A gay man has seen a tweet go viral after it touched a nerve with many others.
Jono Mitchell is a filmmaker and actor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Mitchell has used the last few months to lose weight and tone up (unlike many of us who have been comfort-eating our way through the pandemic!). Having lost 70lbs, he’s feeling great about himself. So, when a guy messaged him on Grindr to inform him that he shouldn’t describe himself as muscular, he was not having it.
Mitchell took a screenshot of the exchange (above) and posted it to Twitter. At the time of writing, it’s had 6,100 likes and prompted hundreds of comments.
“Holy crap I can’t stop laughing you actually think your muscular LOL” was the Grindr user’s opening gambit.
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Mitchell replied, “I’m sorry things are hard right now. I hope you find happiness, man. Things will get better and you won’t need to go out of your way to try and be rude to strangers on the internet. Have a better day, friend.”
On his tweet, Mitchell accompanied the screenshot with a caption: “It’s 2020. I’ll be whatever the fuck I wanna be.”
Related: Someone thought Brian Jordan Alvarez’ Grindr profile was fake & he posted the hilarious receipts
Most of those commenting expressed sympathy with Mitchell and applauded his response.
He just knows you’ll never fuck him so wants to be rude before he gets rejected… tale as old as time pic.twitter.com/UYLjwziZOy
— The Orange Frog 🐸 (@Theorangefrog86) October 14, 2020
Wow… first of all, his message was gross. Second, I admire the maturity in your response.
— AaronGoldenberg (@AaronGoldyBoy) October 14, 2020
We are different types of people but this is such a universal issue with people. Especially men, who have some sort of insecurity, need to put others in their place. It’s gross. Sorry he said that to ya and keep on being what you wanna be!
— Joshua Parker (@joshua_C_Parker) October 15, 2020
He’s trash. You’re beautiful. And that was a waaaaaay kinder response than he deserved.
— Protect black trans women 🌈 (@siciliangecko) October 14, 2020
In a message to Queerty, Mitchell confirmed he’d had no interactions with the other man before receiving his message.
“My assumption is he reached out after searching for “muscular” profiles. I have that listed in mine because I recently lost 70lbs and am in the best shape of my life.”
Related: Teen loses his virginity to a Grindr catfish and ends up fleeing in tears
Did the other man respond to Mitchell’s message?
“After my initial message, he chided me for ‘misleading people’ by listing that I was muscular when I wasn’t and then repeated how laughable it was before blocking me.”
View this post on Instagram
Mitchell says he was surprised the tweet had gone viral: “But I guess it just goes to show how prevalent this sort of behavior is for everyone. I wish we were in a place where we could stop commenting on one another’s bodies altogether, but insecurity in all of us won’t allow that to happen. I worked in the public eye for many years and am no stranger to dealing with trolls. People tear each other down to make themselves feel tall.”
Another recent tweet from Mitchell detailed his weight loss journey.
How it started. How it’s going. pic.twitter.com/ncRgVnIxtH
— Jon-O’-Lantern 🎃 (@jono_thon) October 10, 2020
Think you can hurt my feelings? For four years I hosted a live show that let me interact with viewers in real time for a network with one of the most toxic fan bases of any network on television.
I am equipped to handle anything.
— Jon-O’-Lantern 🎃 (@jono_thon) October 14, 2020
Liquid Silver
That works. I tend to wordlessly block them, shoot back a bit then ignore them, or just ignore them, depending upon the platform.
Around here, it varies. A bit of two and three, depending on the day, plus a little “bait the idiot” when I have time. Which isn’t often and never will be.
controversial2019
Good on him!
In the comparison photo, he doesn’t look muscular (but what an achievement with that transformation), whereas in other photos, including the flex, I would describe him as muscular.
I certainly wouldn’t be disappointed were he to show up at my door, and knowing he’s a class act when confronted by such unsolicited and unnecessary hostility; ever the more attractive!
peacefulruffneck
Jono Mitchell you have so much to be proud of and Congratulations on losing 70 pounds!
Now, respond to Grindr troll by telling it “Bless your heart” and then block it permanently.
No need to waste anymore time on someone who is such a downer-because there are many many other guys out there that will see the positive way you’ve chosen to live your life and will find that very sexy. Remember “Bless your heart” “Block” “Next…
ScottOnEarth
I’m sure all the guys acting outraged and indignant because of the “rude” comment all engage in the same behavior when no one’s looking. The gay social scene is completely shallow and harsh. If you go on apps like Grindr and expect to meet a kind, decent, real person, then you need to grow up.
bachy
“If you go on apps like Grindr and expect to meet a kind, decent, real person, then you need to grow up.”
This.
barryaksarben
yes, gays can be harsh but dont think for one minute straights arent. I do get tired of gays being so harsh on our own community. We are just as diverse as straight people and have good ones and bad ones but we are not especially mean or nasty or kind or generous we are just like everyone else
DarkZephyr
@ScottOnEarth
So its the guys who believe in kindness and decency who have to “grow up” and NOT the a**holes who insult people? What a truly interesting set of priorities. I think the reason you are assuming that everyone commenting against the a**hole must “do the same thing” is because that’s YOUR bag. Don’t try to project it onto us, Buddy.
CurtisIsTheOne
Project MUCH, Sir? You are what you see. It must be AWFULLY SAD to be you. Go Away!
MANSUMM
Hey are you the guy who send the text on Grindr? Sounds like it.
Larry
Or you can report then block them.
Kevan1
So sad people cannot be happy for one another.
whereshouldistart
In most cases they’re people who love to tell you what loving “christians” they are.
