Nollywood actress Juliana Olayode has expressed concern over the way the viral “Holy Spirit, carry me” trend is being used on social media, warning that the phrase’s spiritual meaning is gradually being turned into a joke.
The actress voiced her reservations in a message shared on her Instagram page, where she criticised the growing habit of attaching humorous captions to the trend.
She explained that although the phrase is rooted in a sincere spiritual appeal for divine support, many social media users now treat it as comic content.
According to Olayode, several captions linked to the trend — particularly those referencing physical appearance or body size — trivialise what was originally meant to be a heartfelt prayer.
She noted that phrases such as “Holy Spirit no carry me because of my big nyash” make light of something she believes should be treated with reverence.
“It’s absolutely okay for us to ask the Holy Spirit to carry us; that’s a powerful prayer and a beautiful song. What I don’t quite understand are some of the captions that are turning it into a cruise,” she said.
The actress urged Christians to treat spiritual expressions with more seriousness and to avoid using sacred references merely for social media engagement or humour.
“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. Please, let’s be careful. Let’s not reduce something sacred to a joke. Please, let’s honour and revere the Holy Spirit,” she said.
The trend, which gained traction on TikTok and other social media platforms, involves people acting out the phrase “Holy Spirit, carry me,” often using dramatic gestures or humorous captions while referencing the Holy Spirit as a bird or spiritual guide.
Although many participants view the trend as harmless fun, Olayode said the growing number of comedic adaptations suggests that some users may not fully understand the spiritual implication of what they are referencing.
She acknowledged that humour and online banter are common elements of social media culture but insisted that believers should remain mindful when discussing sacred themes.
“I know we like to joke and catch cruise online, and sometimes it’s really just vibes. But I’ve been feeling a bit uncomfortable. We Christians take too many things with levity,” she said.
Olayode also compared the behaviour to how other religions treat their sacred figures and symbols, arguing that followers of other faiths tend to show more caution when referencing their spiritual leaders.
“People of other religions wouldn’t dare mention the name of their prophet or god without honour. We throw the name of Jesus around with no regard for the Holy Spirit? No, please, it’s a No! No!” she added.
The actress emphasised that faith and joy are not mutually exclusive but insisted that humour should not come at the expense of reverence.
“For me, personally, we can make jokes, do fun things, and be joyful without being careless,” she said.
The trend has attracted participation from several public figures within the entertainment industry, including Nollywood stars such as Funke Akindele and Mercy Johnson, who have also joined the viral challenge online.
However, Olayode’s remarks have sparked fresh debate among social media users about the boundaries between humour, online trends and religious respect.
Her comments add to a broader conversation within Christian communities about how faith-related expressions should be represented in digital spaces, particularly as viral content increasingly blurs the line between devotion and entertainment.
