Well, it’s about time somebody said something.
Comedian Michael Henry has just released his latest video: a corrosive indictment of straight men who gaybait on social media.
The video finds Henry alongside comedian Jeremy D. Howard happening on a pair of male bodybuilder influencers. While both don’t mind the initial show, Henry and Howard differ on their views when it comes to the appropriateness of straight men engaging in homoeroticism for money.
“You should see how close they all get on his OnlyFans,” Howard says while watching said influencers work out.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Related: Lonely Valentine: Comic Michael Henry wonders why he can’t find a boyfriend
“He looks amazing, but he’s a classic gaybaiter,” Henry points out.
“They’re homiesexuals,” Howard explains. “Homies that like to push the limits of their friendship together.”
“If they are married to women and identify as heterosexual, how could you think that what they’re doing is anything but a grift or a scam?” Henry screeches.
He does have a point.
The debate continues, though Henry points out that “If you want to try and make a trend or a brand or a business out of coping homos into the mystery of ‘am I gay? or am I not. Who knows?’ To me, I think that is kind of tacky.”
Ultimately Henry & Howard decide to go for tacos. That’s probably a better use of funds than donating to a straight, gaybaiting OnlyFans star. Just sayin’.
Donston
I’m realizing that “queer baiting” isn’t just about being a “straight” identifying person who uses homo-eroticism or “queer appeal”. You can be all over the spectrum and embrace whatever identities and still bait. There are many who use their dimensions, fluidity or whatever forms of “queerness” or “open-mindedness” for money/attention/validation but otherwise couldn’t care less about “gay” or “queer” issues. There are many who use “queerness” to give themselves some edge or individuality. Thus, turning it into an ego boost or about sensationalism. While a lot of people use non straight identities or vagueness simply so they won’t get accused of “baiting” but are still “straight” or “mostly ‘straight”. Identities are a choice and people use identities and presented behaviors to sculpt whatever image, especially as far as social media is concerned. However, there will always be people who will pay attention or even pay as long as their fantasies indulged. This site posting such as article comes off hypocritical though.
TheMarc
This. ALL of THIS! Well and accurately said!
WSnyder
A Fool and his Money are soon Parted
gregg2010
The site posting such an article is not at all hypocritical. Gay “baiting,” on the other hand, is completely hypocritical. If you want to be scammed by a straight guy’s homoerotica, go right ahead. After all, it’s all about the fantasy, right?
Donston
This is a site that constantly post articles from multiple writers that’s pretty much about “straight” worship and fantasy. So, seeing these random articles shaming “gay-baiting” is indeed hypocritical.
The media (particularly “queer media”) is never not hypocritical. They talk about toxic masculinity and masculine privilege. Yet, they constantly (and only) sexualize and put on pedestals “masculine” or “straight-passing” dudes. They’ll briefly touch on topics like how individual sexuality is, fluidity, dimensions, contradictions and the gender, romantic, sexual, affection, emotional investment, commitment spectrum. Yet, they’re forever hyping up any decent looking “straight’ guy” who admits to the least bit of “gayness” or same-sex experiences. They want to claim identity is a choice in one article then say it’s not in another. They spent a year trashing Aaron Carter for being a “fake ‘bisexual” who was just trying to get attention and money. Yet, they just posted an article praising Tyler Posey when he’s using half-baked homo-eroticism to sell his OnlyFans. At least Aaron claimed that he’s into dudes to some degree even if he doesn’t see himself as “bi” and he wants to be in hetero relationship. All Tyler has said is that he might have sucked dick. He has not at all claimed to be sexually, romantically, emotionally, affection wise or commitment wise into his sex. He’s charging people over 30 dollars a month for basic shirtless pics and a couple of butt shots, thus exploiting his privilege, fame, “gay” appeal and “straight” worship. He’s not forthcoming with his subscribers about the nature of his content before they pay for it. He uses automated messages and people on his team to pretend as if he’s interacting with folks. He only started semi attaching himself to some vague “queerness” when it was time to use sex appeal to sell his OnlyFans. He used sex workers and porn performers to promote and sensationalize his OnlyFans yet claims sex work is beneath him and that it’s ridiculous that people want his account to be x-rated and that his OnlyFans (which is nothing but basic shirtless pics and some booty cheek here and there) is “art”. Yet, they post an article promoting his account and image.
