Nollywood actress, Angela Okorie, has responded to criticism surrounding her decision to burn the white outfit she wore to the burial of her late colleague, Alexx Ekubo.
The actor, Alexx Ekubo, was laid to rest last week in his hometown, Aziukwubwo Ujori village in Arochukwu, Abia State, following his passing on May 11 after a battle with stage four kidney cancer.
Actress Explains Tradition Behind Her Action
Taking to her Instagram story, Okorie explained that her decision was influenced by advice from her godmother, who told her it is not customary to keep clothing worn to a burial ceremony.
According to her, she chose to dispose of the outfit in line with the guidance and shared the message as a personal belief for her followers.
“This is the outfit I wore to Alex’s burial. My Godmother said it is not good to keep the clothes you wore to a burial around you; you should burn them,” she wrote.
She added that the gesture was meant as advice to others, while praying for long life and blessings for herself and her followers.
Backlash From Social Media Users
However, her post quickly sparked reactions online, with many users accusing her of being insensitive and disrespectful to the memory of the late actor and his grieving family.
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Critics argued that the timing and nature of the message was inappropriate given the circumstances surrounding the funeral.
Actress Fires Back At Critics
Reacting to the backlash, Okorie defended her actions, insisting that people misunderstood her intentions and had no right to attack her personal beliefs.
She explained that the outfit was eventually given to her aunt in Owerri to burn, adding that she did not travel with it after the burial.
“I didn’t even go to Lagos with it… I gave the outfit I wore to the burial to my aunt in Owerri to burn for me,” she said.
She also cautioned critics to be mindful of their comments, noting that the late actor’s family is still grieving and urging respect for their privacy during the mourning period.