Nigerian comedian and gospel actor Woli Agba has defended his crew member, Dele Omowoli, following criticism of a video showing Omowoli crying after the death of gospel singer Toluwanisings.
Woli Agba explained that the video was filmed while the crew was mourning their friend, whose body they were visiting in Ibadan after his death on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. He condemned social media users who labelled Omowoli’s recording as foolish, insisting it highlighted his need for emotional support.
In a video posted online on Friday, Woli Agba expressed that he typically ignores such comments but decided to address one that ridiculed Omowoli for capturing his grief. He remarked, “I saw a comment saying that nobody is more foolish than someone who records themselves while crying,” referring to Omowoli’s emotional display.
He challenged the notion that it was wrong to show grief for a deceased friend, saying, “We were there witnessing our colleague being buried, and Dele was crying uncontrollably.”
The comedian noted that the video informed them of Omowoli’s emotional state, prompting the crew to offer him support. “That video made us realise we needed to reach out to him,” Woli Agba said, questioning why people would want someone to suffer in silence.
Woli Agba also shared that he experienced health issues after returning home from the mourning, revealing that his wife advised him to check his blood pressure, which was elevated.
Additionally, he clarified that Omowoli was not just crying; he was also acknowledging the deceased’s contributions. “He was saying, ‘Ah, she really tried,’ how is that a problem?” Woli Agba urged people to be more compassionate in their responses to others’ grief.
Toluwanisings’ death has elicited significant reactions on social media, with Woli Agba noting that posts concerning her passing have received nearly 50,000 comments. He described the overall experience as deeply distressing for him and the crew.