These “queer publications” are a mess and a sea of hypocrisy. And it’s not just trashy sites like this one. It’s all about not wanting to offend anyone, getting clicks and getting in good with publicists.
DennisMpls
@Donston You make some good points, but in my opinion you’re overreacting to a really minor issue. It seems to me it comes down to this: if you get enough pleasure out of Tyler Posey’s OnlyFans site to pay for it, then go for it. If you don’t, then keep your money. I’m in the latter group myself, but I see nothing wrong with something based entirely on free choice.
The same applies to any so-called “gay baiting.” No one’s being cheated. And if someone wants to “choose” to identify with any sort of fluid identity, go for it. It’s good if straight guys WANT to do that. You’re kind of making an implication of sorts that we should somehow try to enforce what I might call “identity purity,” where we have to get to the bottom of how real someone’s expressed identity is.
Though as a skinny guy who doesn’t respond to the typical muscular photos that dominate sites like this one, your comment about the dominance of uber masculine guys resonated with me. Give me some Timothee Chalamet types instead!
Donston
Yeah, you don’t seem to have comprehended either of my posts that well.
I am pansexual and I have experienced fluidity. I get all of that stuff. And I personally stopped caring about identity and sexual politics a long time ago. Everyone has their own thing going on when it comes to their sexuality, struggles, motivations, ethics, general psychology, where they are in the gender, romantic, sexual, affection, emotional investment, commitment spectrum. My point is that “baiting” and using dimensions in sexuality or what you’re willing to do to make money or get attention is not just something “straight” people do. There are a lot of variations to “baiting” and calculating. So, we need to stop just making it a “straight” discussion.
What Tyler is doing is scummy. There’s no way around that. It’d be one thing if he was just using homo-eroticism to overcharge people for shirtless and butt shots. But he has been actively scamming and manipulating people. There’s been several instances already of him deceiving people as far as his content and his communications with subscribers. While in a recent interview he had the nerve to get upset at people who are shading him and calling out his behaviors and scamming, even throwing sex workers under the bus in that interview. However, he used sex workers and porn performers to promote and legitimize his OnlyFans. The dude is being hella messy. He’s been entertainment for a long time, still has a team, still has a career. He should know better. He should be called out. It doesn’t matter if people are willing to subscribe. He’s famous. Of course, there’s always going to be people who subscribe or overlook his behaviors and tactics. While almost none of the media has called him out for any of this. In fact, he’s gotten praise and hype and publicity from most publications. On the other hand, much of “gay media” was on Aaron Carter’s neck for a long time for his Onlyfans and his supposed “gay baiting”. It just highlights how much having good publicists, being likable and still having conventional sex appeal comes into play when we talk about “queer media” or the media in general.
Liquid Silver
Don’t! You’ll just get accused of being too stupid to und… Damn, man, too late. That one can’t understand that others have differing opinions and has to minimize your experience by belittling you.
Well, ignore him and he’ll slink off.
Donston
Liquid Silver, your feelings still hurt after I had to go in on you? Get over it.
It’s weird how people go on the internet and peddle misinformation or half-truths or shallow perspectives and don’t ever expect to be called out. It’s also weird how the most bitchy, dismissive and mean-spirited people are often the ones who are most quick to play victim.
This ain’t your journal.
Liquid Silver
Naw, I just wrote you off as too narcissistic to ever consider others. Case in point–twice. I’d say get over yourself, but that’s not possible for you because you really DO think this is your journal. It isn’t.
Donston
I really don’t give a shit about being “narcissistic”. Are my posts wrong though? That’s all that matters. And no one wants to hear about how I don’t “consider others” when most of your posts are bitchy, dismissive and condescending. Once again, it’s always the ones like you who get in their feelings.
