There are many words used in describing celebs – superstars, megastars, demigods, untouchables etc. these words are a result of the perception fans, media and the public at large have about celebrities. Of all thins celebrities achieve, their marital life is one which wows the fans.
Many fans often admire the nuptial life of celebs, while modeling their own relationships after that of these celebs. Over the years, life has shown that, real marriage is so different from reel marriage. Despite their successful careers, many celebs have struggled to keep a successful home and this keeps reoccurring, leading to divorce. The marriage crash of many celebs often leave fans surprised, shocked and dismayed considering the public show-off of Love by celebrities – in movie premiers, social media, public events, etc.
Of many celebrities’ marriage crash, let’s take a look at those that came in ways that were unexpected and sent a shock wave to fans and the society at large.
Fathia and Saheed Balogun
The first shocking celebrities marriage separation that came as a surprise to many was that of these two veteran actors. On September 7, 2000, Faithia Zenabu Williams married Saidi (also known as Saheed) Balogun in Lagos. Saheed Balogun, born February 5, 1967. It was a marriage that made many say “ God when? “; a relationship that was a model to many & seemed like a ‘till death do we part’ marriage.
However, the bombshell was dropped in 2006 that the much-loved couples had broken up, after the birth of their second child.
To this day, nobody knows for sure what happened. Some said Fathia was cheating on Saheed, while others claimed it was the other way round. A few even went as far as saying they were both unfaithful to each other. There was a widespread claim that they had an open marriage.
Though the two stopped living together in 2006, they only got divorced in 2014.
Yvonne Jegede and Olakunle Fawole
Nollywood actress, Yvonne Jegede, shocked fans when she finally confirmed that her one-year-old marriage to Olakunle ‘Abounce’ Fawole (son of a late actress, Bukky Ajayi, ) had crashed. The actress disclosed in an interview with Pulse in March 2019, saying she quit the marriage three months after she got pregnant with her son.
“We started having issues before the birth of Xavier. I think I was about two to three months pregnant when the issues came. Immediately the ‘issues’ came, there was never a dull moment, it just kept going up and up and it got worse and it got worse and today here we are,” Yvonne said.
Separation rumours began trailing their marriage in early 2019 after reports stated that Yvonne had moved out of her husband’s house. Around that time, she reverted to her maiden name, further fueling speculations. Unconfirmed media reports said that the issue allegedly stemmed from the paternity of the child.
Olakunle married Yvonne at a simple but classy wedding ceremony in Lagos in February 2018.
Osas Ighodaro and Gbenro Ajibade
The divorce of two very loved actors Osas & Gbenro sent shock waves not only to Nollywood but the country. Remember Gbenro Ajibade post on Instagram when he called out his then-wife Osas, “neglecting their daughter”? It was at this moment then their fans suspected there was a problem with their marriage; little did they know that divorce was imminent.
About 10 months later, the actor confirmed that he and his actress wife of three years are finally divorced. The actor revealed this while fielding questions on a Channels Television programme, Rubbin Minds. “We have been divorced for a while now although not publicised. We are co-parenting,” he said in response to a question about his marital status.
Ighodaro and Ajibade met onset of a TV show and got married afterwards to fans and industry delight. The couple’s wedding ceremony was so huge, that it was televised on live TV. The couple had a glamourous wedding in New York and Edo State and welcomed their child, Azariah, in 2016.
Monalisa Chinda & Dejo Richard
Beautiful actress Monalisa Chinda’s wedding to Dejo Richards crashed after Five years. Monalisa Chinda says the reason her first marriage crashed was that she married the wrong person at the right time. It was alleged that Chinda faced domestic violence and abuse while married to Richards.
The news spread through all media houses such that Monalisa, eho was then a Glo Ambassador granted lots of interviews, explaining the abuse she suffered in the hands of Dejo. Dejo would rebuff her allegations while pleading his innocence.
They have a daughter, Tamar together. This break-up happened in 2009.
Tiwa Savage and Tunji ‘Teebliz’ Balogun
When news broke out about Tiwa’s marital issues with her husband in 2016, few wuld have thought they would go their seperate ways. This was two years after their wedding on April 6, 2014, though in 2013 they had their traditional wedding in Lagos.
Talk about a wedding ceremony that was so glamorous and attended by the crème de la crème of the society , a wedding held in the luxurious Armani Hotel in Dubai, one that culd compete with the best of weddings anywhere in the world, then Tiwa’s wedding ceremony to Teebliz was that wedding.
According to some reports, Teebliz accused his wife of having extra-marital affairs with popular celebs such as Tuface, Wizkid, Don Jazzy, etc. Tiwa on the other hand accused her husband of violently abusing her, cheating on her and given to substance abuse.
