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Michael Henry: Straight Social Media Hunks Playing To The Gays
L-R Franko Stevens, Bryan Anderson (screen captures)Michael Henry and Jeremy Howard are enjoying a perfectly social distanced walk in the park when they come upon a couple of “homiesexuals.” You know, the guys who like to “push the limits of their friendships together” on social media.
Wut?
To Henry, the hot straight dudes on Instagram or TikTok who show off their wares for clicks and follows are “gay baiting.”
But all Howard sees is just “a straight guy who takes videos with other straight guys in homoerotic situations for gay men’s attention, validation, and social media engagement purposes.”
Hmm…
Henry translates that as “following a TikTok trend” but Howard is a bit more generous.
“I think that what they are doing is showing that being gay is interesting, cool, and trendy,” says a clearly enthralled Howard.
Jeremy Howard and Michael Henry disagree on ‘homiesexuals’ (screen captures)Henry wonders if that’s basically a form of cultural appropriation, but Howard disagrees (until he doesn’t).
“They’re just privileged people who are co-opting queer culture for their own use, benefit, and financial gain,” explains an increasingly moist Howard. “And it helps that they are so hot.”
Umm…
Clearly, a point is being made here. We all know there are lots of gay men who follow certain InstaHunks for the momentary eye-candy. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Sometimes, though, finding out one of these hotties is straight and clearly playing to the gays for their own gain (more followers = more endorsement deals) can burst a bit of the Insta-Illusion.
Tell us what you think, readers. Do straight social media figures who play up to queer men make a “joke” of the community, or are they “destigmatizing straight men being affectionate with each other?”
Or a combination of both?
By the way, Henry adds a disclaimer on YouTube: “The men playing the straight influencers (Franko Stevens and Bryan Anderson) are actually partners who live together which is why I felt comfortable having them be in close quarters with each other.”
Longtime YouTuber Tyler Oakley Is Taking A Break
Tyler Oakley, one of the most well-known YouTube stars in the world, has shared with his millions of fans that he is taking a break from producing weekly videos for his channel. “I am just going to cut right to the chase,” Oakley said in a vlog post. “I have been making videos and uploading them every single Tuesday at noon for years and years and years. If you have been watching since I have been in college, I was 18 when I started, and I’m now 31.”
“I’ve never really taken a break and it’s now time for me to take a break,” Oakley added. “I’m going to be focusing on some other stuff that I’m really excited about, and I’m really ready to develop out and make into some fun new little things. I haven’t felt a fun, new little thing in a long long time.” Over the 13 years Oakley has been on the video platform he’s amassed over 7 million subscribers who have faithfully shown up for the young LGBTQ advocate as he shared various aspects of his life. In the video (titled ‘See Ya Later’), Oakley says he’ll definitely be back, but doesn’t name a specific date.
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John Duff Skewers ‘Influencers’ With New Music Video “RICH”
The very easy-on-the-eyes John Duff (above) recently dropped his latest music video, “Rich,” which takes aim at pop culture’s obsession with so-called ‘social media influencers’ or online celebrities. Duff says the inspiration for the mid-tempo hip-hop track came to him when he was trying to come up with “the most obnoxious song I could think of about being famous for being rich.” The song’s lyrics poke fun at how seriously some social media mavens (and their followers) take themselves.
Train our waists And pad our hips F*ck your plans Let’s plump our lips Plastic products out here sellin it Hate on me – it keeps me relevant B*tch, I know you wish
The music video includes viral internet celebs like the ‘human Ken doll,’ Justin Jedlica; Chris Crocker of ’Leave Britney Alone’ infamy; and self-proclaimed ‘c*ck destroyer’ Rebecca More. Along with several swipes at plastic surgery, the video also parodies ad campaigns for ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians.’ 
Back in February 2018, Duff told Instinct, “We need more real bitches. I can’t stand the curated ‘influencers’ who think they are cool – it makes me so uncomfortable and it helps no one. Making an ass out of yourself – that helps people.” And in August of last year, Duff dropped his over-the-top homage to his pop music divas, “Girly.” In a recent Instagram post, Duff admitted that he’d planned on releasing “Rich” sooner, but he “wasn’t prepared.” Saying he felt “lost in other people’s perception” of him, he also shared that making “‘light-hearted’ work in such dire times” seemed selfish.