Charlie Jones, Betty Kyallo’s boyfriend, has sparked debate online after criticising what he called “embarrassing” behaviour by grown men who aggressively pursued American streamer Darren Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, during his recent visit to Kenya.
In a strongly worded post, Charlie questioned why adult men were forcing themselves into lines for photos, handshakes, signatures, and shouting emotional declarations at the internet personality.
“What happened to shame?” he asked, noting that while children copying the streamer’s antics is understandable, similar behaviour from adults is not.
“It’s understandable for kids to chase Speed and copy what he does on stream, but grown men forcing themselves into a line for a photo or handshake is extremely embarrassing,” Charlie said.
Charlie on Instagram pic.twitter.com/oICdB6IaUP
— The Nairobi Times (@TheNairobiTimez) January 12, 2026
He described scenes that left him stunned, claiming he witnessed men “hitting C notes, shouting, jumping up and down,” and even begging the streamer for attention.
“I’ve seen grown men say ‘tell me you love me,’ ‘recognise me, I’m your biggest fan,’ ‘sign here,’” he added, noting that some of the men were pushing 30 while chasing a 20-year-old.
According to Charlie, some individuals continued to pursue IShowSpeed throughout the day despite being pushed away, ignored, or even slapped in the chaos surrounding the influencer’s movements.
His remarks quickly ignited mixed reactions online.
Some Kenyans agreed that adult celebrity worship can cross the line, while others accused him of hypocrisy, given his own high-profile relationship with veteran media personality Betty Kyallo. Netizens also joked about Charlie “attracting older women” while criticising older men for adoration.
Charlie, however, acknowledged the broader strategy behind IShowSpeed’s Kenya visit, praising the government and private stakeholders for leveraging the moment for global visibility.
“What Kenya has done with Speed is exactly what China did. Any opportunity you get to sell what’s good about your country, do it,” he said, applauding the exposure Kenya received through the streamer’s massive global audience.
Comedian Eddie Butita also shared a humorous take, claiming the American streamer wanted to meet him, but he was too busy.
“I'm actually sad because IShowSpeed is in Kenya. He really wanted to meet me, but unfortunately, I'm a busy man, and my schedule has refused completely,” he wrote.
He added that he had tried everything to make time, jokingly noting he would make it up to the streamer later.
IShowSpeed’s visit drew massive crowds, with fans following him through Nairobi streets, markets, and popular tourist spots.
His energetic livestreams showcased Kenyan culture, music, food, and hospitality to millions worldwide, turning the visit into a viral marketing moment for the country.
The engagement was so intense that the streamer gained 360,000 subscribers and reached 48 million views on his IRL (in real life) stream.
Netizens from around the world shared their reactions to the live stream, which has now garnered nine million views on YouTube.
Joe Kiriba commented, “The first day of Speed in Kenya is on another level. I started watching at 11 am, and it’s now 3 am… It’s like watching Fast and Furious season 10.” Another user, Modern Folklore, noted, “Speed was overstimulated. He met a crazier crowd than him.”
Zenith Media added, “After seeing how prepared Kenya was, it makes all other countries he visited earlier seem like a joke. Kenya, we underestimated you. Salute from South Africa.”