They are unsure what to think of him. By Sam Haysom, March 10, 2026.
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Anyone who’s seen Netflix’s award-winning series Adolescence will have heard the term “manosphere,” commonly encountered online recently.
The term “manosphere” refers to an online subculture of self-proclaimed “alpha males” like Andrew Tate, who promote traditional, outdated versions of masculinity, characterized by dominance, emotional stoicism, and subjugation of women.
In the documentary Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, Theroux delves into this world, interacting with influencers to understand their worldview.
The question remains: How successful is he?
SEE ALSO: How to help your son navigate the manosphere.
What’s Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere about?
“I coach boys to be boys—make money, operate outside the system, avoid having a boss. It’s about being proper guys.”
Harrison Sullivan, known as HS Tikky Tokky, explains his core message as Theroux investigates these influencers’ views, income sources, and their content’s impact.
Theroux accompanies Sullivan and similar influencers, exploring the nightlife in Spain and luxurious apartments in Miami. He talks with Justin Waller, a Tate brothers’ friend, and Myron Gaines of Fresh and Fit podcast, both advocating “one-way monogamy,” allowing them to cheat while their partners cannot. Theroux also interacts with formerly banned YouTuber Sneako, now aligned with far-right politics and conspiracy theories.
Theroux’s interviews reveal common traits among influencers: their extreme views, anti-feminist stance, and monetization of their online rhetoric.
Inside the Manosphere exposes contradictions and profits.
Sullivan’s half-million member Telegram group directs fans to OnlyFans and financial apps, providing revenue despite his disdain for OnlyFans creators. When Theroux questions profiting from creators he denigrates, Sullivan is unapologetic.
“I openly say I don’t care; I’m doing it for money,” he states.
Gaines exhibits a similar dynamic with OnlyFans creators—frequent podcast guests subjected to public ridicule.
Waller, like Sullivan, uses financial apps to promote his business model. The documentary reveals he markets a subscription to a Tate brothers’ “online university,” The Real World, for $49 a month, from which he earns a share.
The documentary illustrates how these influencers’ primary drive is profitability, even if it contradicts their beliefs. Sullivan, for instance, prioritizes income over ethics.
“Why not try and uplift people rather than promoting negative impulses?” Theroux asks Sullivan, who ponders briefly before responding that positivity wouldn’t have gained him fame.
Is spotlighting these figures potentially harmful?
Theroux has previously covered controversial groups, like the Westboro Baptist Church, and in 2022, he profiled far-right influencer Nick Fuentes. This raises questions about whether featuring such figures amplifies their influence, perhaps causing more harm than good.
This concern is addressed in the documentary when Sullivan’s mother asks Theroux: “If you disagree with Harrison’s actions, why profit by publicizing it?”
Her point is noted, yet the manosphere’s issues are significant. Theroux’s documentary may spotlight Sullivan, but it also reveals his and peers’ true nature: exploiting followers for profit.
The manosphere in Theroux’s portrayal resembles a multi-level marketing scheme rather than a transformative ideology. Influencers claim success to attract followers, then monetize these audiences deceptively.
Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is now streaming on Netflix.
Topics: Netflix
Sam Haysom is the Deputy UK Editor for Mashable, covering entertainment and online culture, and writes horror fiction in his spare time.