Nollywood actor Jim Iyke has finally cleared the air on his controversial birthday message to fellow star, Kate Henshaw, which recently stirred up strong reactions online.
A few days ago, Jim’s birthday tribute to Kate went viral for all the wrong reasons. In the post, he had jokingly slammed his 23-year-old self for being treated like a younger brother when he had deeper, less innocent feelings towards her. He also made suggestive remarks about wanting to “experiment with his seed” and accused Kate of taking his actions literally before eventually marrying a white man.
While the tone raised eyebrows and drew criticism, including a heated response from actor Gideon Okeke, Jim Iyke has now addressed the backlash.
In a new interview, the actor stood by every word in the post, stating that it wasn’t for clout or shock value. According to him, the message was written from a place of deep familiarity and trust between two people who have shared over two decades of friendship.
He clarified that while the language may have seemed suggestive, there was no romantic or sexual intent behind it.
There’s nothing sexual about it,” Jim said. “This is someone I can speak my truth to and get honest advice from. It’s just a genuine friendship.”
He described Kate as someone he considers “his boy”—a term of endearment for a friend he trusts completely, and with whom he can be fully vulnerable without fear of judgment.
Still, not everyone received the message with that understanding. Actor Gideon Okeke took to social media to criticize Jim’s post, calling him out for what he described as “narcissistic effrontery.” Gideon questioned the kind of culture that enables such behaviour, labeling it toxic.
Despite the uproar, Jim appears unfazed. Known for keeping his private life tightly under wraps, the actor also revealed in 2022 that he had been married twice and has three children. According to him, his marriages remained out of the public eye due to his calculated and unpredictable lifestyle.
He later earned praise when he publicly took responsibility for his failed marriages, admitting that the emotional toll of losing his mother affected his behaviour and created distance in his relationships.
Also Read:Jim Iyke Tells Kate Henshaw to F*ck Off in Birthday Post Full of Emotions and Memories
