Simping or Joy? Kenyan Celebrities Clash Over IShowSpeed’s "Groupie" Reception

American streamer and internet sensation IShowSpeed’s recent visit to Kenya may have thrilled fans, but it also ignited a heated debate among Kenyan celebrities and social media users over how far admiration should go.

Videos circulating online showed Kenyan fans and public figures scrambling for photos, chanting his name and trailing the YouTuber across different locations.

While many viewed the scenes as harmless excitement, others felt the reactions crossed into excessive “fanning,” especially from adults and fellow celebrities.

Socialite Corazon Kwamboka was among those who weighed in, taking a cheeky but pointed jab at the situation.

In her post, she suggested the spectacle flipped traditional stereotypes, remarking that men appeared to be the real groupies this time around, loudly and unapologetically showing their admiration.

"IShowSpeed really proved men are the real groupies. Loud. Proud. No shame. Meanwhile, someone is losing sleep over a man," she wrote

Music group Matata, on the other hand, took a more balanced stance. While applauding the organisers of IShowSpeed’s Kenyan tour for prioritising authenticity, they cautioned against what they described as unnecessary “simping,” urging fans to maintain composure even when hosting global stars.

"Shout out to whoever organized I ShowSpeed Kenyan tour.Outhenticity won, But majamaa msiwai simp hiyo design tena."

Betty Kyallo' boyfriend, Charlie Jones was far less forgiving. He questioned the lack of restraint shown  by adults, arguing that while it is expected for children to chase after a global streamer, grown men asking for photos was, in his view, embarrassing and indicative of misplaced priorities.

"What happened to shame? It's understandable for kids to chase speed and copy what he does, but for grown men to ask for a photo is extremely embarrassing."

Singer Charisma added a humorous twist to the conversation, joking that if football icon Lionel Messi ever visited Kenya, he might also lose his composure.

His comment struck a chord with many who felt that admiration for global stars is sometimes unavoidable, regardless of age or status.

"I pray Lionel Messi never sets foot in Kenya because I might embarass myself"

Also Read: IShowSpeed in Tears After Breaking Career Records in Kenya

Offering a deeper social perspective, Georgina Mbira pushed back against the criticism entirely, arguing that Kenya struggles with how it interprets public joy.

She suggested that the country’s culture of “aibu” or shame has conditioned people to police happiness rather than protect it. According to her, labeling excitement as cringe or attention-seeking reflects deeper issues rooted in guilt and fear.

"Kenya has a shame problem. We were raised on “aibu” as discipline, so we learned to police joy instead of protecting it.

A lot of us don’t know how to witness joy without punishing it. So we call it cringe, attention seeking, bad manners. Shame,guilt and fear are the lowest levels of consciousness."

The contrasting reactions have since fueled a wider conversation online about celebrity culture, self-expression and national identity.

Some Kenyans argue that global figures like IShowSpeed bring international attention and should be welcomed with enthusiasm, while others insist that dignity and self-awareness should not be sacrificed in the process.