Toyin Abraham ‘Bestie‘ copying allegations have taken over social media after the Nollywood actress unveiled the first promotional material for her upcoming movie, Bestie, with some fans claiming the creative idea resembles marketing previously associated with Funke Akindele.
The controversy surfaced shortly after Abraham announced that Bestie will arrive in Nigerian cinemas on December 16, 2026. While the actress presented the project as her latest cinema offering, some viewers quickly shifted their attention from the movie itself to the advert’s creative direction.
Rather than simply debating the film, social media users began comparing Abraham’s promotional approach with Akindele’s past movie campaigns, with some describing the new advert as a “copy and paste” job.
Toyin Abraham unveils Bestie for December
Abraham announced Bestie on September 4, 2026, sharing a teaser across her social media platforms and confirming that the film would open nationwide on December 16.
In her announcement, the actress credited herself with the concept and direction of the project. However, she did not disclose the movie’s storyline or full cast at the time of the announcement.
The new film marks another major cinema outing for Abraham following the commercial success of Oversabi Aunty. The 2025 movie, which she directed, produced and starred in, crossed the ₦1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office and earned recognition from the National Film and Video Censors Board.
That success has raised expectations around whatever she brings to cinemas next, making the early reaction to Bestie particularly notable.
Why the Bestie advert drew comparisons
The criticism began around the creative presentation of the Bestie announcement. Some viewers on X argued that elements of Abraham’s promotional approach looked familiar, particularly to fans who have followed Funke Akindele’s movie marketing campaigns over the years.
Akindele has built a reputation for turning movie promotion into entertainment of its own. One notable example came in 2024, when she promoted Everybody Loves Jenifa with a playful tug-of-war involving the casts of the new film and her previous blockbuster, A Tribe Called Judah. The stunt was widely discussed at the time, with Nigerian entertainment observers praising the unusual promotional strategy.
Her promotional campaign for Everybody Loves Jenifa also included a series of creative social-media videos and snippets designed to generate conversation before the December cinema release.
That history helps explain why some social-media users immediately drew comparisons when Abraham unveiled Bestie.
Still, a comparison made online does not by itself establish that one filmmaker copied another. There is currently no verified statement from either actress confirming that the concept was deliberately borrowed.
Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham face December showdown
The timing has also added another layer to the conversation. Akindele is preparing to release The Four: No One Fights Alone on December 11, just five days before Abraham’s Bestie. Akindele announced the project in August and confirmed that FilmOne Entertainment would handle its theatrical distribution.
The Four features an ensemble cast that includes Akindele, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Bisola Aiyeola, Chioma Akpotha, Timini Egbuson and Lateef Adedimeji, among others. The film explores themes including friendship, motherhood, resilience, sacrifice and loyalty.
With two high-profile Nollywood filmmakers releasing films within the same week, comparisons between the two projects were almost inevitable.
The situation is particularly interesting because both actresses have become major forces in Nigeria’s commercial cinema space.
Their films regularly attract attention online long before opening day, and their December releases have become part of the annual Nigerian cinema conversation.
The copy allegations remain unproven
Although the phrase “copy and paste” has gained traction among some social-media users, it is important to separate online opinion from a confirmed claim.
The available coverage establishes that Abraham released the Bestie promotional material and that some viewers subsequently accused her of borrowing from Akindele’s marketing style. It does not establish that Abraham intentionally copied Akindele’s work.
That distinction matters, especially in an entertainment story where social-media reactions can move faster than verified information.
Neither Abraham nor Akindele has, based on the available reporting, publicly confirmed that the promotional concept was copied or issued a direct accusation against the other over the advert.
For now, the dispute remains a social-media debate.
Bestie arrives after Oversabi Aunty success
Beyond the controversy, Bestie gives Abraham an opportunity to build on one of the strongest periods of her filmmaking career.
Her previous film, Oversabi Aunty, passed the ₦1 billion mark at the Nigerian box office and became the first Nollywood directorial debut to reach that milestone, according to reports citing the NFVCB. She was subsequently recognised with a Box Office Champion Award.
Abraham has also maintained a strong presence during the December cinema season. Her previous December releases include Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper, Malaika and Alakada: Bad and Boujee.With Bestie, she is returning to a period of the year that has become crucial for Nigerian filmmakers and cinema operators.
Social media may have created another talking point
Whether the copying accusations fade or grow louder, one thing is already clear: Bestie has started generating conversation months before its cinema release.
For Abraham, that attention could ultimately help keep the film in the public eye as more details emerge. The movie’s full cast, storyline and trailer have not yet been fully unveiled, leaving plenty of room for further promotion before December.
For now, however, the biggest conversation surrounding Bestie is not its plot or cast. It is the question raised by social-media users over whether Abraham’s promotional idea looks too close to something Akindele has done before.
Until either filmmaker addresses the issue directly, the “copy and paste” claim remains an allegation rather than an established fact.
With The Four arriving on December 11 and Bestie following on December 16, Nollywood audiences will have another major December cinema battle to watch, both on screen and, judging by the early online reactions, on social media.
