JULIANA OLAYODE CAUTIONS AGAINST MISUSE OF ‘HOLY SPIRIT, CARRY ME’ TREND

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Nollywood actress Juliana Olayode has expressed concern over how some social media users are using the trending “Holy Spirit, carry me” challenge online.

Olayode, in a post shared on her Instagram page, said while asking the Holy Spirit for help is appropriate and rooted in faith, some captions being attached to the trend are disrespectful and trivialise something sacred.

She criticised captions referencing personal attributes such as body size or physical appearance, citing examples like “Holy Spirit no carry me because of my big nyash” or weight-related jokes. According to her, such remarks turn a spiritual expression into mere entertainment.

“It’s absolutely okay for us to ask the Holy Spirit to carry us; that’s a powerful prayer and a beautiful song,” she wrote.

“What I don’t quite understand are some of the captions that are turning it into a cruise. Seeing captions like ‘Holy Spirit no carry me because of my big nyash,’ because I get weight, because he no like small things, makes me cringe. Do we know who we’re talking about here? The Holy Spirit?”

The actress urged Christians to treat the Holy Spirit with honour and reverence, stressing that sacred elements of the faith should not be reduced to jokes or social media trends.

She noted that while humour and entertainment are common on social media, believers should exercise caution when referencing religious figures or concepts.

“Please, let’s be careful. Let’s not reduce something sacred to a joke. The Holy Spirit is not for trends or a punchline for attention,” she said.

Olayode also expressed concern that many Christians treat their faith too casually online, noting that followers of other religions rarely mention their prophets or deities without showing respect.

“For me personally, we can make jokes, do fun things, and be joyful without being careless,” she added.

The “Holy Spirit, carry me” trend, which has gained traction on TikTok, typically features participants stretching out their hands toward a symbolic bird representation of the Holy Spirit.

Several Nigerian actresses, including Funke Akindele and Mercy Johnson, have also participated in the viral trend.