High-profile Nollywood actress and media personality Toke Makinwa has sparked online conversation after sharing her strong views on financial disparity within romantic relationships and marriages.
Speaking as a guest on a recent episode of the MENtality podcast, hosted by veteran media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, Makinwa stated that she is a firm advocate for individuals choosing partners within their own financial and social classes. She argued that crossing these socioeconomic brackets often invites avoidable friction, particularly pointing out how men’s behavior shifts when trying to pursue lifestyles or partners they cannot genuinely afford.
“I am a big believer of date within your age and within your class. That way there will not be stories that touch. You will have a good girl at home, a girl who will even make dinner with her own money when you don’t have. Yet, some men will still want to cheat on her with a woman they can’t afford.” Toke Makinwa.
The risk of sacrifice and how sudden wealth alters dynamics
Makinwa heavily criticized a common narrative in modern dating where men step far outside their financial comfort zones to pursue high-maintenance women, only to later complain that women are inherently materialistic. According to the media star, this misalignment often leads to resentment, infidelity, and an inability to sustain the relationship’s demands.
Furthermore, the actress expressed deep skepticism regarding the romantic trope of “building from scratch” with a partner before they achieve financial success. She warned women that staying with a man who has not yet reached his financial potential carries significant risks, arguing that sudden wealth does not change an individual’s character, but merely strips away their limitations to reveal who they truly are. Makinwa concluded that too many men treat women who sacrificed for them poorly once they finally achieve success, making financial alignment from the outset a much safer boundary for women.
