The recent social media fallout between Nollywood actress Wumi Toriola and food blogger Chef T, aka Diary of a Kitchen Lover, has sparked an interesting conversation about collaboration, and entitlement. and the blurred lines between film stars and digital influencers in Nigeria’s entertainment space.

Toriola’s public call-out stemmed from an unanswered Instagram DM she sent to Chef T in August 2024, requesting a collaboration. 

She later posted a screenshot of the message on March 13, 2025, expressing frustration over the lack of response. 

Her caption, laced with disappointment, suggested that Chef T had become too big to acknowledge others, igniting a debate about professional courtesy and the unwritten rules of collaboration.

While some social media users supported Toriola’s grievance, arguing that Chef T could have simply responded with a “yes” or “no,” others found her approach entitled. 

Critics pointed out that collaborations are voluntary, not obligatory, and questioned whether Toriola was offering Chef T any real value in return. 

Some even speculated that the actress was attempting to leverage the food blogger’s platform to promote an upcoming project, rather than genuinely engaging in mutual creative exchange.

READ ALSO: Lagos court orders public apology over cultural misrepresentation in ‘Gangs of Lagos’

The Nollywood-Influencer crossover. 

This incident highlights the growing overlap between Nollywood stars and social media influencers. 

While actors once relied solely on film roles and media appearances for relevance, today’s digital era demands more visibility beyond the big screen. Many now collaborate with influencers to stay in the public eye and promote projects.

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However, these partnerships aren’t always seamless. Influencers operate differently, building their platforms on personal branding, audience trust, and carefully curated content. 

Unlike actors who work within structured productions, influencers control their creative direction and business interests. 

This autonomy allows them to accept or decline collaborations based on what fits their brand, making mutual benefit a key factor in any successful partnership.

Collaboration is a two-way street

One key lesson from this controversy is that collaboration should be mutually beneficial. A Nollywood actor appearing in a cooking video may seem like a win for the actor’s exposure, but does it provide equal value to the influencer? 

This question becomes even more relevant when considering the logistics; who covers production costs, how the content is monetised, and whether it genuinely enhances engagement for both parties. 

Without a clear win-win situation, influencers, like Chef T, may feel justified in ignoring unsolicited requests.

On the flip side, professional courtesy still matters. Even if a collaboration isn’t of interest, a simple response, whether affirmative or a polite decline can go a long way in maintaining industry relationships. 

Ghosting, particularly in creative industries, can come off as dismissive and burn potential bridges. 

Given the unpredictable nature of entertainment and digital media, today’s ‘irrelevant’ request might become tomorrow’s golden opportunity.

Final Thoughts

At its core, this drama isn’t just about a missed DM; it reflects the evolving entertainment landscape where Nollywood stars and influencers increasingly intersect. 

The lines between traditional celebrity culture and digital creators are blurring, requiring new rules of engagement.

For Nollywood actors, influencers aren’t just platforms for visibility; they are creators with carefully built brands. For influencers, a simple response, even to decline helps maintain goodwill. 

Ultimately, successful collaborations thrive on mutual respect, clear communication, and shared value. When both sides strike this balance, creative partnerships can flourish; without the social media drama.

Uzor Arukwe is currently one of Nollywood’s most talked-about actors, thanks to his outstanding performances across various genres. Here are some of his works.

His role as Obiora in Omoni Oboli’s Love in Every Word has once again reminded audiences why he’s one of the industry’s most versatile talents.

If Love in Every Word left you wanting more of his performances, here are 10 Uzor Arukwe films you should check out, including his latest cinema releases.

1. Momiwa (2024) 

This heartfelt drama explores the bond between a mother and her children, delving into family struggles, sacrifices, and redemption. 

The film follows a single mother trying to raise her kids while battling past mistakes and societal pressures.

Arukwe delivers a powerful performance, portraying a layered character, Bode navigating complex family dynamics. His role showcases his ability to bring emotional depth to his performances.