I really don’t care about my posts being pretentious or overly descriptive. This is unfortunately probably the most viewed “queer” online publication. So, if I have something to say I’mma say it and say it throughly. And if I feel like calling out a bullshit comment I will. There’s too much nonsense this site pushes and that the comments reflect for me not to.
Liquid Silver
“I really don’t give a shit about being “narcissistic”.”
Giggle. Yeah, that’s obvious, narcissist. There’s a mirror over there, go stare into it for a while.
No, you’re not right. You’re just self-absorbed. There’s a difference.
Den
Ultimately this is just an amusing video that raises points you seem to be overthinking without even understanding them.
And for the record let’s have a definition of pansexual that does not involve the kind of word salad you have served up on a coupled of other posts here. Does that involve other mammals, plants and inorganic substances? Or is it just a trendy term for bisexual?
If not how exactly does it differ from claiming bisexuality, and how can you be “fluid”{ when it seems there is nothing really to flow TO if you are pansexual.
Donston
People have been talking about “fluidity” and “pansexual” for over a decade, and you still asking randoms on the internet for definitions? To me that’s a sign that it doesn’t matter what someone says you’re still gonna be bitchy and dismissive. I’m gonna trust that you’re being sincere.
“Fluidity” just means a shift, an increasing or decreasing of attraction, arousal, desire, enjoyment, passions or whatever. It can happen on a very small or very large scale. It can equate to some permanent or brief changes. And it doesn’t even really have to do with fluidity about your orientation towards different genders. It can be being slightly more into twinks than daddies than you used to. “Fluidity” is just a representation of how some people’s sexualities, sense of gender, where they are in the orientation spectrum evolves. But yes, I was inherently homosexual. Now, I’m not.
I really don’t give a shit about identity. I don’t care if people call me gay, queer, bi, pan. It doesn’t matter to me. But in recent years, people who say that they’re “pan” tend to be including trans and non-binary people. However, these identities tend to mean whatever the individual wants. So, once again, I just don’t care. I’ve accepted that everyone has their own thing going on.
Liquid Silver
Nope, not going there this time and even gracing it with a view. Let me guess. It involves a shirtless hunk, and a not funny rejoinder after an easy strawman set up.
MrMichaelJ
Sorry but gay guys would be bitching a hell of a lot more if these straight guys weren’t trying to turn you on. BTW the vast majority of guys aren’t completely straight
Joshua333
I mean “influencers” who do the whole “what is my sexuality” stick really turn me off from their content. Like making that your personality online is trashy because normal people who don’t have labels just find out who they like when they do and don’t turn it into a: “Am I gay? Am I straight? Am I bisexual? Find out in 10,000 seasons of absolutely nothing!”
This video is what I’ve been thinking for a long time but no one really says anything about it. I mean when the money from the “trend of being gay” runs out, the people who were apart of it are going to drop this “trend” like Corporations after Pride month.
And if you don’t see through how scummy this feels, then maybe you deserve to lose all your money to it.
nm4047
no different to closeted gays doing the equivalent to young girls vying for their dollars.
tykin88
Someone send that vid Mario Adrion and Travis Bryant.
Toofie
LOL, yes those two are the worst!
Donston
What’s funny is if those were two girls they’d be getting ripped to shreds. What’s disappointing is that an out, “gay” identifying guy has been spending months indulging such games just for a bit a clout and some clicks.
I will say that baiting and pandering isn’t some new thing. It’s been going on for decades. It’s just evolved more in the age of social media. And it’s happening to every demo. There are heterosexual and homosexuals who bait or pander to bisexual/pansexuals. There’s baiting or pandering to trans people. There’s homosexual/homo-leaning/gay dudes baiting or pandering to women. It’s just that guys baiting or pandering to “gay” guys is still the most profitable and will get you the most attention.
The only way to get rid of most of this stuff is to just throw away identity and sexual politics, and accept that everyone has their own thing going on when it comes to sexuality, gender, where they are in the orientation spectrum, and general psychology. But none of that is going to happen.
