I know I’m a little late, but I’ve been perplexed for a minute now. A few weeks ago, Gillette, who’s motto is “the best a man can get” aired a commercial that focused on toxic masculinity. Basically, urging men to be better, and to do better. I thought the commercial was touching and something that was needed. It showed men how to act in a more positive light, but some men weren’t exactly feeling the commercial. They responded by breaking their Gillette razors, cursing out Gillette, and acting in irrational fits of rage. One dad even posted a picture with him and his kids holding guns in retaliation to Gillette (the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen). They did all of this because Gillette told them to be better people, and the irony has me dying.

    For those of you who don’t fully understand what toxic masculinity is, it’s basically a fancier phrase to describe a macho man. Men who don’t know how to show their feelings. Who instead respond in fits of anger, because society tells them that crying isn’t masculine. Who are controlling and believe that being powerful and strong means taking what you want by any means necessary. Men that need to be stayed away from at all costs.

     What makes me chuckle at this whole situation, is that so many men responded in the complete opposite of what Gillette was suggesting. I genuinely just want to know why a commercial that simply asked men to be better men made so many men angry. Don’t you want to stop some creepy dude from following a girl who’s minding her own business? Don’t you want your sons to be able to handle their emotions rationally? Don’t you think empathy and sympathy are normal human emotions regardless of gender? Because that’s what masculinity is, it’s being a damn good human being and a good man. If you got angry while watching the commercial; congratulations; you’re a part of the problem. You need to do some deep soul searching, probably contact Iyanla: Fix My Life and figure out why the commercial had you so deep in your angry ass feelings.

     Now, go buy yourselves a new pair of razors and some therapy sessions.