Selma von den Hoff

Yonsi GSIS Newsletter, Junior Editor

Phrases such as “he is so baby girl,” “aww he is such a baby,” or “we must protect him at all costs” have become common comments on posts about or by male celebrities, and while they may seem harmless and fun on the surface, they are often rooted in misogyny. This is not to say these comments are intended to harm women specifically, but rather that they arise within a social environment that has harmful consequences for the women connected to those men. For example, the infantilization of celebrity men occurs regardless of age; female celebrities, by contrast, are frequently adultified. Underage girls receive comments such as “I can’t wait for her to turn 18” or “she has the body of a grown woman,” while women in their 30s and older are labeled “grandma” or praised with “she looks really young for her age.” It is the dichotomy of these reactions that makes the infantilization of men so damaging.

In an already patriarchal society where male celebrities are among the most powerful figures in the world, this culture can have harmful implications for women both inside the industry and beyond. Infantilizing male celebrities often goes hand in hand with fans becoming highly protective, coddling them and adopting a “he can do no harm” mentality,  a pattern frequently seen among toxic boy mom communities. This mindset reinforces the “boys will be boys” excuse and leads to bad behavior being ignored. Consider Leonardo DiCaprio, who is known for dating women in their early 20s despite being 51 himself; instead of condemning this pattern, some fans turned it into memes such as “No don’t turn 25, you’re so sexy,” which trivialize the pattern of older men dating much younger women. The phrase “boys will be boys” has harmful consequences not just for women but for men as well: it links violence and aggression to immutable male nature, allowing violent or aggressive boys and men to justify or minimize their harmful actions. This sentiment also normalizes homophobic or violent bullying among boys, for example, in a 1996 case where a child was beaten for being gay, the principal’s defense was essentially “boys will be boys.”

The harm to women is multi-faceted. First, the statement, especially when applied to male celebrities, can undermine or erase the seriousness of physical and sexual violence committed against women. Comments such as “He wouldn’t do this” or “Why are you trying to ruin his life?” are common responses when women speak out about violence they have experienced. Second, infantilization creates self-censorship and unconscious bias: it can normalize harmful behavior as a form of affection. How often are little girls told, “He pulled your hair? Oh, that’s because he likes you,” thereby excusing boys’ actions and teaching girls to tolerate abusive behavior? As a result, women often doubt themselves when they experience violence, while the male perpetrator is protected from consequences to “not ruin his life.” For example, in 2025 a 24-year-old man was found guilty of raping a fellow female student, yet his sentence was reduced so as not to “socially impair him” or jeopardize his future career as a gynecologist.

Infantilizing male celebrities also shifts responsibility onto the women in their lives or casts those women as monsters or opportunists, which silences victims. During the Depp v. Heard trial, for instance, Amber Heard was widely shamed and vilified on social media while pro-Depp content proliferated, even though both parties had complicated accusations against them. Johnny Depp has since regained status in Hollywood while Amber Heard lost contracts and left the country; negative commentary about her still circulates online. Another example is the Kim Kardashian and Kanye West breakup: Kanye’s violent threats and anti-Semitic statements were often excused or minimized, and instead Kim or others were blamed and shamed. Fans demanded apologies for Kayne’s anti-Semitic comments, from Kim despite her separation from Kanye. The men themselves were seldom held fully accountable for their actions. An extreme example is “Club Chalamet,” a Timothée Chalamet fan account run by a 59-year-old women who has persistently harassed Kylie Jenner, accusing her of “corrupting the innocent Timmy” and alleging their 3-year long relationship is a publicity stunt.

These are just a few examples to illustrate how the infantilization of celebrity men harms women in their immediate circles and in broader society. Women are frequently blamed for “ruining” or “corrupting” male celebrities, while their own experiences of psychological or physical harm are undermined or dismissed. The rise of this behavior online, including the infantilization of the “Heated Rivalry” actors, which in itself carries other connotations as well, reflects a wider social shift toward more conservative and restrictive attitudes for women. Male celebrities do not need protecting; they are adults who understand the consequences of their actions and often hope to avoid accountability. It is time to change this narrative: hold these men to the same standards as female celebrities, stop infantilizing them, and start protecting and believing victims.

References

DWNEWS:https://www.facebook.com/deutschewellenews/posts/a-24-year-old-medical-student-training-to-become-a-gynecologist-was-found-guilty/1086178243537489/

Danger of “Boys will be Boys”: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/gender-and-schooling/201403/the-danger-boys-will-be-boys

The problem with infantilizing make celebrities…: https://youtu.be/6btAk1CBU7U?si=i9hj64kEumITMBqb