Several personalities such as Life coach Lanre Olushola tried to interevene in their disputes but it was an exercise in futility as the couples would eventually go their separate ways.
They have a son Jamil together, whose picture Tiwa reguarly post on Social media. Teebliz has since relocated to the United States.
Ik Ogbonna and Sonia Morales
The year 2019 was a year where we witnessed the marriage crashes of many celebrities, and one of such was that of IK and his wife.
One of the biggest separation stories in the world of celebrities was that of IK Ogbonna and Sonia Morales, who divorced in 2019. The beautiful and physically compatible looking couple took the social media by storm with public display of affection meshed with their attractive looks and gorgeous outfits.
The news of their divorce was broken by Sonia via her Instagram page on Thursday, August 8, 2019. According to her, even though she cried her way through breaking the news of her divorce, it was time to announce to the world that IK Ogbonna is no longer her husband.
There have been several speculations about IK Ogbonna and Sonia Morales’ union several months before their divorce. We all knew all was not well between these guys after their social media shades and cryptic posts.
Damilola Adegbite and Chris Attoh
Talk about the Brad Pitt and Angekina Jolie of the Nigerian Celebrity sphere, everyone was in awe of the marriage of Damilola and Chris. Just like Osas and Gbenro, Damilola Adegbite and Chris Attoh had one of those onset beautiful love stories. The former lovebirds met on MNET TV Series, Tinsel – a show that actually brought Damilola to limelight. The couple got married on February 14, 2015, in Accra, Ghana. It was more like a fairytale wedding.
Shockingly, In April 2017, Chris Attoh slammed divorce rumours in a radio interview, two years after their wedding. The couple had earlier unfollowed each other on Instagram which led to a lot of suspicion from the public.
The actress remained silent about their separation after that. However, in September of 2017, Attoh finally revealed that their marriage had crashed. In an interview with Bella Naija on September 25, 2017, the Ghanaian actor finally spoke about the relationship between him and his ex-wife and actress, Dami Adegbite.
“I believe throughout our marriage, It has probably been one of the most challenging things we have ever done, however, the key word is balance… However, since the divorce, we are obviously now reworking things to create a new balance between work, spending time with and raising our son”, He said.
Mofe Duncan and Jessica Kakkad
Mofe and Jessica had one of the discreet breakups among many celebrities breakups. The then 35 years old Nigerian actor was alleged to have emotionally cheated on his Indian wife through a leaked chat with an Instagram diva.
Moments after the chat was released, both partners took to Instagram to show support for each other. However, close sources say that that was the beginning of their marital crisis, just a year afyer their wedding.
This beautiful couple actually divorced in 2018 but fans and the media only got to know of this a year later. They were beautiful together and a very private couple.
Jessica broke the news on her Instagram story on April 11 2019, when a fan asked if she was still married. She responded by saying that she was no longer married!
Mofe also confirmed the news on his Instagram page the following day. He said even though his marriage has since ended, the relationship between both families has remained cordial.
Till date, many fans still find it hard to believe that the beautiful couple are no longer married.
Lilian Esoro and Ubi Franklin
Businessman & Socialie Ubi Franklin got married to beautiful actress Lilian Esoro in 2015 in a talk of the media wedding celebration. However, things got sour and they separated a year later, although they officially divorced in February 2021.
In an interview with Toke Makinwa ( another celeb who had a failed marriage), the Triple MG Boss said the marriage was already shaky from the engagement. The 35 years old said tat the defining moment of his failed marriage was when the person who often counseled himself & ex-wife suddenly asked him never to visit his home with the same marital problems again.
Himself and Lilian are co-parenting their son Jayden, one of the four children he has with four baby mommas
Tonto Dikeh and Olakunle Churchill
The news of Tonto Dike’s marriage crash with Business Mogul Olakunle Churchill was one of the shocking marriage breakups of 2017.
Gorgeous actress Tonto Dikeh who is always in the news for controversial reasons, parted ways with Churchill over allegations of domestic abuse and extra-marital . This happened in 2017, two years after getting married in 2015.
The two had met at a Night club in 2014 during Churchill’s brother birthday. Tonto Dike would get pregnant three months after that and give birth to their son who they co-parent.
Tonto told Media Room Hub in 2017 that Meurer, Churchill’s P.A as at that time, was the major cause of marriage crash. She revealed that her former husnad bought Meurer a car for her birthday. She said Meurer had been sleeping with her husband , though the latter debunked the allegation.
Churchill would later settle doen wwith Rosy Meurer who he constantly address as Mrs Churchill, while Tonto Dike in another relationship mess, recently broke up with her lover, Prince Kpokpori.