Nigerian cleric Pastor Femi Lazarus is facing a wave of criticism after a sermon he gave about women and their menstrual cycles went viral, and not for the right reasons.
In the video making rounds online, the pastor claimed that women’s mood swings during their periods have nothing to do with menstruation itself, but are simply a reflection of their personalities.
“You are not the first woman to see your period, so your menstruation is not the problem.
I have never seen anywhere in the Bible any woman complain about menstrual pain. You are simply not a peaceful person,” he said.
The comments didn’t sit well with many Nigerians, especially women, who flooded social media with reactions. One user didn’t hold back: “You are sick… Preach Jesus, not gender!”
Another added, “This is why women are tired of male religious leaders speaking on female issues.”
Many criticized the pastor for being dismissive and out of touch with the real physical and emotional experiences women go through during their cycles.
Critics say religious leaders should show more empathy and avoid making bold claims about issues they don’t fully understand, especially when it comes to women’s health.
Not everyone is against him, though. A section of Pastor Lazarus’ followers have come to his defense, arguing that his words were misunderstood or taken out of context.
