Actress, writer and make-up artist, Juliana Olayode, popularly known as Toyo Baby from her role in Funke Akindele’s Jenifa’s Diary, has cleared the air on why she left the popular TV comedy series.
In a post on her website on Thursday, the young woman who describes Funke as her benefactor said her exit was due to a misunderstanding between the two.
News broke early this year that the Ogun State born actress left the show because the producers were unwilling to grant her request for a marginal increase in appearance fee.
Toyo Baby, however, pointed out that she did leave the show last year, but insisted that “Aunty Funke” is an amazing person.
“I would be stating in clear terms the relationship I had with Aunty Funke. I used ‘had’ and would be talking in past tense because like you know, I am presently not on the Jenifa’s Diary series. And guess what? The news just broke lately, but I have been off the series since May, 2016 (last year); it’s been over a year already,” she wrote.
She divided the post into two parts.
In one part, she described Funke as her coach, benefactor, big sister and adviser & cheerleader and encourager.
Part two itemised what she was to Funke, detailing how she served the more popular actress as unofficial personal assistant (PA), unofficial assistant make-up artist, unofficial assistant caterer, unofficial assistant costumier, unofficial assistant driver, unofficial cleaner, unofficial cook, unofficial washer woman, unofficial masseur, prayer partner and script adviser.
She added that she is unable to disclose the nature of disagreement between her and Funke without the latter’s permission.
The last girl in a family of eight, Juliana was born and brought up in Lagos.
She worships at The Ark, a church for young adults and is a proud advocate of sexual purity.
