Dear Women: Leftist men don’t care about you.  

On Jan. 20, popular leftist streamer Steven Bonnell, better known as Destiny, was accused of sharing intimate videos of several individuals with a fan on Discord, which allegedly led to them being leaked. One of the victims, Pixie, later tweeted that she would be suing him in federal court for the non-consensual distribution of her explicit images. The situation sparked widespread confusion; how could a man known for debating right-wing misogynists like Fresh and Fit be involved in such allegations? This reveals a deeper truth: when it comes to disrespecting women, both left-wing and right-wing men can find common ground. 

Far right men often treat women as second-class citizens, viewing them not as professionals, thinkers or leaders, but as “tradwives” and mothers, made only for domestic atmospheres. Their ideal woman isn’t leading a boardroom or practicing medicine, but one who is silent and submissive. They push outdated patriarchal standards, even down to the idea that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. The “red-pilled” movement is an extension of this mindset: framing feminism as a threat to men, rather than what it actually is, which is a response of being oppressed for many years. But at least right-wing men are transparent in their misogyny. Left-wing men, on the other hand, hide behind their sexism with false progressive ideals and actions.  

Hasan Piker, a popular leftist political commentator, has openly discussed visiting a brothel in Berlin, stating  that he’s “not ashamed” of the experience. “All work under capitalism is done under coercive and exploitative conditions,” he argued in an interview with Vice, positioning his actions as a form of pro–sex work solidarity. But this framing feels disingenuous. Piker wasn’t making a feminist statement; instead, he was justifying his own consumption of these women’s bodies. Behind the falseness of leftist rhetoric lies the entitlement we know very well: the belief that women’s bodies are not their own but made for public consumption. No one notices this, though, because that belief is conveyed with the right wording to be seen as feminist.  

The misogynist leftist man loves to shout, “I’m a feminist, I swear!” and then promptly push women aside to center himself. He’ll mansplain feminist theory, dictate how women should feel and hush women under the facade of “allyship.” Just this week, a viral tweet showed one of them writing, “Framing women as victims of the patriarchy the way it is done on social media…” But how exactly does one frame women as victims of something they suffer every day? The truth is that many leftist men don’t see misogyny as a real issue, but rather as a branding opportunity. Being called “progressive” strokes their ego, but thinking critically about women’s actual experiences? That’s asking too much. Instead, they’ll slap the word “white” in front of “women” as a loophole, because saying “White women are crazy” feels socially acceptable, even though the implication is clear. They mean all women, but now they get to feel woke while doing it. 

I’ve grown wary of the self-proclaimed “male feminists.” At least the right-wing man is overt and tells you exactly who he is from the start. The left-wing man, on the other hand, gains your trust. He lets you believe he cares about women’s rights, and that’s what makes the betrayal so much more painful. It’s exhausting to be fooled and pushed aside again and again by men who wear allyship as a mask. 

This is why women need to start making spaces of their own. How can we move forward if we keep allowing ourselves to be duped? I believe women are stronger together—far stronger than we ever could be following behind prominent male figures online like Piker or Destiny. The leftist man will never truly understand the female experience, and more importantly, he doesn’t want to. So why wait for someone who doesn’t care? 

We can do it all on our own.