Funke Akindele, the Nollywood actress, has opened up about her painful experiences with cyberbullying.
Speaking at the WithChude Live event in Lagos, the record-breaking filmmaker revealed how critics targeted her on social media over her marital life.
The 47-year-old recounted how cruel online comments once pushed her to the brink of emotional breakdown.
Akindele disclosed that some women mocked her relentlessly and that the hurtful words affected her deeply.
The movie star, however, said when she realised she couldn’t endure the pain alone, she sought professional help.
“There was a video on social media that some women mocked me that I do not have a husband. My God. I see all the insults on social media. I see all the posts that show how I left one husband for another one,” she said.
“I cried, cried, and cried. I just told myself, you need to speak to someone about this. You cannot continue like this.
“I told myself that I needed to speak, I reached out, and I started speaking.
“After then, I felt better. Things I could not tell people out there. I spoke to my therapist and I was better.”
The ‘Jenifa’s Diary’ star emphasised the importance of mental health support, urging people in similar situations to speak up.
“So, I want to advise you out there. It is very important for you to speak up. You need it. You can not take everything. I am a very strong person now. I have that strength to face any challenges in life,” she said.
Akindele disclosed that she she channeled the mockery into art “and even produced a film from that experience”.
“After the whole blackmailing, I got tougher. I started putting the story about my life into writing, even though I almost lost it mentally, but I used the mockery to produce a film,” she added.
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