Recently, Nollywood has been buzzing over a growing controversy linked to Ekene Umenwa, after a series of serious allegations surfaced online and in private conversations. The situation quickly drew attention when some of her colleagues including Destiny Etiko, Lizzy Gold, and Evan Okoro began speaking out to deny claims said to be linked to them.
The controversy centres on allegations ranging from health status claims to personal hygiene accusations and family-related rumours. While the claims continue to trend online, some of the actresses named in the situation have pushed back strongly, with some describing the reports as false, damaging, and harmful to their reputations and families.
Background: How the Controversy Started
The whole conversation began in February 2026 after a U.S.-based influencer & up-and-coming actress named Adanma Waller, also known online as Priscawalls posted videos that quickly went viral. In that clip, she claimed that Ekene Umenwa had been making negative remarks about several Nollywood colleagues while staying at Waller’s home in the United States.
According to Priscawalls, Ekene allegedly commented on other actors’ personal lives, reputations, and family matters behind their backs, referring to things like “bad baggage” and private details about them.
This was the moment that sparked wider attention. Clips of the claims spread fast across social media, with people discussing them on Instagram, TikTok, and entertainment blogs. Other celebrities and fans started responding with some defending those named and others trying to understand what actually happened.
Notably, the allegations from Priscawalls included stories about things Ekene reportedly said about Destiny Etiko and several others, which led those actors to react publicly, deny the rumours, and speak out against what they described as false and damaging claims.
The Allegations at the Centre of the Controversy
Several types of allegations and accusations have been circulating on multiple social media platforms in connection with the Ekene Umenwa controversy.
1. Alleged HIV-Related Claim
One of the most talked-about claims suggested that Evan Okoro is HIV positive, reportedly shared by Ekene, during a private conversation with Priscawalls. There were also additional claims of prostitution and having bad breath.
2. Alleged Body Odour and Personal Gossip
Reports also suggested accusations about Lizzy Gold’s personal hygiene and family matters, including her two children’s parentage.
3. Alleged Reputation and Family-Related Gossip
Another part of the dispute involved perceived comments about family behaviour, particularly allegations that Destiny Etiko physically assaults her mother.
4. Broader Online Rumours
Beyond these, Priscawalls’ posts suggested that Ekene allegedly made negative remarks about other Nollywood figures, including minor actors and colleagues’ families.
She accused Ekene Umenwa of causing significant disruption in Nollywood by spreading harmful gossip about several colleagues, portraying herself as morally superior in the process.
According to Priscawalls, Ekene allegedly spoke negatively about Ruby Ojiakor, Chioma Chijioke, Uche Nancy, and Chinwe Isaac, claiming they all carried “smelly baggage” or had “bad backlogs.” Beyond the actors, Priscawalls also claimed that Ekene disparaged Harrysong’s ex-wife, Alexer Peres, openly expressing satisfaction that her marriage had ended. Even professional affiliations were not spared; Priscawalls alleged that Ekene, who had served as an ambassador for the brand Marymic, criticized the product in front of friends, undermining both her role and the brand itself.
The allegations extended to Priscawalls herself, who stated that Ekene turned against her after an incident, in which hospital security had reportedly “handled” or “flagged” her. She claimed that Ekene told others she had physically abused her father and went further to describe her as a “danger to mother and child.” These statements allegedly led to Priscawalls being denied access to Ekene while she was in the hospital for delivery, highlighting the personal and professional strain in their interactions.
Priscawalls also questioned the authenticity of Ekene’s religious persona. While Ekene has publicly presented herself as “Mama Jesus,” Priscawalls asserted that she never once witnessed her pray during her entire stay with her from April to September 2025. According to Priscawalls, Ekene admitted that her religious videos were intended as “content creation” rather than genuine spiritual practice, suggesting a stark contrast between her public image and private actions.
Colleagues’ Reactions: Setting the Record Straight
As the allegations about Ekene Umenwa spread online, the actors named in the controversy didn’t stay silent. Some of them responded publicly, using social media to clarify their positions and defend their reputations.
1. Destiny Etiko: Protecting Family and Reputation
For many netizens, the most immediate response came from Destiny Etiko. Destiny, one of the most prominent actresses linked to the controversy reacted with deep emotional hurt, public distancing, and a conditional form of forgiveness. After hearing Priscawalls’ claims that Ekene Umenwa alleged she “beats her mother,” Destiny first expressed shock on Instagram, asking, “Am I dreaming? I thought we were sisters? Why the lies?”.
She immediately unfollowed Ekene Umenwa on Instagram. Days after, Destiny seemingly forgave Ekene after an alleged private apology. Although she followed her back again on Instagram, Destiny said she “cannot forget” because the fabrication was designed to ruin her reputation as a “good child”.
Despite the initial apology, Destiny Etiko unfollowed Ekene again on Instagram after listening to further “voice notes” where Ekene was allegedly heard disparaging her and her family. In Destiny’s words:
“You asked for forgiveness and I forgave u But I can’t forget cos this is an abomination and a dent to my name over something I can’t imagine let alone executing.
U fabricated so many lies against me just because people you were with was applauding me for been a good child to mother
I can’t remember hurting u
I have forgiven but I cant forgetAm pained cos my mom herself has received a lot of calls as regards to this
She is saddened and disappointed that u could do this been a Christian
Pls can u tell the world why u would betray the one you call sister.”
