Logo for Byte Magazine at Ball State University

Reality Check






Featured image from Gillette

Gillette’s ‘The Best Men Can Be’ ad sparks internet controversy over toxic masculinity

The ad, which you can watch here, covers the subject of “toxic masculinity,” the belief that being masculine bleeds into men’s everyday lives and negatively affects themselves and those around them. The ad features scenes of fighting, bullying and sexual harassment while a voice over talked about the history of “boys being boys.” The ad ends on the narrator explaining that showing boys how to act now is the way to improve men’s actions as a whole, then switches up Gillette’s traditional slogan, “the best a man can get,” for the topical “the best a man can be.” 



Should cancel culture be cancelled?

Kevin Hart is the latest example of a high-profile celebrity being 'cancelled' for problematic posts on social media. What should we make of this cultural movement?