Nigerian box-office queen Funke Akindele has emotionally recounted a moment of deep vulnerability after being publicly mocked for not having a husband, revealing how the experience finally pushed her to seek therapy.
During the inaugural live episode of the popular WithChud podcast, Akindele shared a powerful testimony about the emotional burden she carried following her divorce from music executive Abdulrasheed Bello, also known as JJC Skillz.
“I was dying in silence because I was acting strong,” she said. “Every time I showed strength, they threw more at me—at home, from family, at work, in society.”
The Nollywood star admitted to resisting therapy out of fear that personal issues would be leaked to the media. But a viral video mocking her marital status broke her defenses.
“There was one video I watched. Women were dancing and mocking me, saying I don’t have a husband. I broke down. I cried and cried and cried.”
That emotional moment led her to reach out to a therapist for the first time. Since then, she said, her mental health has significantly improved.
“Things I couldn’t tell others, I told my therapist. And now I’m better. So I want to advise you out there: it’s very important for you to speak up.”
The actress also referenced the death of her mother and intense political scrutiny as compounding factors in her emotional struggle.
Her candid revelation is already sparking important conversations around mental health, particularly for public figures and women navigating the societal pressure to marry.