2. Lizzy Gold: Denying Personal Attacks
Lizzy Gold also reacted publicly, focusing specifically on claims regarding her personal hygiene and family life. She described the circulating stories about her “body odour” and children’s parentage as false and malicious gossip.
In an Instagram post, she wrote:
“How can you call yourself JESUS BABY and all you do is sit down and fabricate huge lies just to tarnish your colleague’s image, is it so u could come off as the better person or what?
Me.., Body odour !!?
Everyone in nollywood knows my personal hygiene is 💯
It’s not even something I need to prove to anyone.
That my two kids are from different men?? 😳😳😳how🙆🏾♀️🙆🏾♀️🙆🏾♀️
Are we friends,?
Do u know anything about me,?This is exactly why I always maintain my space just to avoid your kind, yet you still found a way to involve my name in your cheap dirty gossip.
JESUS BABY my foot
You better ask God for forgiveness and mercy😡
You are such terrible human being❌.”
“Do you know how long it took me to build this brand ? It is well.”
3. Evan Okoro: Taking a Stand on Health Rumours
One of the most serious allegations in this controversy involved claims about health status, specifically rumours about battling with something too “heavy”. Evan Okoro responded by making a public clarification that included verified medical proof.
Evan took a test and shared her negative HIV test result publicly to debunk the claims.
In a series of videos that circulated widely on social media, Evan openly condemned Ekene Umenwa, declaring her intention to hold her accountable for the damage she believed the rumours had caused.
At the height of her frustration, Evan went as far as invoking divine judgment, saying, “God punish you and your entire generation.” She also expressed profound disappointment over what she described as a betrayal of trust. Having once considered Ekene a sister and having defended her publicly in the past, Evan revealed that the sense of heartbreak stemmed from the realization that someone she had trusted so deeply could allegedly speak so negatively about her.
The claims attributed to Ekene were wide-ranging and intensely personal, including accusations that Evan had “bad breath” and engaged in sexual relationships for money. These allegations, Evan argued, went far beyond idle gossip and directly attacked her character.
Evan Okoro also questioned the authenticity of Ekene’s religious image. Echoing similar concerns raised by Priscawalls, she criticized Ekene for presenting herself publicly as a devout, prayerful figure while allegedly behaving in ways that contradicted those displays of faith. Evan described Ekene as manipulative and lacking the Christlike qualities she publicly projected through her religious content, framing her critique as a response to both the rumours and the disconnect between Ekene’s private actions and public persona.
4. Alexer Peres
Beyond her disputes with fellow actors, Priscawalls also alleged that Ekene Umenwa disparaged rising actress Alexer Peres, the ex-wife of musician Harrysong, openly expressing satisfaction that her marriage had ended. Alexer herself addressed the matter publicly through an Instagram Story post, offering her perspective on the events and the people she believed were involved.
In her post, Alexer recounted the origins of her fallout with Destiny Etiko, explaining how a figure many interpreted to be Ekene Umenwa, referred to as “Madam Jesus second mother,” played a role in the situation. She traced the tension back to a professional assignment in which she was cast in a lead role in a production that involved Ekene’s sister. According to Alexer, her presence on set sparked friction, as it was perceived as a threat or source of jealousy by those connected to Ekene. The situation escalated when Alexer alleged that Ekene communicated with Destiny Etiko, leading to Destiny blocking Alexer on Instagram, even though Alexer had never met Ekene personally and had not followed her account before the incident.
Alexer emphasized that the conflict was fuelled by indirect dynamics rather than a direct confrontation. She expressed deep frustration over how her reputation had been affected by what she described as behind-the-scenes maneuvering, noting that she had prayed for the truth to emerge so the public could understand her side.
According to Alexer, the ripple effects of the incident extended beyond the set. She felt misrepresented and publicly maligned, with her social media interactions and broader reputation caught in the fallout. In her own words, Alexer wrote:
“Finally God has brought out the truth. Madam Jesus second mother. Evil in disguise. The major reason I fell out with Destiny Etiko was her and her kid sister. That one went to lie to her madam Jesus second mother sister. The next thing she blocked me on IG, mind you I haven’t met her before in my life, and I wasn’t even following her, but I like and watch her movies sometimes. It was her sister I met on set. This actress wasn’t happy I was giving a lead role while her sister was there; she called Destiny to spoil me to her Omo. I’m not surprised. I only prayed that one day everything will come out, and this is the day. Pretenders do the worst. It is well. Plus all the things the sister said about Destiny to me—I don’t know if she thought I would tell Destiny about it. Na once dem spoil my name.”
Conclusion: Lessons from the Ekene Umenwa Controversy
The Ekene Umenwa controversy shows how quickly private matters can become public in the digital age. What started as alleged comments in private conversations became a full-blown online debate, pulling in fans, bloggers, and fellow Nollywood colleagues.
For Destiny Etiko, Lizzy Gold, Alexer Peres and Evan Okoro, speaking out wasn’t just about defending themselves. It was about protecting their reputations, families, and peace of mind. Their reactions remind us that behind every viral post or trending video, there are real people affected by misinformation.
Ultimately, this story isn’t just about allegations or denials, it’s a reminder that truth matters, words have consequences, and digital accountability is more important than ever in today’s entertainment world.
In a world where rumours travel faster than facts, speaking up matters… but so does thinking before sharing.