Veteran Nollywood actress, Shaffy Bello has ignited widespread conversation on social media after declaring that she does not condemn women involved in transactional relationships, popularly known as “runs,” while urging those in such situations not to see it as a permanent way of life.

Bello made the remarks during an interview on The Morayo Show hosted by Morayo Afolabi-Brown, in a conversation that has since gone viral on social media. The full interview was published on the show’s official YouTube channel on May 21 and gained wider attention after clips from the interview circulated on X and other platforms.

The actress stressed that her message was rooted in empathy rather than criticism, noting that some women enter such situations to survive, support parents, or fund the education of younger siblings.She argued that economic hardship and difficult personal circumstances made passing judgement on such women unhelpful and unfair.

Bello said: “And if what you’re doing now is being a runs girl to make money, you don’t have to stay there. I understand it. I’m not knocking you. I never judge. If that’s what you have to do right now, if that’s what you have to do to make a living, some girls are doing it because they need to feed mum. They need to send their aburo to school. I understand it. However, my darlings, don’t stay there. You are more than that.”

Speaking on self-worth and the pressures many young women face, Bello also said women do not need to expose their bodies or chase online attention to be seen as attractive or successful, insisting that the seeds one sows in life ultimately matter.

Reflecting on her career, Bello said acting remains her true passion and not merely a source of income, adding that not every actor must become a producer and that she was more focused on using her platform and voice to make meaningful impact.

Her comments sparked heated reactions on social media, with many Nigerians debating the effects of economic hardship, online culture and the challenges confronting young women in society. While some praised her for her empathy and candour, others strongly criticised the veteran actress, questioning her status as a role model to the younger generation of women.