Opeyemi Famakin Defends Chef T Against Wumi Toriola’s Public Call-Out
Popular Nigerian food critic Opeyemi Famakin has thrown his weight behind celebrity food blogger Chef T, popularly known for her platform ‘Diary of a Kitchen Lover,’ following a recent public call-out by actress Wumi Toriola.
Famakin, known for his blunt and straightforward reviews, took to Instagram to slam Wumi Toriola’s sense of entitlement and her decision to drag Chef T online simply for not responding to her collaboration request.
The Drama Unfolds
Toriola recently shared a screenshot of a conversation from August 2024, accusing Chef T of ignoring her collaboration request and branding the food blogger as proud. The actress's frustration spilled over into an Instagram post where she suggested Chef T no longer needed anyone else since her brand had already grown.
However, Opeyemi Famakin saw things differently and didn’t hesitate to make his stance known. In his Instagram video, he criticized the actress's approach, labeling it as childish and rooted in entitlement.
“We don’t do Chef T slander here. She’s a sweetheart and is positively contributing to the Nigerian and African food space. I’m not going to stand by and watch an actress who didn’t get a collaboration drag her name. We don’t do that here,” Famakin stated.
He also pointed out the inconsistency in Toriola’s claim of being a fan of Chef T while simultaneously lashing out at her for not responding to her message.
“It’s better to collaborate with people you genuinely like because most of the people reaching out to you for collaborations don’t really like you. This actress shared a screenshot where she introduced herself as a fan, but because Chef T didn’t respond, she suddenly started dragging her,” he added.
A Growing Trend of Entitlement?
Famakin’s response highlights a recurring issue within the entertainment and creative industries — the sense of entitlement some public figures exhibit when their requests are not met with immediate attention. Collaboration is supposed to be mutually beneficial, not a one-sided affair where declining or ignoring a request results in public shaming.
Also, this incident comes just days after news broke that Funke Akindele reportedly unfollowed Chef T and several other influencers for allegedly not promoting her movie.
Opinion: Respect and Collaboration Should Be Mutual
While Wumi Toriola may have felt snubbed, her approach to addressing the issue raises questions about maturity and professionalism. Instead of seeking clarification or even understanding Chef T’s perspective, she chose to go public with her grievances — an action that could damage her own reputation more than it could hurt the person she’s calling out.
On the other hand, Opeyemi Famakin’s intervention was not only timely but served as a reminder that not every ignored message or declined collaboration is an insult. Creators, especially those with a large following like Chef T, often have more requests than they can handle.
Perhaps, this situation is a lesson for everyone in the entertainment and social media space — respect and understanding should go both ways.