Former West Coast AFL footballer Mitch Brown has revealed that after the breakdown of his marriage in 2024, he came dangerously close to falling down the manosphere pipeline, a journey he describes as shameful but crucial to share.
The Lure of Victimhood
Brown, now a public advocate for healthy masculinities, said the term 'manosphere' is often dismissed as a fringe ideology, but a 2022 survey by The Man Cave found that a quarter of young Australian men saw Andrew Tate as a role model and 36% found him relatable. Subsequent studies show the movement is on the rise.
In his case, Brown was not tempted by courses or coaching programs, but he was drawn to the underlying belief that feminism is to blame for men's suffering. 'I understand the lure of victimhood, the attraction of blaming external forces for your own suffering. But it's not real,' Brown wrote.
From People-Pleaser to Anger
Brown described himself as a lifelong feminist and professional people-pleaser who wore a mask to gain approval. The end of his marriage shattered that: he felt abandoned, judged, and like a failure. 'My world became tiny, and that’s where my dependence on the online world grew,' he said.
The content he consumed was not overtly harmful, but a subtle thread of misogyny wove through it. He found himself agreeing with criticism of feminist voices like Abbie Chatfield, blaming others for his problems, and feeling punished for being a man.
Intervention and Recovery
Brown credits his ex-wife Shae and new partner Lou for interrupting the cycle. 'They validated and found empathy for my feelings of abandonment, while still holding me accountable for my own actions and privileges,' he said. 'These two women changed and saved my life.'
This experience paved the way for Brown to come out as gay in late 2025 and achieve self-acceptance. He now sees the danger of online voices for young men and urges society to sit alongside them rather than shame them.
'When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. It’s not,' Brown wrote, quoting film producer Franklin Leonard. He believes men must take accountability and model healthy behaviour for the next generation.
