Amerix Faces International Media Outrage Over Alleged Misogynistic Content
Key takeaways
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- Eric Amunga alias Amerix is a Kenyan men’s health advocate and weight-loss coach who has a significant influence on X (formerly Twitter).
- Amerix is especially known for the #MasculinitySaturday hashtag, where he shares lessons to help men grow and become better versions of themselves.
- The #MasculinitySaturday discussion has been under attack recently, with international media houses like CNN and Al Jazeera criticizing him.
- In the latest edition of The Listening Post program, Al Jazeera blasted Amerix for spreading misogynistic content that undermines women.
- The highly critical Al Jazeera documentary comes at a time when there is a growing number of reported femicide cases (women killings) in Kenya.
Also read: Maverick Aoko Addresses Controversial Posts by Aide on Her Twitter Account
Amerix’s work criticized for spreading discriminatory attitudes against women
In a sharp attack against Amerix, Al Jazeera identified several tweets under his #MasculinitySaturday hashtag and audio podcasts as hateful against women.
The international media house highlighted one of Amerix’s posts below for being dismissive of women:
“Men, buying gifts simply to please her is a NO. Buying gifts to reward her for doing something good is a YES. Flowers are for goats. Chocolate will make her fat. Buy her a long-lasting gift. A book.”
Mr. Amunga is a well-respected figure in men’s circles for his strong message on discipline and stability among male adults.
Experts and feminist activists interviewed in the program, however, take issue with the Amerix gospel.
“He holds spaces on X to just spread misogyny. That’s who Eric Amunga is. He aims to guide men. He emphasizes traditional masculine traits, and has been criticized for promoting regressive views when it comes to gender roles,” says Audrey Mugeni, co-founder of Femicide Count Kenya.
According to the show’s contributors, Amerix has been promoting the devaluation of women under the guise of men’s empowerment.
Amerix is active within the manosphere, a social space focused on discussions about the challenges men face in dating, relationships, and life in general.
Reports suggest that Kenyan men are highly receptive to his messages, which address their concerns about feeling intimidated by the growing success of women.
Also read: Comedians Terence and Mammito Hilariously Stage Gachagua’s Dramatic Eviction from Karen Residence
Amerix Bashes Al Jazeera, calls for men’s prosperity
Al Jazeera contacted Amerix days before the program aired, outlining the issues covered in the program in a detailed email to get his response on the matter.
Some of the issues that Al Jazeera’s Iraklis Taxiarchis wanted Amerix to respond to included Kenya’s manosphere’s detrimental impact on women, as well as misogyny and hate speech in his #MasculinitySaturday weekend classes.
In a blunt direct response, Amerix attached images of Al Jazeera’s email with the caption: “Shame on you, Al Jazeera. Let men prosper.”
An unapologetic Amerix posted a series of tweets in opposition to homosexuality, just hours after the program went on air.
Other popular figures in the manosphere also criticized in the program include Kenya’s Andrew Kibe, and British-American brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate.
Andrew Kibe, who goes by the popular moniker Mr. Lambistic, recently faced a barrage of attacks that saw him lose his YouTube channel with over 450,000 subscribers.
The Tate brothers have been in and out of jail over the past year, facing fabricated accusations related to human trafficking and other charges.
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