I cooked, cleaned for Funke Akindele… don’t call me proud, says Toyo Baby

Olayode Juliana, Nollywood actress popularly known as Toyo Baby, says people who do not understand the relationship she had with her former employer, should not tag her a proud person.

In a post on her website, the actress best known for her role in Jenifa’s Diary, TV series produced by Funke Akindele-Bello, said she left the series in May 2016 after she had a misunderstanding with Funke Akindele.

“I used ‘had’ and would be talking in past tense because like you know, I am presently not on the Jenifa’s Diary series. And guess what? The news just broke lately, but I have been off the series since May,2016 (last year); it’s been over a year already,” she wrote.

“I was privileged to be the one holding Aunty Funke’s bag while on set. I ‘kept’ the money we spent on day-to-day running and was required to balance account afterwards.

“I lived with Aunty Funke while set was on, so I counted it my duty to clean the house. She lived in a duplex at Chevron at that time, so I cleaned the entire house. Sweeping and moping from room to room.

“Scrubbing bathroom after bathroom. I arranged wardrobe after wardrobe, laid one bed after another. You would not know any of these if I am not saying this. I did all this with joy. She was special to me and you serve those you love.”

The actress also explained how she did make up on some occasions on set of Jenifa’s Diary, washed clothes for her boss and massaged her on occasions when the latter was tired.

“On set, on some occasions, when I was not acting, I was fanning and dabbing the faces of other actresses (including extras). So, this is for those that have accused me of being proud.

“We had a misunderstanding and I cannot disclose what happened without Aunty Funke’s permission. But if you read all I said in the post, you would gather that we were quite close. And when two people get that close, misunderstandings are bound to occur.”

The Ogun-indigene described how ‘Aunty Funke’, as she referred to Funke Akindele in her post, was her benefactor, coach, adviser and big sister.

“Aunty Funke met me for the first time at the auditions of Jenifa’s Diary (she did not know me prior to that day). She saw my talent and believed in me. I worked with her for years; she trained me and helped me in becoming a better actress. She made it a duty to correct me and coach me on being better.”

“All I have said, you can confirm. 100% truth and uncensored, My name has been tarnished by liars and bloggers seeking traffic.”