A 50-year-old French author has sparked outrage by claiming women over 50 are 'invisible' to him.

Yann Moix, a TV presenter and prize-winning writer, said it is 'not possible' to love a woman his own age and that he prefers 'younger women's bodies'.

'Come on now, let’s not exaggerate. That's [over 50] is not possible … too, too old,' he said in an interview with the French edition of Marie Claire.

Sexist comments: Yann Moix, a TV presenter and prize-winning writer, said it is 'not possible' to love a woman his own age and that he prefers 'younger women's bodies'

Outrage: The popular author has received widespread criticism over the comments on Twitter

'The body of a 25-year-old woman is extraordinary,' he added. 'The body of a woman of 50 is not extraordinary at all.'

He added that he preferred to date Asian women, particularly 'Koreans, Chinese and Japanese'.

The sexist comments have drawn widespread criticism on social media.

One posted: 'Yann Moix is 50 and I bet he’s single and no one wants him. Women over any age are beautiful and age shaming is pathetic like he is.'

Speaking out: Women hit back by saying they will no longer by the French author's work

Another added: 'People in glass houses!.....have you looked in the mirror?....you don’t look a day over 65.'

And one woman joked: 'Can women under 50 be invisible to you as well please?'

Twitter users also shared photographs of women over 50, including Halle Berry, 52, Sandra Bullock, 54, and Cindy Crawford, 52.

Moix has won several literary prizes. He has has directed three films and is the host of a popular TV talkshow.

Support: Other social media users took the opportunity to share photos of radiant women over 50 including 52-year-old Halle Berry (left) and Julia Roberts, 51, both at the Golden Globes

Responding to the outrage, he told RTL radio, he was not 'responsible' for his taste in women.

'I like who I like and I don't have to answer to the court of taste,' he said, before joking he probably was not the best catch either.

'50-year-old women do not see me either,' he told the station. 'They have something else to do than to get around a neurotic who writes and reads all day long. It's not easy to be with me.'