Actress Samkelo Ndlovu has stepped away from Instagram after receiving heavy backlash from fans of the popular Showmax series Adulting. The drama reached boiling point after the final episode of the show shocked audiences with the unexpected death of a beloved character, Tsiki Tsiki, played by Nhlanhla Kunene.
In the heartbreaking scene, Tsiki Tsiki is fatally stabbed by his girlfriend, portrayed by Samkelo. What followed was an outpouring of grief, anger, and confusion from fans—many of whom struggled to separate the storyline from reality.
The character Tsiki Tsiki was known for his laid-back gangster charm, which earned him a strong following, especially among female viewers. His sudden and violent end triggered intense emotional reactions, with some fans even targeting Samkelo Ndlovu personally for the actions of her on-screen character.
What started as passionate fan reactions quickly spiraled into online abuse. Samkelo faced direct threats, harsh criticism, and even confrontations in public. The pressure eventually led the actress to deactivate her Instagram account.
Before going offline, Samkelo shared a heartfelt message with her followers, expressing both love and frustration. “I’ll be deactivating my social media for some time. I’m just a girl.
To my true fans, I love you so much, and I will see you soon on screen. I appreciate you so much for sticking with me all these years and loving my work,” she wrote.
She also addressed those who had been cruel to her online and in real life. “And to the rest of you—I hope you feel better after being disrespectful and ugly to me online. I hope your direct threats made the blow of a fictional character’s death on TV feel much better,” she added.
Samkelo also revealed that some of the hate wasn’t just online. “To those who said disrespectful, ugly things to me in public—I hope you slept better that night.”
When Daily Sun reached out to her for further comment, the actress declined, saying: “No, thank you. I will address it if I feel like I should when the time is right.”
Samkelo’s experience serves as a reminder that actors are not their characters—and deserve respect off-screen.
