Nigerian actress and former BBNaija star, Erica Nlewedim, has stood up for herself after facing harsh criticism online. A video of her trying to speak Igbo recently went viral, and many people made fun of her.

In the video, Erica seemed to have difficulty speaking her native language, which led to a flood of unkind comments. A lot of these negative reactions came from fellow Igbos, with some questioning her cultural identity and mocking her fluency.

But Erica didn’t stay silent.

She took to social media and responded through a series of tweets. In her posts, she pointed out that there’s a lot of hidden self-hate in the Igbo community. She wondered why people are so quick to tear down their own, especially over something as personal as language.

When someone made a joke about her struggling with Igbo, Erica replied with confidence, making it clear she wasn’t embarrassed. She refused to let anyone make her feel less Igbo just because she isn’t fluent in the language.

In another tweet, she asked why it’s so common for Igbos to criticize their own people. She said the shaming over language is unfair and unnecessary.

While many people supported Erica’s point of view, others thought she crossed a line by bringing up how people from other tribes treat their own. One social media user felt Erica could have made her case without comparing Igbos to other ethnic groups.

Despite the mixed reactions, Erica’s message was clear—everyone should be allowed to embrace their roots in their own way, without being judged.