduring Feud Claims With Genevieve Nnaji
Veteran Nollywood actress and singer, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has refuted years of speculation suggesting she was involved in a bitter rivalry with fellow actress Genevieve Nnaji, describing the claims as fan-driven misconceptions.
The rumours, which circulated widely within the Nigerian film industry for years, portrayed both actresses as rivals at the peak of their careers, despite their professional collaborations.
The speculation persisted even after they appeared together in the 2010 movie Ije: The Journey and earlier in the 2003 film Blood Sisters, which significantly boosted their fame locally and internationally.
Speaking during an interview on Yanga FM, later shared on YouTube on Wednesday, Jalade-Ekeinde clarified that there was never any hostility between them.
She explained that the supposed feud was largely manufactured by fans and industry narratives that thrived on comparison.
She likened the situation to the rivalry narratives often created around contemporary music stars, noting that similar tactics were used during their early years in Nollywood.
According to her, the tension existed more in public perception than in reality, as both actresses were simply focused on their individual careers.
Jalade-Ekeinde stated that competition was exaggerated by industry observers who constantly positioned actresses against one another, describing it as a familiar pattern where entertainers are labelled as rivals to generate attention.
Addressing claims that they were unfriendly towards each other, the actress said neither she nor Nnaji was the type to engage in personal disputes, stressing that their busy lifestyles left little room for unnecessary conflicts.
She added that while they were not close friends, they maintained a cordial and respectful relationship on and off set.
The actress further pointed out that professionalism does not always translate into close friendships, explaining that they communicated normally behind the scenes whenever they worked together.
Public appearances by both actresses over the years have also contradicted feud rumours. Nnaji attended Jalade-Ekeinde’s 40th birthday celebration in 2018, while Jalade-Ekeinde returned the gesture the following year when Nnaji marked the same milestone.
Jalade-Ekeinde’s comments come shortly after she made headlines for her stance against adopting dance-based promotions for movies.
Speaking ahead of the cinema release of her forthcoming film Mother’s Love, scheduled for 6 March, she maintained that she does not believe dancing should be used as a marketing strategy for films, distancing herself from trends currently popular in the industry.
