Between Opeyemi Ayeola and Eniola Badmus
Actress Opeyemi Ayeola on Friday knocked her colleague, Eniola Badmus, after the latter dropped a cheeky comment about her receding hairline. What looked like harmless teasing quickly turned into an all-out online clash, with Ayeola firing back and laying bare some long-held grievances.
It all started when Badmus, who also serves as a Special Assistant to the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, left a rather controversial remark on one of Opeyemi Ayeola’s recent Instagram posts.
“Where is your front hair receding to?” Badmus asked, in what many initially thought was a joke. But it struck a nerve. Ayeola, a mother of two and one-time darling of Yoruba film circles, didn’t take the jab lightly—and she made that abundantly clear.
In a heated response laced with emotion and expletives, Ayeola tore into Badmus, accusing her not only of body-shaming but of long-term hypocrisy. “You’ve never supported me, you’ve never engaged my work meaningfully,” she wrote. “And now you find your voice to mock me publicly? That’s low.”
While some observers tried to tone down the feud by suggesting Badmus’ comment may have been playful, Ayeola wasn’t buying it. According to her, Badmus’ decision to come under her post with what she called a “demeaning” comment was a calculated attempt to humiliate her. “Don’t gaslight me,” she warned, adding that Badmus had never acted like a sister or a colleague deserving of respect.
Ayeola also appeared to allude to Badmus’ own transformation journey—having undergone surgery to shed weight in 2021. She subtly questioned how someone who once faced body-related taunts herself could become the source of such ridicule for another woman. “You of all people should know how words cut deep,” she blasted.
While Badmus is yet to issue a formal response, her silence has not gone unnoticed. Fans and industry watchers have been refreshing her pages and waiting for any hint of a clapback—or an apology. So far, there’s been none. However, sources close to both actresses claim this isn’t the first time tension has brewed between them.
Some industry insiders suggest the two women have never been on good terms, with professional jealousy and a lack of mutual respect cited as reasons for their strained rapport. Ayeola’s accusations of Badmus “never being supportive” may point to longstanding grudges that had only been amplified by public perception and private cold shoulders.
Social media reactions have also added fuel to the fire. While some fans urged Ayeola to ignore the provocation and rise above the fray, others defended her right to clap back at what they described as an unnecessary and mocking comment. “You can’t come for someone’s hairline and expect roses,” one follower wrote. “She’s human. She reacted.”
Meanwhile, others are calling for maturity from both women. “This is a teachable moment,” wrote one Nollywood director anonymously. “These are senior actresses. Let’s not make this a circus.”
