Nollywood actress Irewole Olaniyan has denied being in a relationship with a married man, saying she ended her involvement with him after discovering that he had a wife.
The actress made this known in a social media statement following allegations by Mary Edris, who accused her of having an affair with her husband for about three years.
Mary had claimed that she confronted Irewole about the alleged relationship and that the actress initially told her she was unaware the man was married. She further alleged that her husband had supported Irewole’s movie projects, trips and lifestyle.
She also claimed that the actress travelled with her husband to South Africa in September 2024 and accused Irewole of continuing to contact him after their alleged relationship ended.
However, Irewole disputed the allegations, admitting that she went on a few dates with the man but insisting that she did not know he was married at the time.
According to the actress, she stopped seeing him as soon as she discovered his marital status and had already ended the relationship before Mary contacted her.
“Good evening, everyone. First, I’d like to thank family, friends, and fans who have been in my corner for over 24 hours since this debacle started on social media.
“I’m aware that a post has been circulating on blogs since Friday about me dating a married man.
“I’d like to address this issue ONCE: I am not with this man, and I haven’t been with him since I found out he was married.”
Prompt News reports Irewole explained that a restaurant had recorded one of their outings and shared the video online, saying she had no reason to conceal the date because she was unaware that the man was married.
“We had a few dates, and one of the restaurants made and posted a video of us from one of those dates; I had no issue because I wasn’t hiding and didn’t know he was married then.
“I believe Maryam found out about this restaurant date a year later, and I’m glad she did, because I had left her husband even before she reached out to me, and I let her know that when she did.
“I told her her man isn’t my type and apologised, and she accepted the apology, even though she never agreed that I didn’t officially date the said man; that was the end of it.”
The actress further alleged that the man continued attempting to contact her after she had ended their relationship.
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She also accused Mary of sending threatening messages and warning that she would damage her reputation.
“However, the said man wouldn’t stop reaching out to me. And in his continued attempts to reach out to me, I believe Maryam found out and decided to put her message out to the world.
“Maryam would be in my DM saying all sorts of things, threatening me and saying she’d tarnish my image because I have a public image.”
Irewole maintained that she had no interest in the man and said she only responded publicly because she felt she was being deliberately targeted.
“There’s no hard work I’m showing her because I don’t want her husband, and I don’t need him.
“I only responded because I felt she was doing this for clout and targeting me.
“She’s always said she’d tarnish my image, and she’s tried to get what she wanted. I genuinely didn’t know he was married, and I’d never even gone on a date with him if I knew.”
