Nollywood actress Moyo Lawal has hit back at an X user who criticised her for remaining active in the entertainment industry and questioned why she had not stepped aside to give younger actresses more opportunities.

The exchange began after an X user identified as @guzu_p attacked the actress in a post, describing her in derogatory terms and claiming that she had passed her prime but was refusing to retire.

Lawal did not ignore the comment. In her response, she questioned whether the criticism was connected to her appearance and referred to a previous relationship, alleging that a former partner struggled to accept their separation and subsequently tried to cause problems for her.

The actress also rejected the suggestion that her career had been built through relationships with men. She explained that she began her career in television and said many of her subsequent acting opportunities came through auditions.

According to Lawal, she also worked mainly with female producers during the early stages of her acting career, arguing that assumptions about her private life should not be used to define her professional journey.

She further challenged the notion that an unmarried woman who is considered attractive must necessarily be sexually active with multiple partners.

Lawal said she normally chooses not to respond to online criticism, but explained that she felt compelled to address the particular attack because of the effort and sacrifices she has made in building her career.

The actress has remained active in Nollywood despite recurring public commentary about her appearance, relationships and personal life. Her latest response has again drawn attention to the scrutiny public figures can face over matters unrelated to their professional work.

The comments also highlight the wider debate around age, career longevity and the treatment of women in Nigeria's entertainment industry, although there is no evidence that Lawal is planning to retire from acting.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia