Nollywood actor Deyemi Okanlawon, popularly known as Deyemi the Actor, has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding rape and online backlash, stating that when women say “stop raping women”, the only acceptable response is agreement.

The actor shared his view on X after reposting a recent statement by singer Simi, who had addressed criticism over resurfaced tweets from her past.

Simi had earlier faced backlash after stating that almost every woman she knows has experienced sexual assault at some point in their lives.

As the debate intensified, some X users dug up tweets she posted in 2012, prompting her to defend herself and insist that her past comments were being misinterpreted.

In response to the conversation, Deyemi wrote:

“When women say ‘STOP rap*ng women’…

Your response cannot be ‘what abt men/children’ neither can it be ‘what abt false accusers’ nor anything else.

Your reply MUST only be YES!!!

You can start your own separate conversation abt anything else at another time/place.”

This comes at a time when conversations about sexual violence have intensified across Nigerian media space, particularly following recent allegations and counter-allegations.

Simi, in her earlier response to critics, had said she would not allow her past tweets to be used to “twist” her narrative. She explained that the posts were made in 2012 when she was 23 and helping her mother run a daycare, insisting that nothing she wrote was inappropriate or perverse.

She also reaffirmed her position against rape and sexual assault, stating: “I said stop raping women. I stand by it.”

Deyemi’s intervention appears to reinforce that stance, emphasising that calls to end rape should not be diluted by deflection or what some describe as “whataboutism”.

Deyemi Okanlawon, 44, is one of Nollywood’s prominent leading men. The actor, who began his screen career in the early 2010s, has featured in several films and television productions including Omo Ghetto: The Saga, King of boys, and Blood sisters