Rumoured next James Bond actor says 'it's scary to have a son' as he slams toxic manosphere: 'Terrifying'

Lauren Williams
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:42:43 +0000

Actor Theo James has described the online manosphere as "terrifying" for parents of young boys, expressing deep concern about raising his two-year-old son in today's digital landscape.

The White Lotus star, 41, shared his fears during an appearance on Josh Smith's Great Chat Show, where he addressed the challenges facing young males in contemporary society.

The British actor, whose among the frontrunners to take over from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond, attributed the phenomenon to fundamental feelings of inadequacy among men.

"It's a lot about deep-seated insecurity, ultimately," Mr James said. "Men who feel they need to be performative or misogynistic, it's about them not feeling good enough essentially, but it's hidden with meaningless bravado."

Mr James, who also has a four-year-old daughter, warned that young people are easily drawn into this online ideology.

The actor drew a direct line between manosphere culture and broader economic forces, arguing that unchecked capitalism has created an environment where wealth is the ultimate measure of success.

"Capitalism is the dominant force and you are celebrated, no matter what you are, if you're stinking rich and driving around in flash cars," he explained.

Mr James suggested this mentality has been amplified by political movements in recent years.

"That has been epitomised with Trumpism and everything that goes with that," he said. "It's terrifying having a son because people get lured into this idea very easily."

The actor lamented that basic human decency has fallen out of fashion among young men.

"It's about a base level of empathy and some semblance of morality, and I think now that isn't cool, is it?" Mr James observed, adding that the prevailing attitude celebrates aggression and material wealth over compassion.

Mr James also highlighted the growing crisis around male body image, noting that pressure to achieve a muscular physique has become intertwined with toxic masculine ideals.

He pointed to what he called an "epidemic with steroids and performance-enhancing things, with younger and younger kids," acknowledging that while film and television contribute to these pressures, the problem extends far beyond entertainment.

The actor suggested that misogynistic attitudes often stem from men struggling to navigate a world with increasingly successful women.

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"They're confused by who they are or who they should be, so the easiest thing to do is to latch onto something and money, going to the gym a lot and telling people to go f**** themselves – that's easy," Mr James said.

He warned that while such behaviour offers a simple path, the consequences for an entire generation of men remain deeply troubling.

Mr James's concerns come amid renewed attention on the manosphere following Louis Theroux's recent Netflix documentary exploring this corner of the internet.

The film, released last month, examined the world of online influencers promoting extreme views on masculinity and misogynistic attitudes, featuring figures such as Harrison Sullivan, known online as HSTIKKYTOKKY.

The documentary captured scenes of young fans mobbing manosphere personalities on the streets of New York, highlighting the significant reach these figures have among impressionable audiences.

Critics have warned that while some content creators claim their most inflammatory statements are satirical, younger viewers often lack the context to distinguish between genuine commentary and provocation designed to generate attention.