Halima Abubakar Shares What Nollywood Colleagues Said When She Was Sick

Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar spoke extensively in an interview published on a Saturday lifestyle section and later widely shared in Instagram Reels and X after going viral, addressing colleagues who failed to reach out while she was sick.

Abubakar explains that no one from certain senior circles contacted or asked to visit her during her illness, despite having served together for so long.

She says the people she considered friends failed to reach out while experiencing a difficult time.

However, Abubakar adds that a few of her contacts attempted to help, including musician Patoranking and former BBNaija star Mercy Eke, who helped with her hospital bills.

Similarly, some younger colleagues such as Regina Daniels reached out to her.

This contrast appears in the interview as she is not blaming every single member of the entertainment industry but separating those who helped from the people she expected to hear from but did not.

Abubakar contrasts herself with Don Jazzy, explaining that she sent him nineteen messages but never received a response.

This comment has sparked multiple reactions as viewers share their thoughts on how certain members of the entertainment industry react when a colleague goes through a long illness or period of absence from the industry.

Abubakar explains that she has decided to move on and not hold on to negative feelings against those who failed to support her.

However, the disappointment is still fresh as she explains what transpired.

Her interview has attracted reactions from other mid-level actors who have had similar experiences with the industry and its unfeeling nature when a colleague is no longer deemed useful.

The discussion surrounding the interview has since expanded to include a general conversation on the support systems within the industry, particularly for those facing health or financial challenges and long lay-offs that affect their careers.

Defenders of the unnamed colleagues argue that people can only do so much and that private support is sometimes not visible on social media, as the conversation between Abubakar and Don Jazzy has also become.

Abubakar’s raw and unfiltered appearance in the interview, without the typical make-up and lighting, has also resonated with viewers, with many discussing how the setting did not appear to be a well-lit and put-together television or social media studio.

Instead, her comments give viewers more space to focus on her recollection of events and the disappointment she felt against colleagues she considered friends.

Highlights of the interview have since gone further, with clips shared among actress-only group chats and in larger entertainment forums and timelines.

While some viewers have focussed on the people Abubakar says helped her, others have asked more about those whom she accused of failing to step up during her time of need.

The conversation has broadened to include a discussion around the wider support systems for actors, musicians, and influencers in general, both mentally and physically.

It has also asked more questions about the difference between professional acquaintances and friends in an industry where the two are often blurred.

Abubakar’s experience has given her an invaluable lesson on such relationships, as her comments on the incident provide more colour on how the illness served to teach her about the industry.

However, she has said that the last thing she wants is for her life to be defined by the disappointing experiences.

Abubakar has expressed a desire to move on and leave the negativity behind, unfollowing several colleagues on social media who have also reacted by removing her from their follow lists.

Her comments have since become a popular topic of conversation among other actors and actresses, with some weighing in on the disappointment of the experience and others focussing on the importance of privacy in such matters.

In the end, Abubakar has shared a disappointing episode of her career that resonates with many across the entertainment industry and beyond – the fact that, despite hundreds of professional contacts, few will step up to support during difficult times.