Why the Sassy Man Apocalypse Is a Good Thing
The sassy man apocalypse is taking over TikTok, and people are loving it. Prayag Mishra, the face of “Pookie Nation,” is at the front of it all.
The last few months on the internet were filled with alpha male podcasters and content creators following the emergence of Andrew Tate, perpetuating toxic masculinity. Amid this, Mishra’s TikToks are a breath of fresh air.
Although the term “Sassy Man Apocalypse” was coined by an X user last year, it gained popularity in late July and August this year when it became a trend on TikTok.
sassy man apocalypse is real, im a victim
— shantal (@shantalrubiov) November 18, 2023
Initially, the term was used to degrade men with more feminine expressions and traits, contrasting the traits masculine men “should” have. However, men like Mishra are reclaiming the term. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the TikTok star shared that other men have told him how his videos affected them. The messages expressed “how it’s actually helping them understand how important radical acceptance and self-expression actually are.”
Furthermore, he shared that he has been a sassy man his whole life. “And the idea is that a sassy man is someone confident. I don’t think it’s for everyone. I think it’s only for people who have tapped into self-expression and accept themselves first and foremost,” he stated.
Mishra explains the idea of being a sassy man. “To be sassy to me is to be comedic, to be funny, to talk back, to tell people how you really feel, to dive into a type of self-expression that isn’t bound by traditional masculine, macho norms.”
Mishra’s first viral TikTok was him dancing in his car while voicing, “It’s the way you act.” The video was all over TikTok, and Mishra shifted towards making more videos in his car. In addition, the Toronto-based creator states that he wants people to accept themselves the way they are. “We do not have to be bound by gender norms. We can be who we are, we can love each other, we can accept each other.”
Although Mishra’s videos may seem silly to some people, they are breaking down the expected gender norms. His videos are also helping men bear their emotions without any shame. You can watch his videos here.