Doug
It’s not even about happiness… it’s just showing each other some basic respect.
barryaksarben
Dude you are beautiful and smart and funny so you can describe yourself in any of those three to me and I will not insult you. I have never in my life found insults to someones appearance to be justified. It is all in the eye of the beholder. Besides muscles do not a man make. I find kindness sexy as hell and jerks no matter their outward look become ugly really fast when you see the rot inside
CityguyUSA
I personally am sick to death of all the fake bodies and if you’re going to post a body as something you supposedly worked to improve and I can tell it’s fake as almost every image on this site you deserve what you get. The fake bodies are a sign of serious self-esteem issues created by advertisers who should have a class action lawsuit brought on them to pay for treatment for all men and woman.
Onecaddy13
I definately won’t respond to ignorance nor stupidity because they like to play tit for tat immature games. Good for you on the weight loss. And you’re right, you can be whatever you want to be, best of luck.
CarterATL
I feel like he made this up to gain attention for his social media accounts. It’s not. at all difficult to message yourself on Grindr. All you need to do is create a second account.
mailliw110
So how many accounts do you have?
Cam
He is nice looking in both photos. Good on him for really taking his health to the next level!
succubus
get a real life
erichinnw
One time in a gay bar, a guy at the urinal next to me said, “You look like a Jew”, and not in the “OMG, I have a major Jewish fetish and you’re making my dreams come true” kinda way. I just said, “WTF is wrong with you?”, zipped up and left. He found me out in the main area about 2 minutes later and asked me if I wanted to go back to his house. Yeah sure dude, so we can screw under the confederate/Nazi flag that you have tacked above your bed? Umm, no thanks.
Derek Northcutt
Those look like muscles to me.
cuteguy
Good for him. His maturity is even sexier than his weight loss. But gotta admit, he does look hot now. Very proud of him
MikeM
I once had a guy on Match open a dialogue by saying: “You have very yellow teeth. You should use white strips.” In my defense, I had had a lot of coffee the day the pic was taken. I told the guy that I teach high school. I’ve been called every name in the book. He’d have to work a lot harder to hurt my feelings.
JPDonahue
I don’t need Grindr to read hateful comments…
Not under this story, yet, but every day, I read the most hateful comments on this site… well… most sites. It’s that armchair courage… the safety of saying hateful things from the comfort of home.
ShiningSex
THIS STORY IS STUPID. PEOPLE ARE A-HOLES ESPECIALLY SUPERFICIAL QUEENS.
ON A SIDE NOTE, I THINK IT’S FUNNY WHEN SIZE QUEENS TALK SHIT ABOUR SIZE, BUT THEY THEMSELVES ARE NOT WELL ENDOWED OR THINK BIGGER IS BETTER. REALITYI THOSE LARGER GUYS ARE A RARE THING, LOOK IT UP. STATISTICS ARE THERE FOR A REASON DEAR. NO, THIS IS NOT A SITUATION I’VE BEEN IN, BUT I HAVE SOME FRIENDS THAT ARE LIKE THAT (I MOVED ON FROM THAT IMMATURITY).
HE MAY NOT BE EVERYONE’S TYPE, BUT HE’S SOMEONE’S.
woodroad34
Actually, Jono looks pretty good–look at those calves and thighs–and he’s kinda cute. The person who wrote to him doesn’t seem to have the ability of a worldview that there’s ‘muscular’ and then there’s ‘steroided-out muscular’ or that there’s criticism and there’s Trumpist asshattery meant to shame and hurt (generally as a projection of one’s own self-worth)
corktownboy
He’s beautiful.
amanwithanedge
dude, you are cute.
nm4047
I’m clutching my pearls at the thought that someone was rude on an app that for all intent and purpose is designed for anonymity. As such, it removes all social filters that allow people say what they often thought but didn’t have the backbone to say or hide their lack of respect. Having said that, muscular he’s not, maybe toned at a stretch.
Bad Ass Biker
I wonder what the guy writing to him looked like?
Doug
I would bet money not attractive and totally out of shape… why else would he be unhappy enough to write something like that? This is why I usually just ignore nasty comments on apps… these types enjoy getting you riled up, but they hate it if you just ignore them and move on.
Harley
I had Grindr on my phone for like a week before deleting it. It’s a Barron landscape of narcissistic sociopaths.
Raphael
No, the best thing is to no respond at all. Why get angry and waste your time? It’s not worth it, they are not going to leave it alone and they most certainly are not going to apologize… In fact, they want you to reply, so they can keep messing with you. Just block them and move on, that will “mess” with them more than any reply you could give.
Jack Meoff
Why are Queerty reposting all these old crap articles. Are the writers on strike or something?
Liquid Silver
They seem to do it every now and again for some reason. I think weekends without news, or slow news days.
It’s easier than, I dunno, writing something about the Coronavirus that might help people or something.
hannah1
You are cute now, but I prefer the chubbier you. Love both versions of you!!
IanHunter
He’s a cutie pie!!!
winemaker
Gay men are some of the rudest, most obnoxious and nasty men out there. If you’re not their type at the time or they’ve got their thong twisting their nuts, they’ve got nothing but insults and attitude to spew. Ignore this boring ignoramus. Really would you want to get to know someone who never ‘s met you in person and his first words insult you?. As for me, this tells so much about the person so why would I want to waste my time on someone like this when their are so many nice guys out there. There’s an old adage that goes something like this. Those who put others down do so to make themselves look better as their lives are so dismal.