Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has come under fire following his birthday message to fellow actor Kate Henshaw, which many have described as inappropriate and self-indulgent.
The message, which began with the explosive phrase “F*UCK YOU, KATE,” was intended to be a dramatic tribute to their decades-long friendship, but it quickly turned into a controversial statement that has divided fans and colleagues alike.
Jim’s post, though laced with affection and admiration for Kate, crossed into deeply personal territory.
He recalled moments from their early Nollywood days, highlighting how Kate supported him when he was just starting out.
He spoke of how she gave him transport money, called him with audition details, and treated him like a younger brother, even though he secretly desired more.
“I knew you were a force of nature,” he wrote, before adding that when she eventually let him “hit it,” he was too immature and restless to handle it well.
While some found his candor to be bold and refreshing, others viewed it as distasteful. Actor Gideon Okeke was among the first to publicly criticise Jim’s post.
In a pointed message on Instagram, Gideon condemned the tribute, calling it an act of “narcissistic effrontery.”
He warned that such behaviour could normalise disrespectful conduct among men toward women, saying, “If this passes for banter, then many boys will be emboldened to ‘shoot’ at our sisters, mothers, and daughters under the guise of intimacy.”
Social media reactions mirrored Gideon’s concerns. Many users, particularly women, expressed outrage at Jim’s decision to reveal intimate details without Kate’s prior consent.
A prominent X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “Jim Iyke is the type of man who thinks saying ‘I love you’ after humiliating you publicly is romantic.”
Another user commented, “He weaponised nostalgia and turned a birthday message into a confessional that nobody asked for.”
However, not everyone saw Jim’s post as a breach of decorum. Some fans and a few industry insiders defended him, claiming that his tribute was simply a raw, unfiltered celebration of a real and complex relationship.
“People need to stop acting like adults can’t express love however they want,” one commenter argued.
“Kate is clearly not offended. Why are you offended on her behalf?”
Indeed, Kate Henshaw herself responded warmly to Jim’s post, seemingly unbothered by its tone. “JIMBO… thank you for always toning down your madness… I love you, Jimbo,” she wrote on Instagram, accompanied by laughing emojis
Yet, for critics, Kate’s response wasn’t enough to justify the post. Several pointed out that public figures have a responsibility to set standards, particularly when speaking about women.
A women’s rights activist posted on Instagram, “The way Jim narrated events implied entitlement to her body. Even if she’s okay with it, the message it sends to society is dangerous.”
In the aftermath of the backlash, Jim Iyke has not issued an apology or clarification, remaining silent on the criticism.
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