Nollywood actress Laide Bakare has spoken on her feud with colleague and former friend Eniola Badmus. According to Kemi Filani News, she did so in an interview with Chude Jideonwo, where she recounted the moment Eniola told her they were no longer friends.
Recalling that exchange, Laide said: "She said I am not her friend and I said I don't want to be your friend if you don't want to be mine."
Apology called a PR move
Laide also addressed the public apology Eniola made to her. She said it did not come from the heart and believed it was shaped by Eniola's PR team, who she thinks advised her not to engage in a public fight and to be the bigger person.
In her words: "The apology wasn't from her heart but from her PR. Maybe they told her, ' She is going low; you don't go lower; be polished, put up something peacefully '".
Remarks on appearance
Laide also made a dig at Eniola's looks. Kemi Filani News reported her as saying that Eniola is not fine without makeup and filters, and that even with her weight loss she is not more attractive than Laide. The reported quote reads: "Take up makeup and filter, she isn't fine. Even with the weight and everything, she still cannot". GistLover carried a slightly different wording of the remark and described it as a swipe, noting that the comment comes amid conversation about Eniola's physical transformation after weight loss.
Memories of a past friendship
Laide also looked back fondly on the friendship. She said: "If I look back, it was so lovely between us; she comes to my family house regularly – regularly. She knows my mother; my mother will cook, and we would eat together".
How the feud has unfolded
Kemi Filani News reported that Eniola took a dig at Laide days earlier in an interview with Isbae U. Laide then accused Eniola of constantly damaging her character in public, called her an ingrate and said she had helped her grow. In a follow-up post she said Eniola does not need surgery and that she is too big to be brought down by her.
Laide also reportedly said in another interview that she used to give Eniola money, and that she supported her when nobody wanted to cast her in movies because of her stature. Eniola then apologised, saying she chose peace and genuinely wishes Laide well. Laide replied on social media with the words: "Fake apology".
The report adds that last year Laide said Eniola embarrassed her at an event, and that she had invested in Eniola for 20 years. In 2023, the two had a public fallout after Eniola reportedly threw shade at Laide's outfit to her book launch. Eniola reportedly hit back by referring to Laide's childlessness and her support for President Tinubu during the election.
