Why Manosphere Goes Apeshit Over Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’

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The groundbreaking new miniseries by Netflix titled “Adolescence” has swept through the streaming realm, racking up approximately 100 million views globally and solidifying its place among the platform’s top-performing shows. The gripping narrative unfolds across four episodes that are shot to appear as a single, continuous take, centered around the brutal stabbing of a teenage girl named Katie Leonard. Her classmate, Jamie Miller (played by Owen Cooper), is the primary suspect in this case. Alongside Jamie, the series delves into the lives of his parents (portrayed by Stephen Graham and Christine Temarco), investigators Luke Bascombe and Misha Frank (Ashley Walters and Faye Marsay respectively), and forensic psychologist Briony Aritston (Erin Doherty), as they work tirelessly to unravel the mystery surrounding this heinous crime.

The program has received overwhelming critical acclaim, nearly achieving a flawless rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, it’s not without its share of controversy and negative reactions, primarily from groups such as the “manosphere,” which Wired describes as an online community of conservative male influencers who dispense misogynistic advice about masculinity and seduction, frequently reducing women to sexist caricatures and attributing issues like male loneliness to feminism.

Various individuals linked to or within the manosphere have criticized the series “Adolescence” for connecting their beliefs and material to actual acts of violence against women. Conversely, numerous others have lauded the show for highlighting the problematic impact of the manosphere on a significant number of young males through social media.

The Red Pill and Incel Culture

The television show frequently uses terms and concepts originating from the so-called manosphere, one of which is “the red pill.” This term signifies that the manosphere perceives itself as having gained awareness about how women and feminism supposedly disadvantage men. The name derives from a scene in the 1999 sci-fi movie, The Matrix, where Keanu Reeves’ character, Neo, is presented with two pills: one red, which offers truth by exposing the deception of the Matrix, and another blue, which allows him to remain unaware.

In the show, two additional terms from the manosphere were discussed: “incel” and “the 80/20 rule.” “Incel,” short for ‘involuntary celibate,’ refers to males or boys who have never experienced sexual activity or a romantic relationship. The “80/20 rule,” on the other hand, is a questionable theory suggesting that approximately 80% of women are drawn to just 20% of men (the most attractive ones). These terms often overlap as many self-proclaimed incels blame their inability to find a partner on factors like appearance, genetics, or wealth, which can lead to feelings of despair, anger, and at times, aggressive behavior as demonstrated in the series “Adolescence.

Reactionary Backlash to ‘Adolescence’

Andrew Tate, a well-known figure in the manosphere, is arguably best recognized as a British-American former kickboxer turned social media influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist. He is currently under investigation for allegations of rape, sex trafficking, and other charges across three different countries. Despite the series not directly linking Tate to the murder, it seems he was unhappy with suggestions that his content might have played a role in it. In this specific context, the show refers only briefly to Tate during a conversation between Bascombe and his son Adam (Amari Bacchus) in the second episode.

In a statement to Newsweek, his representative claimed that the show unfairly portrayed him as a scapegoat for complex issues, suggesting that these issues originate from broader cultural and systemic factors. However, this assertion seems questionable because the series primarily focuses on the social and psychological factors that led up to the murder, such as bullying, cyberbullying, and neglectful parenting, rather than solely blaming Tate and the manosphere. Essentially, the show does exactly what Tate alleges it doesn’t do.

Apart from Tate, other far-right commentators voiced concerns about the show Adolescence. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Ian Miles Cheong, a notable right-wing media personality, alleged in a now-viral post (originally on X, formerly Twitter) that the creators of the show modeled it after the Southport mass stabbing incident on July 29, 2024. Cheong suggested that the original attacker was of Rwandan descent but was portrayed as white in the series to promote “anti-white propaganda” and discredit the “red-pill movement.” This post gained additional attention when Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and a White House official who also owns X/Twitter, responded with “Wow” under Cheong’s tweet.

Jack Thorne, co-creator of the series, dismissed the accusations of race-swapping as preposterous. He emphasized that none of the show’s elements are derived from real events. Thorne further explained in an interview that the show isn’t aiming to make a statement about race, but rather exploring the concept of masculinity. The creators are trying to delve into a problem, not label it as one specific issue. Instead, they are suggesting that the topic at hand is about boys.

Necessary Viewing for Necessary Discussions

Apart from criticism coming from some extremist individuals on the far-right, the response to the show Adolescence has predominantly been favorable, especially within the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who watched the series with his two teenage children, managed to persuade Netflix to offer free screenings of the show in high schools. He also met privately with actress and show creator Thorne, as well as producer Jo Johnson, to address the rising concern about young people being exposed to harmful, misogynistic content on social media platforms such as those promoted by figures like Tate and others within the manosphere. However, it remains to be seen if the show will bring about a significant cultural change and help reduce instances of misogynistic violence.

For now, if you’re interested in watching “Adolescence” and contributing to the ongoing conversation, you can catch it on Netflix. Here is a link to access the show directly: [Netflix Link]

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2025-04-27 18:06