The controversy surrounding the upcoming film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone has taken a new turn after Nigerian filmmaker Jade Osiberu publicly responded to author Tomi Adeyemi's emotional claims about the project.

Earlier this week, Adeyemi revealed in a heartfelt video that working on the adaptation of her bestselling fantasy novel was "the worst thing" she has ever experienced. The author said she left the film set "hyperventilating and sobbing" and later suffered severe panic attacks and physical pain. She also alleged that senior figures involved in the production were aware of her concerns for over a year but failed to address them, claiming she was instead "antagonised" behind the scenes.

While Adeyemi did not identify any individual by name or disclose specific incidents, her remarks sparked widespread reactions across the entertainment industry.

Joining the conversation, acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker Jade Osiberu expressed sympathy for the film's director, Gina Prince-Bythewood, suggesting the criticism unfairly overshadowed the efforts of the cast and crew.

"After pouring your heart and soul into a project for over two years... trying your best to honour the material and involving the author to the point of even a cameo," Osiberu wrote, adding that it was unfair for the same author to publicly disparage the finished work.

She argued that creative disagreements are common in large studio productions and said filmmakers rarely get everything they originally envisioned.

"You got some of the biggest and brightest Black talent from around the world on your adaptation, a major studio backing it with a decent budget and marketing. What you do is respect everyone's work and suck it up. When you're working with studios, you don't typically get everything exactly how you want. Conflict during the creative process happens," she stated.

Osiberu further urged Adeyemi to resolve any disputes privately through legal channels if necessary rather than taking the matter to social media.

"Decenter yourself a little and think about what's at stake for everyone who worked on this and the broader African creative community. If it cannot be resolved, speak to your lawyers. This obsession with bringing personal and work conflicts to the internet is exhausting," she wrote.

The exchange has divided opinion online. While many readers sympathised with Adeyemi's account of emotional distress and argued that she has every right to speak about her personal experience, others echoed Osiberu's view that public criticism of the project could negatively affect the work of hundreds of creatives involved in bringing the adaptation to life.

As of the time of writing, neither Paramount Pictures, director Gina Prince-Bythewood, nor other producers attached to the film have publicly responded to either Adeyemi's allegations or Osiberu's remarks.

The highly anticipated adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone remains one of the most significant fantasy films featuring a predominantly Black cast, making the ongoing disagreement a closely watched conversation within both the African and international film industries.