Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Louis Theroux’s recent documentary on the manosphere has put figures like Andrew Tate back into the spotlight… and it’s sparked a familiar conversation about masculinity.
But I think we’re asking the wrong question.
Because if you look at history, the problem isn’t masculinity itself. It’s what we’ve turned it into.
In the early 19th century, one of the most famous men in Britain was a prizefighter — John “Gentleman” Jackson. A brutal fighter by trade, but also a mentor, a teacher, and a man admired by poets, politicians, and the upper classes alike.
So what changed?
In this video, I’m looking at the difference between performative masculinity and the kind that’s built through pressure, responsibility, and real-world experience. From Georgian prizefighting to modern combat sports, there’s a thread that connects it all.
And it’s not what most people think.
Louis Theroux’s recent documentary on the manosphere has put figures like Andrew Tate back into the spotlight… and it’s sparked a familiar conversation about masculinity.
But I think we’re asking the wrong question.
Because if you look at history, the problem isn’t masculinity itself. It’s what we’ve turned it into.
In the early 19th century, one of the most famous men in Britain was a prizefighter — John “Gentleman” Jackson. A brutal fighter by trade, but also a mentor, a teacher, and a man admired by poets, politicians, and the upper classes alike.
So what changed?
In this video, I’m looking at the difference between performative masculinity and the kind that’s built through pressure, responsibility, and real-world experience. From Georgian prizefighting to modern combat sports, there’s a thread that connects it all.
And it’s not what most people think.
