The BBC World Service has released a new documentary, Manosphere Messiahs, investigating the global spread of the manosphere and the social media algorithms driving young men towards extreme views on gender and relationships. The programme, part of the BBC Eye series, focuses on two influential figures: El Temach in Mexico and Andrew Kibe in Kenya, who together command millions of followers.
BBC Global Disinformation reporter Jacqui Wakefield spent a year examining the rise of these influencers. In Mexico, a medical professional named Fernanda told the BBC that her former partner, a dedicated follower of El Temach, subjected her to physical aggression and control. She said he forced her to watch El Temach's videos and claimed she was wrong, not him.
In Kenya, female university students described changes in male classmates who follow Andrew Kibe. One student, Viraah, said a classmate had developed hatred and difficulty associating with women after engaging with Kibe's content. Kibe generates income through book sales, merchandise, and his own cryptocurrency, telling the BBC that 'anybody who is really my fan' should send him money.
Dr Awino Okech, a gender and security expert, noted that Kibe effectively uses local narratives to feed into societal insecurities. El Temach, with over 11 million followers, earns money through paid YouTube chats, live events, and paid 'baptisms'. The BBC estimates he made up to $1.5 million from social media views alone.
El Temach's sister, Alex, told the BBC that her brother changed after returning from an unsuccessful acting career in Los Angeles. She said he is 'experimenting what works best with the algorithm' and that Andrew Tate's popularity influenced him. When confronted, Kibe told the BBC: 'I am a God, I can be anything I want to be.' El Temach's team rejected allegations as unfounded.
