Public conversation has been stirred online after Nigerian actor Deyemi Okanlawon handled a sensitive question with restraint during a recent television appearance on The Morayo Show, hosted by Morayo Afolabi-Brown.
The interview moment unfolded when Okanlawon was asked to reflect on the burial of his late friend and colleague, Alexx Ekubo. After offering condolences at the start of the segment, the host invited him to share his emotional experience at the funeral and how he and other close friends were coping with the loss.
“My condolences to you, to you, the entire friends of Alexx Ekubo, because I know you were there over the weekend and I know you also penned a tribute to him on IG. It was a really, really tough one for you and the rest of his friends. Tell us about that experience over the weekend,” she said.
Rather than elaborate on the question, Okanlawon chose to draw a firm boundary, responding simply:
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
The brief response quickly circulated across social media, where it sparked a wave of mixed reactions and renewed discussion about emotional boundaries in media interviews—especially when discussing grief and personal loss.
Many viewers praised the actor for his composure and emotional intelligence, describing his response as respectful and self-protective in a moment that could have easily become uncomfortable or intrusive.
At the same time, others turned attention to the nature of the question itself, arguing that it placed unnecessary pressure on the actor to publicly relive a painful experience. Some critics suggested that a more sensitive approach would have been limited to offering condolences rather than requesting detailed reflections on the burial.
Social media reactions reflected this divide.
One user, @KunnujiC, questioned the appropriateness of the question altogether:
“One day, we will talk about the dumb questions some of these interviewers ask. When did burial become an experience?”
Another user, @celinaavong, praised Okanlawon’s handling of the moment:
“deyemitheactor is an emotionally intelligent man. He doesn’t just follow trends and blab. He is one actor I have so much respect for. With all the videos online, she de ask person to talk about the funeral experience of a loved one. Very insensitive question to ask.”
Similarly, @confi_lawson wrote:
“That’s someone that has emotional intelligence 👏”
Others felt the interviewer’s approach crossed a line. @clarisyuri commented:
“A simple sincere condolences on the loss of your friend would have been enough. Some of these Podcasters too do”
@tchinony added:
“Madam interviewer, are you looking for burial review? 🤦🏻♂️”
Meanwhile, @officialdaddymo took a broader view of the situation, writing:
“Emotional intelligence is not a flower that grows in every garden. Well answered Deyemi. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾”
The moment continues to circulate online, feeding a wider conversation about the limits of celebrity interviews, grief sensitivity, and the growing expectations around emotional intelligence in public discourse.