Nollywood actress Jumoke Odetola has come to the defense of celebrity chef Hilda Baci after backlash trailed her record-breaking Jollof Rice festival.
Baci, who rose to global fame two years ago with her Guinness World Record marathon cooking feat, recently shut down Eko Hotel, Lagos, as she cooked the biggest pot of Jollof Rice.
The event, tagged Hilda Baci Jollof Festival, drew support from top names including Funke Akindele, Enioluwa, Tomike, Pastor Idowu and Ogun State First Lady, Bamidele Abiodun.
While many praised the achievement, some attendees and online users criticized the food, claiming the Jollof no sweet.
Reacting via Instagram, Odetola condemned the negativity, describing it as “heartbreaking when greatness is overshadowed.” She said her timeline had been buzzing with banter since the event and questioned why people feel triggered by a woman’s success.
It takes real courage to attempt something extraordinary, to dream big and bring it to life. Instead of bashing, place your right hand on your chest and ask yourself—why am I triggered by the success of a woman making her mark? she wrote.
The actress further prayed for critics, asking God to heal them from past pains that fuel bitterness and toxicity.
Recall that in 2023, Hilda Baci made history with a 100-hour cook-a-thon, officially certified by Guinness World Records at 93 hours 11 minutes. Though her record was later surpassed by Ireland’s Alan Fisher,
