I Was Surprised When Influencer Rejected My Paid Promotion – Funke Akindele

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Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has shared an experience of rejection she encountered while promoting her 2024 blockbuster movie, Everybody Loves Jenifa

The award-winning actress revealed that an influencer she approached to create promotional content for the movie turned down her request despite her willingness to pay for the collaboration.

Funke Akundele disclosed this while speaking during a panel session at the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND), where she reflected on the challenges of promoting films and the importance of digital content creators in the entertainment industry.

According to the filmmaker, she initially struggled to approach the influencer because she was uncomfortable sending the message. However, considering the need to promote the movie and reach a wider audience, she eventually put aside her reservations and contacted the individual.

She explained that after sending the request, she waited for almost a week without receiving a favourable response.

When the influencer eventually responded, Funke Akindele was informed that their management had rejected the proposed collaboration.

The actress said she made another attempt to convince the influencer by offering to pay for the promotional service, but her offer was ignored.

Recounting the incident, she explained that the experience became even more surprising months later when she came across reports suggesting that she had blocked someone.

Funke Akindele suggested that the reports were connected to the earlier disagreement, although she did not disclose the identity of the influencer involved.

Everybody Loves Jenifa, released in December 2024, was one of the major Nigerian cinema releases of that year.

The movie, which featured several popular actors, continued the story of Akindele's widely recognised Jenifa character.

The film enjoyed impressive commercial success, attracting audiences to cinemas and further strengthening the actress's reputation as one of Nollywood's most successful filmmakers.

Despite the rejection, Funke Akindele's account offers an insight into the uncertainties surrounding celebrity collaborations and the efforts that sometimes go into getting the right people to support a film's publicity campaign.

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