The usually outrageous Michael Henry has released a new video, and for once, he has eschewed the laughter.
“How Do I Look?” features no dialogue. Rather, the video follows Henry as he navigates summer life among his gay friends. The camera lingers over his friends’ seemingly perfect smiles and perfect bodies, intercut with footage of Henry binge eating and struggling with his own body image. Things take an even more serious turn with scenes of Henry kneeling over the toilet, presumably purging his snacks.
Related: Michael Henry has thoughts on mastering the art of YouTube, plus gay demons!
We also can’t help but notice the timing of release. Mask and social distancing mandates have begun to relax in most states (including Henry’s California) amid rising rates of COVID vaccination and dropping rates of infection. After sitting inside for a year, and on summer’s eve, who wouldn’t feel a bit insecure about their looks?
How about we take this to the next level?
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Have a look. Henry is making a powerful statement, without any words at all.
toddlicious
This hits home.
Fahd
Gee that’s too bad he’s let himself go. He’s young enough that he can relatively quickly get back into reasonably healthy shape without resorting to bulimia, especially if he gets some help in dealing appropriately with the societal pressures about body image. There’s a superficial aspect of interpersonal attraction, unfortunately, — believe me I know. But what’s to be done?
I didn’t discern the “powerful statement” of the video that the article talks about.
Liquid Silver
Other than he should get some therapy rather than seek views and fat acceptance, neither did I. One ain’t gonna fix an ED by making a video.
MissTerri
Michael should not be so hard on himself. There are still “chubby chasers” you know!!!
Liquid Silver
So…what? Does he want condemnation of people who are concerned for their bodies and diet and exercise? Sister, look elsewhere–that’s called the Fat Acceptance movement and it’s pure BS, but you can run over there and they’ll coddle you right into an early grave while they tell you how perfect you are.
Frankly, I took one look at my overweight butt and dropped fifty pounds. Is it perfect? No. But it looks a lot better. And I can outrun any Fat Acceptance advocate out there.
If he’s got an ED, then get some therapy and some help. I’m sympathetic but not going to coddle him here either. He’s an adult.
There’s no “powerful” statement here. It’s another “woe is me.” Get off your butt and do something about it because nobody else is going to–and nobody else can.
robr919
What a judgemental asshole you are
Mr. Stadnick
I didn’t find that to be a “powerful statement” at all.
corktownboy
Well done video, imho. I can easily relate as I was 22 pounds overweight end of October. By reduction of 500 calories a day, that equates to 4.5 pounds lost per month. Michael’s videos are sometimes entertaining.
This one is thought-provoking, especially drawing attention to emotional eating.
Michael, you can do it.
CityguyUSA
We need to accept everyone as they are. All this body shaming isn’t doing anyone any good when they just opt to overlay their abs with someone else’s. It’s even gone way beyond abs to adding facial wrinkles , wide shoulders, to almost everyone scrubbing off their love handles. There’s nothing healthy about any of this regardless if you’re skinny or fat. It’s certainly not a joke and this e-zine does nothing but continue to promote fake bodies.
BLAKENOW
the guy is not funny , nor is he engaging. if he didn’t have the occasional good guest appearance this terribly written “funny” gay webisodes would have been shelved a long long time ago.
BoomerMyles
His videos got painfully “preachy” for a while there.
He hasn’t been funny in a long time.
Thad
It seems guys react to this video depending on their own experience. I wish it would open discussion instead.
I like Michael Henry.
michaelhenry915
I like him too 🙂
Oranos
Michael Henry points out “inconvenient truths, which, it seems, bothers others.
“Kill the messenger” is the lowest point of consciousness. One of the higher steps is “listen to the content of the message.” The message here is equating one’s self worth with one’s exterior physical form, a “form” that fades with time. The video allows that he is not okay with just having a beautiful interior, that that is not enough. But, as the expression goes, “Beauty’s only skin deep.” That is the message he is struggling with. It is beautiful that he allows the yearning to register on his face instead of being inauthentic, and hiding what he really feels. And he does it all silently.
Not all growth into self acceptance comes thru laughter. Sometimes it comes thru oceans of (internal) tears.
Liquid Silver
I think many of us are saying that his videos are indicative of his ugly interior (which is apparent in a lot of his videos). I find this one filled with a false plea for sympathy.
“Oh, see how I STRUGGLE.” Then get off your ass and actually struggle. Having watched any number of addicts “struggle” by indulging any number of addictions and “struggling” to quit just enough to appease others, that ain’t struggling. That’s doing what you want. They get real touchy if you call ’em on it, though.
But then again, Henry’s real good at pointing a finger at others. Not so good at pointing a finger at himself and realizing when he might want to get help–if he’s even telling us any actual truth here and not just mining for sympathy. He never says he has an ED. The video never states it’s about him. If it isn’t and he’s letting us think that…then that’s even worse and we can just brand him a fat queen.