Having investigated everything from the bizarre to the extreme, Louis Theroux never shies away from the difficult topics that shape our society.
And, his new Netflix documentary, Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, is no exception. The programme sees the British American journalist investigate the "manosphere", a group of almost exclusively male influencers who provide content about fitness, business, and self-improvement, at the helm of which is the frontman of social media misogyny, Andrew Tate.
During the programme, Louis, in his usual tactful interview style, confronts and interrogates some of the leading social media influencers and podcasters who profit from and spread controversial ideas from the most extreme fringes of the manosphere, and the programme has left many fans with strong feelings.
Commenting on Instagram, one fan penned: "A brilliant/horrendous watch." Meanwhile, a second added, "I felt physically sick. So good work Louis. These 'men' are so laughable [laughing emoji] they actually think we want them HAHAHA."
Triggering
While the documentary provides much-needed insight and awareness, it has left many of its female-identifying Netflix audience members unable to watch.
One writer penned on Substack: "It's triggering, upsetting and deeply, deeply disturbing; and I just don’t think my mental health can hack it. For women who are all too familiar with not only how these toxic men operate but the tangible effects it has on us at large, it’s akin to trauma exposure."
Passion for truth
Talking about how he approached such a toxic topic, Louis explained: "My view is always I’m not trying to embarrass them or trick them in any way. I am trying to tell the truth, and I will confront them appropriately. I’m not trying to pick a fight. I’m just trying to understand them, get my questions answered, and then challenge and push back on the parts that don’t make sense to me or strike me as dangerous.
He added: "At the end of the day, I’m trying to make TV that engages people - so a few fireworks don’t go amiss and some raised voices or a sense of menace is actually quite helpful."