DK
So I assume Queerty and queer publications are gonna update their editorial policies, and stop boring us with articles about Tyler Posey, Madison Crawford, Pietro Boselli, and whatever other straight-whiteboy-with-jawline the basic white gays of America are thirsting any given week? No?
just me
Those guys are just doing the good old “Gay for Pay” under a new name. on the other hand, maybe they like it and that’s their way of dealing with their own denial of their sexuality. reminds me of a guy I knew in the 80s (oops, yeah postboomer here) who used to ask for money or a present, just to make himself believe that he was getting it up his you know what for the money and not because he loved it so much. i hope they all find their paths with the only judgement being “i’m paying or not” 🙂
and may the farce be with us
mailliw110
And I thought underwear adds were hot!
Donston
Just using sex appeal for attention or money is not “baiting”. If anything, that’s just “thirst trapping”. “Gay baiting” is specifically about “straight” or overall hetero-leaning people or non homo-leaning people exploiting homo-eroticism and homo-romanticism, sometimes exploiting “straight” worship and privilege. They do so for money or sociological validation or social media clicks/attention. I also see attaching yourself to “queers” primarily to exploit them for money or attention or an ego boost as “baiting” as well.
There are different types and levels to “baiting” because sexuality, gender, orientation, lifestyles, love, relationships, identity politics and sexual politics are each fairly individual and all over the place. For example, many men “bait” women or trans people. They put effort into appealing to women or trans people and appeasing them and then exploit them for money or sex or attention or as a sociological cover. They do this knowing that they are “gay” and homosexual or at least homo when it comes to the romantic, sexual, affection, emotional investment, relationship contentment spectrum.
But no, just being in underwear is not “baiting”.
ElPillo
Wow! There are a lot of deep long thoughts. Bravo, Michael Henry, you did it!”
DennisMpls
I have a history of being thought of as over-thinking and over-analyzing things. (Not really shocking since I’m a data and research analyst by trade.) But gay baiting to me is not a complex subject.
If straight guys want to gay bait on OnlyFans or any other online site I simply see nothing wrong with that. There is no “exploitation.” Let’s say for the sake of argument that Tyler Posey is as straight as they come, but he “teases” gay guys who are into his type with suggestive videos that play directly into that interest. So what? Really, where is the harm? If a gay guy pays his money thinking Tyler is gay, his “pleasure” is the same no matter what his actual identity is. And it was entirely his conscious choice to spend his money.
In the “real world” it’s an entirely different story. People can be cheated and can be hurt by someone posing as gay for some sort of benefit when they aren’t.
In my opinion it’s extremely old-fashioned to decry the concept of gay baiting. In fact, I consider the term anachronistic in the context of online interaction. Life is so rarely simple that when it is, embrace the simplicity!
BryGuy
Listen, everyone has the right to express and portray themselves however they wish. As far as homosexuality goes, the more people that portray it in the public eye (whether to gain followers, money, attention, etc.), the more it becomes natural to the younger generation, and that’s a great thing. Homosexuality was thought of as a psychosis and as such it turned those who practice it into perverts/pariahs – it was this unspoken thing that no one saw in the media, and that in itself perpetuated the idea that homosexuals were freaks, and had to do their thing on the down low because it was shameful. So let’s just embrace the fact that “straight” guys are happy/willing to be thought of as homosexuals nowadays, because it just makes it less of “a thing” or something that will potentially ruin your reputation and/or life. Teens that I speak to are now in SUCH a better place b/c it’s become more commonplace. I hope that makes sense. Lastly, I find the whole concept of “cultural appropriation” a joke and it has no relevance in modern society. We are all allowed to be inspired by each other, we are a global community of human beings, and we are exposed to all sorts of fashions, attitudes and turns of phrase, and so the idea that anyone thinks they can accuse someone of “cultural appropriation” in this day and age is simply antiquated, and pedestrian in its thinking. We have all been inspired by more cultures than we realize, so let’s just celebrate that and not try to tear each other apart for sport.
SaintRock
There is no ‘baiting’ … no one forces you to look. Reverse the gender. Females have been dickteasing lesbian kisses and make outs for Str8 guys since forever…. Girls Gone Wild etc. And I guess gay actors as sex symbols to female fans is ‘baiting’. Sex Sells….. Joni Mitchell sang it.