2. Thin Line (2024) 

Uzor plays Pastor Raymond, a charismatic leader known for his spirit-filled sermons and practical view on relationships and marriages, who finds himself in the clutches of sin. 

After a chance encounter with a desperate prostitute, Annie. Torn between faith and fear, Raymond wrestles with his secret. 

Then, tragedy strikes when Annie is found murdered. Was Raymond framed or did his fall from grace lead him down a dark path? 

The search for Annie’s killer becomes a desperate race for Raymond’s soul, where he must confront his own humanity and the consequences of a single, fateful mistake. 

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3. Sugar Rush (2019)

Playing Knight, Sugar Rush follows three sisters who accidentally discover $800,000 belonging to a corrupt politician. 

When they decide to keep it, they attract the attention of the EFCC, the real owners of the money, and dangerous criminals. 

Arukwe plays a cold and calculating enforcer, showing his ability to embody intimidating and ruthless characters.

4. The Set Up (2019)

Uzor plays Pastor Dimeji in this thriller that follows a woman who is drawn into the world of crime and deception when she’s hired to trick a wealthy businessman.

However, things take a dangerous turn when she realises she’s being manipulated. Arukwe’s role as a seemingly pious but deeply flawed pastor adds an intriguing twist to the story.

5. Hire a Woman (2019)

Hire a Woman follows a man who hires a woman to pose as his girlfriend for a weekend getaway with his ex and old friends, leading to unexpected drama and romance.

Arukwe plays the cunning and opportunistic Jide, who has his own agenda, proving once again that he excels at playing complex characters.

READ ALSO: Ghosted or Entitled? The Wumi Toriola vs. Chef T drama and the business of collaboration

6. Kpali (2019)

Kpali follows a young Nigerian woman living in the UK who must find a way to secure her work visa before it expires, or she risks being deported.

Love and career opportunities clash in unexpected ways. Arukwe’s performance as a charming yet conflicted love interest makes this a must-watch.

8. Kambili: The Whole 30 Yards (2020)

Uzor plays Bankole in this romance drama following Kambili, a 28-year-old woman, who sets out to get her life together and prove she’s responsible enough for marriage after being dumped by her boyfriend.

Adijat, the lady claiming to be the baby mama of Nigerian singer Ahmed Ololade, popularly known as Asake, has opened up about her relationship with the singer when things were good.

Social media reports revealed that Adijat and Asake’s relationship produced an 11-year-old daughter named Zeenat.

Adijat surfaced after Asake’s father, who is battling stroke, called out the singer for abandoning him in a video posted on social media. In a second video, Asake’s father, sitting alongside family members, including Adijat, made some demands on the singer.

They demanded that Asake buy an N50m house in Isale Eko that would generate rental income to support his father and ask for a DNA test for Zeenat.

However, in an interview with Bukky Majet, Adijat, a mother of one, opened up about the dynamics of her relationship with the singer.

Adijat claimed that she used to support Asake financially when he had nothing. She explained that while he was schooling in Osun State, they kept in touch, and she would often send him money from her thrift business.

ALSO READ: He wants to cajole me – Asake reacts to reports of abandoning sick father

She explained further that Asake’s father was always on hand to assist in taking care of Zeenat and would also encourage her to keep in touch with Asake when he was away at school.

Adijat noted that Asake finished school when Zeenat turned seven, claiming that this was when he suddenly changed and started giving attitude.

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She added that Asake moved to Lekki when he returned to Lagos after he finished school, and that was when he stopped communicating with her and stopped picking up her calls.

After Asake stopped communicating with her, Adijat recalled that she got her mother involved, who called the singer to intervene. Adijat claimed Asake told her mother that she was trying to herself on him and even threatened to block her on all platforms.

She said that response got her crying as she considered the years she had invested in the relationship.

ALSO READ: Asake used to accept ₦700 rice, bottle of drink as performance fee – Yemi Elesho