Rugby legend and TV personality Joe Marler, known for his appearance on The Traitors celebrity edition, has launched a campaign urging men to give each other compliments. The initiative, called 'The Nod Crew', aims to break down traditional masculinity barriers and encourage positive interaction among men.
Campaign Highlights
Marler partnered with menswear brand Jacamo to stage a public social experiment outside a busy high street station in Richmond. Dressed as a builder, he stood on scaffolding and shouted uplifting compliments and encouragement to unsuspecting male commuters. The activation turned the cliché of construction site banter on its head, replacing wolf whistles with positive affirmations.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star's Bekka Barnard, Marler explained: 'We dress up as four builders and instead of the outdated, misogynistic wolf whistling of women walking down the street, it's: "Hello mate! You look fantastic in that blue jacket, you have a great day," because men don't do that!'
Research Findings
Research commissioned by Jacamo and conducted by Mortar Research, a member of the British Polling Council, revealed that 21% of UK men cannot remember the last time they received a compliment, while 3% claim they have never received praise in their entire life. The study also found that 70% of UK men believe they should compliment each other more, but traditional expectations around masculinity and emotional restraint hold them back.
Marler commented: 'Whenever someone's gone: "Oh, nice shirt," it makes your chest puff out a bit more, makes you feel good. I'm like: "F****** hell, let's do it some more then! Just make it normal, you weirdos." We're thick. So thick as men sometimes. Come on, let's be nice to each other.'
Mental Health Connection
The rugby star linked the campaign to men's mental health, noting that suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50. He said: 'Part of the modern masculinity and being open with each other as men is connected with talking more. Not just about the great clothes that you're wearing but: "How are you getting on with your family, your personal life, money?" All this stuff that we traditionally bottle up.'
Marler urged men to have more conversations and ask better questions: 'If we could just learn to have more conversations, ask better questions, particularly as men, we can stop the biggest killer in men under 40, 50, being suicide. I've said that quite simply, it's more complicated than that, but we should start having more conversations round it. Then we'd be in a better place.'
Campaign Impact
Marler praised Jacamo for the groundbreaking campaign, saying: 'It's really nice to be part of Jacamo and I really enjoy working with them, it's a great campaign. It is connected to that [mental health], massively. We should be open about our mental health in general, it's the same as our physical health.'
The 'Get The Nod' campaign encourages men to compliment each other more, with research indicating that 70% of UK men believe they should praise each other more, but 'classic British awkwardness' holds them back. Marler's Nod Crew activation aims to prove that men can look good, feel good, and tell their mates they look good too.
