Sir Gareth Southgate has blasted ‘manipulative and toxic influencers’ for leading young men towards misogyny.
The former England football manager spoke out in a lecture insisting what boys need is role models, not people who tell them they should never show emotion.
The damning comments come following the release of a report earlier this month that said boys and young men were ‘in crisis’, with a ‘staggering’ increase in those not in education, employment or training.
Southgate said that rather than turning to teachers, sport coaches or youth group leaders, many were looking for direction online.
He claimed at the BBC’s annual Richard Dimbleby lecture: ‘These are callous, manipulative and toxic influencers, whose sole drive is for their own gain.
‘They willingly trick young men into believing that success is measured by money or dominance, that strength means never showing emotion, and that the world, including women, is against them.’
The ex-footballer also made reference to too many young men being ‘isolated’ and said ‘they spend more time online searching for direction and are falling into unhealthy alternatives like gaming, gambling and pornography’.
Beyond politics, Southgate used the lecture as a chance to talk about missing the crucial penalty in the 1996 Euros semi-final, when England lost to Germany.
Gareth Southgate claimed at the BBC’s annual Richard Dimbleby lecture: ‘These are callous, manipulative and toxic influencers, whose sole drive is for their own gain.
The former England football manager has spoken out insisting what boys need is role models, not people who tell them they should never show emotion
He said, ‘missing that penalty was undoubtedly a watershed moment that made me stronger, a better man.
‘It forced me to dig deep, and revealed an inner belief and resilience I never knew existed.’
The England veteran is the latest in a line of academics, business leaders and other notable figures to deliver the Richard Dimbleby Lecture.
It as an event that has been held most years since 1972 in memory of the late broadcaster.
Previous speakers include King Charles III, when he was the Prince of Wales and tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates.
In June 2024, a YouGov Poll indicated Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane were more popular than any other politician – including Keir Starmer.
Half of Britons had a favourable opinion of the two while only 39 per cent had a positive view of Keir Starmer.
The coaching ace stirred controversy in 2020 however when he confirmed the England squad would continue to ‘take the knee’ before matches – a gesture meant to show solidarity with black players facing racism on the pitch.
In June 2024, a YouGov Poll indicated Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane were more popular than any other politician – including Keir Starmer
Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller (left) with Graham as Stephen Miller. The British TV series Adolescence has received positive reviews from critics
It came in the wake of Black Lives Matters protests and was criticised as virtue signalling, leading to events like thousands booing the squad before their Euro 2020 warm-up against Austria in Middlesbrough.
Last week, the British TV series Adolescence was released on Netflix centring around a 13-year-old schoolboy arrested for the murder of a female classmate.
It has been received very positively by critics who note its theme of a boy who has been deeply disturbed by school bullying via social media and influenced by ‘incel subculture’.
