The Fresh and Fit Podcast is a male self-improvement podcast hosted by Amrou Fudl (born February 1, 1990),[2] professionally known as "Myron Gaines" or "Fit", author of the book Why Women Deserve Less, and Walter Weekes (born October 2, 1992),[3] professionally known as "FreshPrinceCEO" or simply "Fresh". Created on October 26, 2020, the podcast holds conversations regarding financial gains, dating advice, politics, and gender roles.
Fresh and Fit | ||||||||||
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Presentation | ||||||||||
Hosted by | Walter Weekes Myron Gaines | |||||||||
Genre | Talk, dating, finances, current events | |||||||||
Format |
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Language | English | |||||||||
Length | 2–5 hours | |||||||||
Country of origin | United States | |||||||||
Production | ||||||||||
Production | Aaron Chris Pogson | |||||||||
Publication | ||||||||||
Original release | October 26, 2020 | |||||||||
Provider | YouTube (2020–present) Twitch (2021–present) Spotify (2022–present) Rumble (2022–present) | |||||||||
Related | ||||||||||
Website | www | |||||||||
YouTube information | ||||||||||
Channel | ||||||||||
Years active | 2020–present | |||||||||
Subscribers | 1.56 million[1] | |||||||||
Total views | 251.1 million[1] | |||||||||
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Last updated: November 3, 2023 |
Fresh and Fit has been criticized for its hosts' opinions regarding women and relationships, often associating them with misogyny.[4][5] Since its inception, the podcast has featured a variety of notable or controversial guests such as Rollo Tomassi,[6] Patrick Bet-David,[7] Tim Pool,[8] Kevin Samuels,[9] Andrew Tate,[10] Michael Blackson,[11] Ray J,[12] Waka Flocka Flame,[13] Kodak Black,[14] DDG,[15] Asian Doll,[16] DJ Akademiks,[17] Conceited,[18] Antonio Brown,[19] Zuby,[20] Tommy Sotomayor,[21] Stew Peters,[22] Nick Fuentes,[23] Adam22,[24] Adin Ross,[25] Destiny,[26] Candace Owens,[27] JustPearlyThings,[28] Quinton "Rampage" Jackson,[29] David Benavidez,[30] and Ryan Garcia.[31]
On August 18, 2023, Fresh and Fit became demonetized on YouTube. According to a YouTube spokesperson, Fresh and Fit was demonetized for "repeated violations of our policies, including our Advertiser-Friendly Guidelines and Community Guidelines".[32][33]
Format
editThe podcast streams live every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Mondays, known as "Money Monday," the hosts and sometimes guests discuss finance, investing and real estate. On Wednesdays, known as "Red Pill Wednesday" (formerly "Womanizer Wednesday"), the hosts give dating advice and sometimes do a "couples intervention". On Fridays, known as "Fitness/Call-in Friday", the hosts allow viewers to interact with them via phone and chat, discuss past topics, ask advice, or criticize. [34]
Background
editThe Fresh and Fit Podcast began on October 26, 2020 as part of the manosphere and the men's rights movement. It was founded by Myron Gaines, author of Why Women Deserve Less, and Walter Weekes.[32][5][35] Gaines left his job of six years as a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security on December 5, 2020, to work full time on the podcast.[32][36]
Lisa Sugiura, author of The Incel Rebellion: The Rise of the Manosphere and the Virtual War Against Women, has suggested that the hosts of Fresh and Fit, along with other manosphere figures such as Andrew Tate, are compelling to viewers because they are seen as "anti-mainstream": "But . . . the contradiction is that [they are] very much part of the mainstream and validating the usual tropes about gender and violence against women."[5]
In March 2022, the podcast received a weeklong ban on YouTube for hate speech. The hosts stated that they were the result of "targeted attacks" and alluded to a "mass report" coming from an unnamed YouTuber. Gaines stated that "two videos that are old as hell were flagged, and the way that they were flagged was indicative of a mass report that was very obviously a targeted attack".[37]
On August 18, 2023, Fresh and Fit, which at the time had over 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, was demonetized on the platform and could no longer receive donations from viewers. The hosts stated that they did not know why YouTube had made its decision but suggested that it was because of the themes they would usually cover on their videos. Gaines stated that the podcast hosted "uncomfortable conversations about uncomfortable topics" and that "that's unfortunately the risk you take when you make the kind of content that we do". Gaines said that the podcast would continue on Rumble, in addition to YouTube.[32] The reasoning for the demonetization was clarified by a YouTube spokesperson who said it was for "repeated violations of our policies, including our Advertiser-Friendly Guidelines and Community Guidelines".[32]
Opinions
editIn a 2020 TikTok video, Gaines stated that "when a girl tells you: 'Hey, let's raincheck or reschedule,' you [should] simply respond, 'Hey, that's cool, but I'm not really a fan of flaky girls", because, according to him, "if you take her on a date after she did some BS like that, she's gonna think it's OK. Don't reinforce bad behavior with positive treatment." The video sparked criticism and mild support from social media users. The podcast's TikTok account, which had over 50,000 followers at the time, was also deleted from the platform following the publication of Gaines' video.[38][39]
Both men have stated that they do not date "ghetto black women and Shaniquas".[40][41] In one instance, Gaines said that it is "just a preference [they] have to not date black women."[42] Fudl was born in Brooklyn,New York City and is of Sudanese descent while Weekes was born in Barbados. Gaines has also publicly made disparaging remarks about African-Americans, referring to the group as "niggers" in a viral feud with contrarian content creators.[43]
Fresh and Fit has hosted Andrew Tate on its livestreams multiple times. Following the criminal investigations of Tate, the hosts have argued for his innocence.[44]
In his book Why Women Deserve Less (2023), Gaines writes: "The relationship between most men and women throughout all of history has been transactional. It has been prostitution. All men are Johns. All women are whores."[45]
In July 2023, Fresh and Fit hosted far-right political commentator Nick Fuentes on multiple episodes. In one of the episodes featuring Fuentes, Gaines stated that "we're the biggest platform that's talking about the JQ. No one else will do it."[46] In another episode of Fresh and Fit with Nick Fuentes in 2023, Gaines dressed as a Hasid, and said, "Anyone need a loan – high interest rates, I’ll hook y'all up."[47] In multiple episodes in the same year, Gaines also hosted Holocaust denier Ryan Dawson multiple times, where Gaines spoke about a Conspiracy theory that the Saudis and Israel were behind 9/11.[48][49] Media Matters for America has interpreted the repeated antisemitic behavior and opinions of the hosts of Fresh and Fit, along with the repeated platforming of antisemitic guests, as antisemitism.[47]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "About Fresh and Fit Podcast". YouTube.
