In his latest Netflix documentary, acclaimed journalist Louis Theroux encountered disturbing content firsthand during an interview with prominent manosphere influencer Harrison Sullivan. The 55-year-old documentarian appeared visibly disgusted when Sullivan, known online as HStikkytokky, showed him a graphic video of a sexual act captured in a nightclub toilet.
Confronting the Manosphere's Dark Content
The feature-length special, titled 'Inside the Manosphere', explores the rapidly growing cultural movement of extremist influencers who target young men with misogynistic, homophobic, antisemitic, and racist views through online platforms. Theroux went behind the scenes to investigate this phenomenon, meeting with 24-year-old Harrison Sullivan to discuss his rise to fame within these digital communities.
Sullivan boasts a substantial online following across Instagram and TikTok, along with 500,000 subscribers to a Telegram chat room where he shares content from X-rated OnlyFans performers to boost their profiles. Despite previously criticizing adult content creator Bonnie Blue as 'disgusting', Sullivan eagerly shared his own explicit video with Theroux.
Shocking Video Exchange
'I went to bed late because I was out getting content last night - got a video of me [getting pleasured] in the toilet in the club if you want to see that?' Sullivan offered during their conversation. Theroux initially responded with disbelief, saying 'No you didn't,' but Sullivan proceeded to show the video regardless.
Theroux leaned in to examine the content, immediately questioning the circumstances: 'What's the location? Did she know she was being filmed?' Sullivan claimed the woman was aware and consented, explaining the video was created for 'clout' for both participants. The documentarian pressed further about the ethical implications, appearing deeply concerned throughout the exchange.
Violent Content and Mob Attacks
Elsewhere in the documentary, Theroux witnessed even more disturbing content as he observed Sullivan's followers physically attacking a man during a livestream. One follower had allegedly arranged a date with an older man with the intention of humiliating him online. When the man arrived, Sullivan's young fans were encouraged by viewers to 'punch up' the unsuspecting individual.
Theroux watched via video link as the man tried to walk away after realizing he was being filmed, only to be assaulted by Sullivan's followers. 'HS's hangers-on kicked him, and rained punches down on his head. They accused him of being a predator, and I have no way of knowing if this could be true,' Theroux recounted with evident horror.
Although Sullivan claimed he had 'deleted' the video and insisted the assault wasn't planned, Theroux revealed that snippets appeared online on HStikkytokky platforms within seconds. 'It was horrible, it was like a mob attack. You don't get to beat someone up - that's not law and order, is it?' Theroux challenged.
Examining Contradictions and Hypocrisy
Theroux directly confronted Sullivan about apparent contradictions in his content and messaging. Despite criticizing female adult performers, Sullivan actively promotes explicit OnlyFans content through his Telegram channel. When Theroux questioned this hypocrisy, Sullivan admitted: 'No, because I openly say I don't give a f**k and I'm doing it for money.'
The influencer claimed to advise followers against watching porn, calling it 'sad, it's loser s**t,' while simultaneously profiting from its promotion. Theroux challenged this position: 'You can't say I promote it but discourage people from doing it... You say it but it doesn't mean anything.'
Drawing a comparison to Bonnie Blue, whom Sullivan had previously criticized, Theroux noted similarities in their justifications for controversial content creation. 'You sound a bit like Bonnie Blue... that it doesn't really matter what choices you make because you're making money,' Theroux observed, prompting an angry response from Sullivan who rejected the comparison.
Warning to Parents
Following his experiences filming the documentary, Theroux issued a stark warning to parents, particularly those with sons. 'These aren't figures on the margins – anyone who's got kids, and especially boys, will know that they are making inroads into the culture,' he told The Mirror. 'Their influence is being felt in schools, in the workplace and all across the internet.'
The documentary examines how prominent male content creators are shaping young men's ideas about masculinity, with Theroux meeting several influencers including Myron Gaines, Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy (Sneako), Justin Waller, and Ed Matthews. Throughout filming, Theroux himself faced abuse from followers of these influencers, including comments about his previous documentary featuring Jimmy Savile.
Reflecting on parental influence versus online content, Theroux acknowledged the challenge: 'They probably spend more hours looking at their phones than they do talking to us and we don't always know what they're looking at.'
Documentary Reception and Aftermath
Following the documentary's release, Sullivan expressed anger online after clips from his interactions with Theroux went viral on social media. Thousands of viewers commented that Theroux was 'setting up' the influencer to 'look like a clown' through his documentary participation.
Sullivan responded defiantly: 'If you want to call me a pimp, a scammer, racist, homophobic d**khead, I'm all of those, I'm all of those, Theroux.'
'Inside the Manosphere' represents Theroux's continued exploration of challenging subjects, following reports that he may front additional documentary projects for Netflix examining similar themes of online radicalization among young people. The documentary is currently available for streaming on Netflix, providing an unsettling look into the digital spaces where extremist views targeting young men are cultivated and amplified.
