Media personality, actress, and entrepreneur Toke Makinwa has reflected on the deeply personal decision to leave her marriage, addressing the harsh public scrutiny she faced and the internal strength it took to walk away.
In a candid conversation with Chude Jideonwo on his show, Makinwa discussed the emotional toll of living through a public breakup while managing personal battles that many outsiders could neither see nor understand.
“People often underestimate survivors,” she said. “They assume it couldn’t have been that bad because you survived and moved on.”
Makinwa highlighted how society sometimes resents those who emerge from trauma stronger — seeing their resilience not as inspiration, but as a challenge.
“If someone comes back 10 minutes stronger, it unsettles people. Instead of learning from it, they see your strength as a threat. Until you’ve walked in my shoes, don’t comment.”
She revealed that the public nature of her relationship added enormous pressure, noting that she might have stayed longer had the relationship been private.
“The emotional intensity and public scrutiny made it dangerous for my health,” she said.
“Maybe I could have stayed if it wasn’t so public. But the way I loved this person — it would have consumed me. If I stayed, I would’ve lost myself completely.”
Despite the pain of leaving, Makinwa said choosing herself was not only difficult but essential to saving her future.
“It was hard to walk away, but staying in a toxic situation would have cost me everything — my peace, my health, my purpose,” she shared.
Toke Makinwa’s openness adds to her legacy as a voice for women who often feel trapped in the court of public opinion, reminding others that healing and self-worth don’t need public validation.
