Streamers featured in Louis Theroux’s latest documentary are taking to social media to defend themselves.
Inside the Manosphere landed on Netflix last week, with the filmmaker spending time with several high-profile online personalities whose content promotes openly misogynistic ideas.
The so-called “manosphere” has been under renewed scrutiny over the past year, particularly after the release of the acclaimed series Adolescence, which highlighted how some young men are being influenced to view women — and the wider world — through a concerning lens.
That said, the manosphere isn’t a new phenomenon. The label is widely believed to date back to 2009, before becoming more mainstream across the 2010s as online communities expanded and creators found larger audiences.
Given how prominent and consequential the subject has become, it was perhaps inevitable that Theroux would tackle it in one of his signature projects.
Watch the Inside the Manosphere trailer here:
One of the people appearing in the documentary is HStikkytokky, who has previously suggested the show was a “hit piece”.
Since the documentary’s release, he has addressed the criticism aimed at him, arguing that those condemning him don’t really understand who he is beyond clips and headlines.
Elsewhere, Myron Gaines has also criticized both Netflix and Theroux over how he believes he was presented, claiming the finished program pushes what he describes as a “false narrative”.
Both HStikkytokky (real name Harrison Sullivan) and Gaines have continued airing their views on Twitter, where the conversation has gained traction since the documentary debuted.
Sullivan wrote yesterday:
“Everyone hating on the Theroux documentary…. Are Low Test men… and fat women. Angry at life … angry that they have no money and no opportunity. Robots. Sheep. Cattle confined within the system.”
Gaines responded:
“They are big mad. They fail to realize Louie filmed 10-20 hours with each of us on multiple occasions and countries but selectively edited certain parts to create a false narrative.”
Netflix and Theroux have previously been contacted for comment regarding Gaines’ claims.
In the replies, many users pushed back on the pair’s defense, arguing that the documentary simply reflected statements they’ve made publicly for years.
One person replied:
“What’s false? He showed you saying things you always say anyways. It just looks bad once those things leave your bubble.”
Another added:
“You exposed yourselves,” said a second. “He didn’t even need to do anything. Worse thing you could’ve done is agree to go on because we saw that you’re a fake.”
A third commented:
“He made you guys look bad but it’s still pretty accurate,” added another.
However, not everyone agreed with the criticism. Some people argued the documentary should also have included other aspects of the influencers’ lives — including charitable work — to provide what they felt would be a fuller picture.