- ^ "Amrou Fudl". www.nuwber.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Walter Weekes". www.wikibiography.in. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ Robinson, Harper (2022-01-20). "'You're not special': Female Instagram model confronts male podcast host on-air". FOX 59. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ a b c Onibada, Ade (2022-09-28). ""My Brother Is So Far Gone": How Male Influencers Turned The Men In These People's Lives Toxic". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ "Rollo Tomassi". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Patrick Bet-David". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Tim Pool". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Kevin Samuels". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Andrew Tate". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Michael Blackson". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Ray J". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Waka Flocka Flame". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Kodak Black". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "DDG". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Asian Doll". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "DJ Akademiks". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Conceited". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Antonio Brown". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Zuby". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Tommy Sotomayor". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Stew Peters". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Nick Fuentes". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Adam22". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Adin Ross". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Destiny". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Candace Owens". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "JustPearlyThings". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Quinton "Rampage" Jackson". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "David Benavidez". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ "Ryan Garcia". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Dodgson, Lindsay (August 22, 2023). "The host of manosphere podcast 'Fresh & Fit' choked up after announcing it had been demonetized on YouTube". Business Insider.
A YouTube spokesperson confirmed to Insider Fresh & Fit and all other channels that may be owned or operated by Gaines and Weekes had been suspended from the YouTube Partner Program. "We've suspended the FreshandFit channel from the YouTube Partner Program for repeated violations of our policies, including our Advertiser-Friendly Guidelines and Community Guidelines," they said.
- ^ Jhanaya Belle (August 24, 2023). "The Rise & Fall Of The "Fresh And Fit" Podcast". www.hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ David A. (November 8, 2022). "Fresh And Fit Podcast: A Look At One Of The Most Popular Relationship And Fitness Podcasts On The Internet". www.netinfluencer.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ Dixit, Marni (2022-04-29). "Kyle and Jackie O blast 'misogynistic' guests: 'F**k off, clown!'". Yahoo Life. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ Grow, Kory (2023-03-30). "A Popular Hip-Hop Podcast Has Become a Safe Haven for White Supremacy: Report". Rolling Stone (politics). Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ Glaze, Virginia (April 2022). "Fresh & Fit claim they're victims of "targeted attack" following YouTube hate speech ban". Dexerto. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ Mather, Katie (2020-12-30). "TikTok lifestyle coach deletes controversial dating advice after facing backlash: 'If a red flag were a man...'". Yahoo News. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ Moore, Cortney (2020-12-28). "TikTok dating coach blasted after suggesting men 'punish' women for rescheduling dates: 'Absolutely clueless'". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ "Brittany Renner goes viral on Twitter for roasting Fresh & Fit podcast hosts". Dexerto. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
- ^ Nixon, Avery (2022-02-21). "Sexist Men With Microphones and How to Fight Them". The Montclarion. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
- ^ "Will the 'Fresh and Fit' podcast be the next Andrew Tate-style controversy?". We Got This Covered. 2022-12-01. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ https://atlantablackstar.com/2023/09/03/fresh-fit-podcasters-cry-after-youtube-was-demonetized-their-channel-repeated-cycles-of-problematic-incidents/
- ^ Horowitz, Justin (2023-03-16). "Beyond Andrew Tate: Meet the misogynistic "manosphere" influencers proliferating across social media". Media Matters for America. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ Ghilonn, John (9 March 2023). ""The new Andrew Tate: Toxic 'manosphere' podcaster claims 'all women are whores'"". NY Post. Web. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Peltz, Madeline (2023-07-12). "Right-wing dating podcast Fresh & Fit embraces Holocaust denial". Media Matters.
- ^ a b "Misogynistic manosphere influencers dive headfirst into Antisemitism". Media Matters for America. 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
- ^ Gaines, Myron (May 5, 2023). "Ryan Dawson REVEALS 9/11 Coverup By US Intel Agencies, Saudis & Israel! (PART 1)". Rumble. Fresh and Fit. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ Tobias, Glen (2003). Unraveling Anti-Semitic 9/11 Conspiracy Theories (PDF). Gorowitz Institute. p. 22.