Nollywood star Destiny Etiko has fiercely denied rumors of an alleged affair with Matthew Ekeinde, husband of veteran actress Omotola Jalade.
The gossip, which caught fire on social media, claimed that Etiko was not only involved with Ekeinde but also received a luxury car from him as a lavish gift.
Addressing the controversy head-on, Etiko took to Instagram Live to set the record straight, vehemently denying the allegations and expressing her frustration with the ongoing attempts to sully her name. According to Etiko, the rumors are not only false but are also designed to undermine her hard-earned success and tarnish her image in the eyes of the public.
“If you want to withhold the blessings of God in somebody else’s life and you want to grow, it is impossible. Before, you guys had always spoken ill about me. Do men give money? Even if they do, I do not know,” Etiko stated during the live session, clearly exasperated by the baseless claims.
“I worked for 99.9% of all I have. I don’t know why some people are bitter, perhaps they are scared.”
The actress went on to explain that she has a tradition of purchasing a new car every year on her birthday, a personal choice that has nothing to do with any man, let alone Omotola’s husband.
“I always buy a car on most of my birthdays because I love to change my car every year,” she explained. “Some bitter people just sat down and brought the pictures that I took with Omotola’s husband over four years ago when I was on a flight and he was the pilot, so some people were snapping pictures with me.”
Etiko recounted the innocent interaction that sparked the rumors, describing how she and Ekeinde crossed paths purely by chance. “He asked what was happening and they told him I was an actress. He looked and I greeted him with the respect of a senior colleague’s husband. I asked him to let us take a selfie because of the respect. We went there and took a selfie, and that was it.”
Despite the straightforward nature of this encounter, the photo has since been twisted into a narrative far removed from reality. Etiko’s frustration was palpable as she called out those who are quick to spread falsehoods without any regard for the truth.
“Some people are just bitter. They’re scared of someone’s progress and feel the need to bring others down with lies. But the truth is, I’ve built my career and success through hard work and determination.”
The actress also took the opportunity to reflect on the broader issue of the toxic environment that often surrounds celebrities, particularly women, in the entertainment industry. “It’s sad that instead of celebrating someone’s achievements, people choose to fabricate stories. But I’m not going to let these lies bring me down. I know my worth, and I know the truth.”