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Toxic masculinity is having a long moment, and the dark misogynistic subculture of \u201cthe manosphere\u201d \u2014 covered brilliantly (and heartbreakingly) in the Netflix hit Adolescence<\/em> \u2014 seems to garner new headlines every day. But here at Us<\/em>, we\u2019re hopeful that dangerous socalled male role models like Andrew Tate<\/strong> won\u2019t win out: Whether by design or coincidence, a growing group of famous men are demonstrating emotional vulnerability, and showing boys it\u2019s good to talk, hug and be in touch with their feelings.<\/p>\n Take Penn Badgley<\/strong><\/a>. Sure, his character in You<\/em> is the ultimate toxic male (he literally stalks and murders women he claims to love), but off-screen, the actor isn\u2019t afraid to talk openly about his mental health, including a topic few celebrity men have spoken about publicly: past body dysmorphia. \u201cI know that I hated my body and simply wanted a different one,\u201d the Gossip Girl<\/em> alum recently told The Guardian<\/em>. \u201cThere was just a period where, coming out of depression and isolation, I was jumping wilfully into, but also being thrust into, this world where the more conventionally beautiful I seemed, the more successful I might be, the more value I might have.\u201d<\/p>\n Another star who takes pride in being in touch with and open about his feelings is Dawson\u2019s Creek<\/em> star James Van Der Beek<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 and not just via that notorious \u201ccrying face\u201d meme. The actor has used social media to open up about his cancer diagnosis (which he got in 2023 and revealed in 2024), reflect on parenting challenges and talk about grieving his mom, who died in 2020. \u201cBeing a real man means being strong enough to be empathetic,\u201d he shared on Instagram in 2019. \u201cTo be sensitive. To be caring, kind, and confident enough to appreciate and nurture your feminine side.\u201d<\/p>\n In a world in which boys can feel pressured by social media trends like \u201clooksmaxxing\u201d \u2014 which encourages guys to maximize their physical appearance, sometimes by drastic measures like surgery \u2014 and there is a so-called male loneliness epidemic, role models like Badgley and Van Der Beek are crucial.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen high-profile men with big platforms open up about their emotions and their struggles, it sends a powerful message to young men that vulnerability is part of manhood and that it is normal, not something to fear,\u201d psychologist and male allyship leader Lee Chambers<\/strong><\/a> tells Us<\/em>. Witnessing successful men getting vulnerable, struggling with their mental health, warring with their bodies and dealing with personal trauma, all while still being loved and respected, is a huge deal \u2014 and could make all the difference for future generations.<\/p>\n