Actress and producer, Wumi Toriola has publicly criticised Desola Afod, the estranged wife of actor-director Kunle Afod, over comments the latter made about people in the Yoruba film industry.

The row began when a video of Desola, 44, began circulating online in which she warned actors and actresses against calling her by her first name. She said some people in the industry had taken her for granted and insisted she deserved more respect because of her age.

Toriola responded in a video of her own, saying she found the remarks insulting and disrespectful to the entire profession. She objected to Desola’s apparent reference to theatre practitioners in general, arguing that if she had a problem with certain individuals she should name them instead of insulting the industry.

Toriola also suggested that Desola could revert to her father’s name if the Afod surname was giving her trouble. Several colleagues, including Arike Akinyanju, Nkechi Blessing, Yetunde Bakare and Seyi Edun, backed Toriola in her comment section.

Actress Bimbo Success also hit back, telling Desola to stop talking. She said the industry had stayed quiet out of respect for Kunle Afod, who she said gave Desola the fame she enjoys today. Bimbo reportedly believed the remarks were aimed at her.

The controversy was short-lived. Desola later posted a public apology on Instagram, thanking veteran actor Afeez Owo, popularly called Baba Gani, for reaching out and guiding her. She said she was sorry for disappointing him and withdrew her sweeping statement. She still signed off by declaring that she remains Desola Afod, “celeb wife”, till the end of time.

As of Monday, neither Toriola nor Bimbo Success had publicly responded to the apology, and Kunle Afod had not commented on the exchange.