It started as a light moment on Instagram. Actress Biola Bayo had posted a cheerful video about the rising cost of aso-ebi and the endless social events that fill a celebrity weekend. Fans laughed in the comments, agreeing that the struggle to attend every party was real. Then one comment changed the mood of the post completely.
Under the reel, beauty entrepreneur Adeola “Diiadem” Adeyemi typed a memory that stopped the scroll. She wrote:
“I remember how this lady made me clean her shoes one time. I followed my step mum to a movie set those days. I wasn’t even an actress, but she made me do it.”
That single recollection turned an ordinary post into a trending story. Within hours entertainment blogs picked it up, headlines screamed about an old humiliation and netizens rushed to take sides. The incident became a fresh reminder of how quickly the internet can turn the past into public debate.
Two women, two journeys
Diiadem is not new to attention. She is the founder of Beauty by AD, one of Nigeria’s popular beauty brands. Known for her bold style and openness, she often shares stories about her early hustle before fame and business success.
Biola Bayo, on the other hand, is a respected Nollywood actress and producer. She has built a reputation for her honesty, warmth and humour. Her social media pages often show her juggling work, podcasting and motherhood with cheerful energy.
Both women belong to different branches of the entertainment tree. One made her name in the movie industry, the other in beauty and influencer culture. Yet in that comment section, their paths suddenly crossed again after what Diiadem described as a 2009 encounter.
The viral exchange
Diiadem’s post appeared under Biola’s playful reel about aso-ebi costs. What seemed like a joke for followers turned into something more serious. Her comment quickly drew thousands of reactions, including Biola Bayo’s own.
The actress tried to tone down the criticism and drama that followed and responded with a cheeky comment. She responded in Yoruba, laughing as she said, “Ema ma tun gba mi kee!!! Ewo tun ni shoe cleaner bayi.” The phrase loosely means “Help me oo, how did we get into shoe cleaner talk now?” Her tone, seemed to pass it off as a joke and brushed it aside.
The light-hearted tone of Biola Bayo’s reply did little to ease the tension. Within hours, screenshots of Diiadem’s comment were everywhere on Instagram blogs, gossip pages, and comment sections began buzzing with divided opinions. Some users praised her for courage, calling it a bold move to speak about an old wound. Others dismissed it as a bid for attention or a misunderstanding of a long-forgotten moment.
When Diiadem saw Biola Bayo’s fresh comment, she felt even more hurt, believing the actress had tried to brush aside her pain. She responded:
”He who is tired has forgotten, he who is not able to take it forever, it’s not about the shoe cleaning, it was about how nasty you were to me. I said what I said!.”
The Real Housewives of Lagos star then went live in a video, explaining how her initial comment had gone viral and how many netizens criticized her for “speaking her truth.” She said it was not even about asking her to clean the shoes but more about the way and manner Biola Bayo made the comment.
She clarified that the incident happened around 2009 or 2010, when she had accompanied her stepmother to a movie set. According to her, ‘it’s unlikely such a nasty incident could happen in this generation.’ Diiadem said calling Biola Bayo out gave her a sense of relief and that she only spoke up to remind people that it costs nothing to be kind.
What truly upset her, she said, was Biola Bayo’s reaction. Rather than reflect or take correction, the actress turned her pain into cruise. She added that Biola did that because some fans supported her,insisting once again that the actress was nasty to her.
Power and respect on set
The Nigerian movie industry has long had its unspoken hierarchy. Senior actors command respect, and newcomers often do whatever is asked to be noticed. Years ago, when the industry was less structured, many young people started as assistants or extras. Some were treated kindly. Others, not so much.
Diiadem’s story brought those memories back. It became a symbol of how power once worked behind the camera and how a simple errand could feel like a lesson or a wound depending on who was giving the order.
Her line “I wasn’t even an actress, but she made me do it” captured that feeling perfectly. It was not about cleaning a pair of shoes. It was about being made to feel small.
The digital age of reckoning
In another time, this memory might have stayed private. Today social media has become Nollywood’s public diary. Stars and fans meet in the same comment sections. Old hurts can surface at any moment, and laughter can quickly turn into confrontation.
What makes Diiadem’s post stand out is its tone which was calm but firm, free of insults, yet powerful enough to spark a nationwide discussion. Biola’s joking response added a second layer to the story. It showed how the same event can hold two truths. For one woman, it was humiliation. For the other, perhaps, just a forgotten moment of routine life.
Conclusion
In the end, this story is not really about a pair of shoes. It is about memory and how fame changes the way we tell our past. It shows how a single social-media comment can reopen old wounds and remind an industry that kindness, even in small things, is never forgotten.
Watch video of Diiadem speaking and screenshot of their exchange below:
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