Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere documentary emits female rage like no other (and rightly so). Here are some low points from the film.
As a 30-year-old woman who doesn’t get rammed with manosphere content, seeing what I imagine is just a glimpse of it on Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere left my jaw on the floor.
Across New York, Miami and Marbella, Louis follows five well-known “manosphere” influencers – Harrison Sullivan (aka HSTikkyTokky), Ed Matthews, Justin Waller, Myron Gaines, and Sneako.
If you’re not familiar with the manosphere (lucky you!) these “male alphas” promote misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic views on their channels, targeting, and profiting off, vulnerable men.
Of course, here at Capsule, we have been harping on for yeaaars about the dangers of the manosphere – like how this skincare founder was targeted by Andrew Tate, how one woman ended a friendship with a male friend for his overt sexism and how to raise feminist sons in today’s world.
But this documentary was something I wasn’t prepared for – it was a hard watch. Young men and teenage boys would run up to their so-called “heroes” and “idols” who spew messages such as “I’m the dictator, you’re the subordinate. I dictate when I put my dick in you”.
These influencers aren’t on the fringe anymore. They have millions of followers, and they’re shaping how a generation of boys think about women, power and masculinity. THAT is where we, as a society, have a huge burgeoning problem.
The Thoughts I Still Can’t Stop Thinking About:
1. ‘This is the absolute EPITOME of hypocrisy’
What’s crystal clear about these manosphere figureheads is they are walking contradictions. Harrison Sullivan says he owns an agency that manages OnlyFans creators. “Do I agree with it? No. Would I profit off it? Yeah, I’m a business man,” he tells Louis. He then says if his future daughter ever became an OnlyFans creator, he’d disown her. “[That] disgusts me.” In another scene, he tells Louis he was out late filming “content”, then shows him a clip of receiving oral sex in a club toilet.
He also says his mum hates racism, homophobia and sexism and that he could never say all these things in front of his mum. When his mum made an appearance on the show, Harrison switches up and cleans the floor after his mum tells him to. What did I say? Irony.
2. ‘So, according to the manosphere, men are born with no value. Women are born with value: their beauty’.
In the documentary, two young men, possibly in their early or mid twenties, approached 40-year-old Justin Waller – who earns commissions promoting Andrew Tate’s online programme – to tell him that he and the Tate brothers are their “greatest role models”. One of them shared his biggest takeaway: “Life as a man, you are born with no value. You have to build that value throughout time. Nothing in this world is given to you.”
When Louis presses the young lad if women have it hard, Justin interjects to say that women are born with their value through their beauty. Apparently, a 20-something woman can hop on luxury cars and yachts for free, while men cannot. (Because that’s all we want as women? Free rides, apparently?)
3. ‘Wait what, “one-sided monogamy” is a thing?!’
Justin Waller describes his relationship with the mother of his children as “one-way monogamy” – he sleeps with other women, and his partner Kristen stays faithful. She says she used to be lied to and cheated on a lot in her previous relationships, and prefers Justin’s “honesty”.
She also describes their partnership as “lanes”: she takes care of the house and the kids, and he provides. Justin casually drops that he doesn’t do baths, diapers or anything of that sort.
When Louis clarifies if they’re married, Justin reveals they aren’t legally married for “financial reasons”. Kristen says that it does seem risky for her, but she doesn’t feel like she’s at risk. Justin then steers the conversation to something about himself. Red. Flags. Everywhere.
Which leads me to the next point…
4. ‘Um, where are the women?‘
We barely get to hear from the women surrounding these men – their partners, girlfriends, female colleagues and other influencers on the show. To Louis’ credit, he pushes for more access, but is blocked by the influencers. Myron Gaines, co-host of Fresh & Fit podcast where he berates female guests, proudly claimed his then-girlfriend Angie understands his views on “one-way monogamy”, and that he wanted to have multiple wives in the future. Angie is clearly uncomfortable, Myron also gets uncomfortable and eventually sends her away on camera. In another visit, Myron stopped a female colleague from answering Louis’ questions about the girls that go on the podcast.
Plus, most of them tell Louis the same thing – “we love women” – but the women around them are either silent, interrupted or managed. When they can speak, they are quickly shut down, which isn’t shocking because of what the manosphere preaches. Women are to submit, so men retain full control.
5. ‘This is the sad thing – young men and boys are actually just seeking guidance‘
The young men and boys who fall prey to this kind of content are vulnerable – mainly seeking some purpose or guidance in their lives, like that young man who approached Justin and told him he was their greatest role model, who later discloses that he had been homeless and struggled after losing his brother to suicide. Watching the content from the likes of the Tate Brothers and Justin Waller helped him get out of that rut.
They’re looking for someone to help them and tell them what a man is supposed to look like in today’s age – especially when the traditional ways of masculinity are changing. Women are ahead in their careers, sometimes out-earning their partners, and men are stepping up and expected to share the load at home. This idea of men being the sole provider of a home just doesn’t quite fit in the modern world anymore (and it’s also not feasible in this economy).
How Do We Get Out of the Manosphere?
The thing with these influencers who preach men should be the alpha is that they’re showing up online in a big way, and making themselves accessible to these young men. They’re telling them these outdated, patriarchal views are what’s going to help them reach financial success. And we can’t any longer deny the damage it’s being done to our young boys.
Movember’s 2025 global report reveals nearly two-thirds of young men engage with masculinity influencers online – and frequent viewers show higher levels of distress and more rigid attitudes about gender and relationships. In another Ipsos global study, almost a third of Gen Z men believe a wife should obey her husband. Last year, an NZ Gender Attitudes Survey showed one in three young NZ men believed gender equality had gone too far.
Taking ourselves out of the female rage for one second, Movember brings up a good point that is critical in getting ourselves out of the manosphere: Labelling masculinity as toxic doesn’t fix this. “Shame shuts down conversation and makes it harder for young men to seek support. Instead, we need to create space for healthier, more realistic and more connected visions of masculinity.”
I’m definitely guilty of using the word toxic to describe extremist views on masculinity. But for young men, this type of language could just be pushing them away – potentially even further into the manosphere.
So as parents, aunties, or teachers to boys and young men, what can we do to get out of this “algorithmic prison”? As a start, maybe by simply asking them: ‘What are you seeing online, and how does it make you feel?’
Banner photo: Netflix.
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About the Author:
Vivien Beduya is a video journalist and content creator at Capsule. She’s most passionate about inclusive storytelling that centres underserved communities, women’s health, mental health, travel, food and the ways technology shapes our everyday lives. She made a bold (and terrifying) career switch to journalism in her late 20s after years across banking, insurance and travel.
She’s worked for NewstalkZB and TVNZ’s youth news platform Re: News, and has also been published on 1News, NZ Herald, and Stuff. She was selected by the Asia New Zealand Foundation as an emerging journalist for the Splice Beta 2025 delegation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Vivien lives in Auckland with her partner, close(ish) to the beach, and is always on the hunt for Auckland’s best affordable eats.
You can read other stories by Vivien here or email her here.
