Blissful unions broken due to domestic violence and infidelity are rife in society, among other reasons that forced a once happily married couple to part ways over irreconcilable differences.
In Nigeria, the statistics on this are staggering. But since relatively few episodes of marriage breakdowns between common men and women make headlines, celebrity experiences usually spread like wildfire.
The reason is not far-fetched; Their alluring role in society made them newsmakers. Recently, some celebrities have been making headlines not only for their talents but also for failed marriages. Midweek Entertainment reviewed some of these developments and the lessons to be learned from them.
Künle Afod
Kunle Afod is a renowned Nigerian film director and actor. The popular Yoruba actor and his wife Desola had their white wedding in 2003. However, in a short Instagram post on Tuesday October 25, 2022, Desola announced the breakdown of their marriage.
She said, “The good news you want to hear. I left Kunle Afod.” The actor had not commented at the time of filing this report.
Gideon Okeke
Along the same lines, Nollywood actor Gideon Okeke – who married longtime girlfriend Chidera Uduezue in 2018 – also took to his Instagram handle to announce he had parted ways with the union that had produced two beautiful sons.
The post read, in part, “You wouldn’t believe if I told you I was separated from my marriage, would you? It is in the interests of clarity and good conscience that this is imperative.”
Spark Akindele
Popular actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele aka Jenifa, who is currently running for the Deputy Governor’s seat in the upcoming general election, married filmmaker and director Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz in May 2016.
However, around June 2022, her husband announced their separation, noting that the marriage was “unfixable.”
Chacha Eke
In the same month, Nollywood actress Chacha Eke also announced the end of her marriage to film director Austin Faani.
“I don’t want to ‘die’ or be inexplicably ‘missing.’ For the second time in two years, I’m back here on social media and boldly declaring that I’m done with my marriage,” Eke’s post said in part.
Yewande Adekoya
Nigerian actress and filmmaker Yewande Adekoya’s marriage also hit rock bottom in April 2022.
Korra Obidi
A few weeks after the birth of their second child, singer and dancer Korra Obidi split from her American husband Justin Dean in March 2022.
Other celebrities whose marriages have collapsed include popular dancer Kafayat Shafau, aka Kaffy, who split from husband Joseph Ameh in 2021; actor Blossom Chukwujekwu, who split from his wife Maureen Esision in 2019; the musician Sidney Esiri, aka Dr. Sid, whose wife took to Instagram to announce the end of their marriage; Actress Osas Ighodaro, who separated from Gbenro Ajibade in 2019, among others.
In her reaction, a retired psychology professor at the University of Lagos, Ibinabo Agiobu-Kemmer, said that like everyone else, celebrities tend to make mistakes, adding that fame makes their cases worse.
She said: “There is a vacuum in the home and in the church where the values of the institution of marriage should be adequately presented to the young. After all, isn’t it God who instituted marriage? Whether you are a Muslim or a Christian, values are taught at home, in church or in the mosque.
“But if there’s a vacuum or the values aren’t strong enough to teach the young that this is the pattern of society, then something is definitely wrong. When that vacuum is there, these youngsters turn to their peers who misadvise them.
“We call them celebrities because they are in the public eye, but their situation is not that different from what ordinary people face every day in society. Despite this, marriage is still desirable for many people.
Agiobu-Kemmer said the public doesn’t leave celebrities alone, adding that many of them are not smart enough to hide their privacy.
“Someone has to advise them and tell them to keep their internal affairs secret, that’s part of their problem. If you know your job will expose you to the public, then draw a line and set boundaries because the public is looking for scapegoats, amusement and entertainment,” she added.
Contacted, a relationship coach and marriage counselor, Ijeoma Popoola, said the reason celebrity marriages fail is because celebrities only prepare for a wonderful wedding, not the marriage itself.
“As cliche as that sounds, I would say build your romantic relationships on the right foundation. I think rising celebrities should understand that fame, money and power can work more against them than for them when it comes to romantic relationships if they don’t know how to combine that with marriage,” Popoola said.
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