Diplo shuts down sexuality question by saying ‘masculinity is a prison’
Diplo attracted praise for the viral tweet about toxic masculinity (BRIDGET BENNETT/AFP/Getty)
Diplo has made an important point about gender while shutting down speculation about his sexuality.
The 40-year-old DJ and music producer responded to someone on Twitter who asked: “Y’all sure he is str8?” because he tweeted about Gossip Girl‘s Blair Waldorf by writing: “masculinity is a prison.”
Diplo has gone viral by tweeting that “masculinity is a prison” (diplo/twitter)
The post on Tuesday (January 8) from Diplo—whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz—has gone viral, attracting more than 28,000 retweets and likes.
Diplo fans praise star’s tweet
The man behind hit songs like Ellie Goulding‘s “Close to Me” and “Where Are Ü Now” by Justin Bieber received an outpouring of support for his statement.
The founding member of Major Lazer was praised for taking a stand against toxic masculinity, which the American Psychological Association recognised this week has links to homophobia and misogyny.
One fan wrote: “Oh, we gotta stan in that one,” while another commented: “holy s**t I just realized I could love Diplo more. Amazing.”
“This is the best thing you’ve done since Major Lazer or the MIA mixtapes”
— @mywingman_84
Messages like “WE STAN” were common, with this concept taking some people by surprise, like the tweeter who wrote: “Omg we stan you suddenly.”
One follower said approvingly: “SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK ,” and yet another fan tweeted that this positive step was a long time coming.
They wrote: “this is the best thing you’ve done since Major Lazer or the MIA mixtapes.”
Diplo attracted new fans with his statement about toxic masculinity (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty)
Others were thrilled at both the stance Diplo was taking on gender and his viewing habits, like the fan who tweeted: “You know who Blair Waldorf is AND stand up against toxic masculinity? I love you even more now.”
A different user was pleased with what Diplo’s tweet said about 2019, writing: “What a time to be alive when masculinity itself acknowledges there’s more to you than what you limit yourself to .”
Diplo is the latest celebrity to criticise toxic masculinity
Diplo has followed in the footsteps of Billy Eichner, who responded to Kevin Hart stepping down as Oscars host in December by speaking out about toxic masculinity.
The actor and comedian tweeted: “I’ve been around in this business for a minute. As one of very few openly gay men in comedy who’s fortunate enough to work as much as I do, I will ALWAYS fight for my LGBTQ community to get the respect we deserve. ALWAYS.
“I’m no saint. We just wanted a little understanding, a little explanation,” he continued.
“Apologies are tough – they leave you vulnerable. Toxic masculinity is real. I deal with it in my own way too.”
