Why I ditched physical church services — Funke Akindele

Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has revealed that she no longer attends physical church services on Sundays, citing discomfort over constant media attention.

In a video shared on her snapchat handle on Sunday, the actress was seen preparing breakfast for her children and getting them ready for church when she addressed her absence from in-person services.

“Do not ask if I am going to church. I am not going to church. Anytime I go to church, it is me that they take picture of. I will join online,” she said.

Akindele, who is known to attend the Celestial Church of Christ, suggested that frequent attention from media teams and congregants has made it difficult for her to worship without distraction.

Her comments have since generated mixed reactions on social media, with users debating whether the attention she receives in church settings justifies her decision.

A user, ‘deola. (#deyola_a), questioned the practice, writing, “Funke Akindele said she’s stopped going to church because the camera is always on her whenever she’s in church. But why do the media te am do this? They do this a lot in Harvesters too. Why?”

Another user, Jura (#pikaj007), suggested she consider other churches with less focus on celebrities, noting that some congregations are more accustomed to high-profile worshippers.

However, Promise Ben (#promise_ben10) disagreed with her stance, arguing that public attention is not limited to church settings and questioning her reasoning.

Other users backed the actress, including LARRIEISGOOD (#larrieisgood), who said distractions from people taking photos of celebrities during services can affect genuine worship.

Similarly, HANDAYA (@HANDINO_) criticised media teams for excessive coverage of individuals during services, urging them to allow people focus during worship.

Another user, BLAZE (@dontplaywblaze), said they could relate to her experience, noting that they had also stepped back from physical attendance due to similar distractions.

Despite stepping back from physical attendance, Akindele maintained that she would continue to participate in church services online.