Should I Delete That? - A real-life Magic Mike: Jake Brewer

Episode Date: April 21, 2024

This week on the podcast, Em and Alex are joined by a real-life Magic Mike... Jake Brewer! Jake has been a member of the MAGIC MIKE LIVE cast since it first premiered on the London stage. Jake shares his thoughts on body image, the pressures of his role and why he very nearly declined the Magic Mike audition.Purchase tickets here for our first ever ✨LIVE TOUR!!✨Follow us on Instagram @shouldideletethatEmail us at [e-mail] by Daisy GrantMusic by Alex Andrew Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I remember all of us before, the first time we'd ever done this in with an audience and we're just like waiting in darkness and our pants and all of us like looking at each other going, oh my God, what's about to happen? What is going on? This week on the podcast, Magic Mike's own Jake Brewer. We delve into the life of a male dancer at one of the most iconic famous shows, Magic Mike. Jake came to talk to us about the realities of performing in a show like this, engaging with the audience about self-confidence, body image, struggles and his career as a dancer. We hope you enjoy the episode and also hope to see you at Magic Mike show soon. Al has agreed to join Jake on stage. No, I haven't.

You're going to be so great. You're going to be a star. No, bye. Give people what they want you. Leave me alone. Bye. Hello. Hello. Thank you for coming in to talk to us. My pleasure.

Can you tell us about your job? Yes. It's crazy. It's crazy at times. It's great. It's a lot of fun. Is it? Yeah.

It is a lot of fun. Yeah. How did you get into it? It's fun. I was actually talking about it just now. The weird thing about it, like the fact of just how doors open and a path just kind of happens and whether it's like fate meant to be in the stars kind of thing.

I was finding, sounds wanky, but finding dance when I went to secondary school. But I took the last place. I was meant to be going to another secondary school. And I got really upset with my mum. I was like, oh, my friends are going to the other one, and I don't want to go there anymore. And then she rung up and got me the last spot. And that was when I then found dance. So it was just weird how that, that decision of when I was, what, in primary school, was that 11, year six?

That decision then took me on that track. And then next thing I know, I'm doing like GCSE dance, which is like not on the curriculum, but they're doing it at the school, like after school hours. And then I ended up going to the head teacher saying, I want to do a dance A level. And they went, cool, let's put it on the curriculum. And he went, oh, I was like, great, dance A level with other people. Yeah, creating opportunities for all the dancers everywhere. And the funny thing is, weird circle of life here, it was really for me.

It was just a hobby. Like, I just liked doing it. My parents supported me. But it was really watching Step Up. Was it? So, Channing Tatum in Step Up was when that was kind of like that trigger. That trigger spot for me thinking, oh, like, guys actually do this. And that looks great.

Not thinking of a career in that kind of sense. I'm still just enjoying it as a hobby, not really thinking much of it. So yeah, and it's just funny how full circle I've now been hired by the main guy himself. Yeah, that is funny, isn't it? Yeah. I sat next to him. And we did this, because right at the very beginning, when we opened the show, he, we did like this big photo of all of the car, like the cast that just opened the show,

and there's Channing Tatum there, and I sat next to him. I just, I looked at him while we were still waiting, I said, look, I'm, you've got to do it. I'm really sorry, but thank you. Like, honestly, I wouldn't be here without you. And he was so nice because he just went, no, thank you. Like, you're the reason why my dream is still going. And I was like, God, you're so nice. That is a really cool.

That is such a cool full circle moment If he was like The reason that this suddenly Like this career opened up for you And then he's like Responsible for that's really cool I wish I'd have told him just like on the cup I mean imagine how many people tell him that kind of thing

I was like oh maybe one I don't imagine that gets out of it Annoyingly I had the same feeling when I watched step up And I thought God that looks cool How did that go then? Well pretty well actually Transfire I'd transpire

Yeah, asking at like 11 p.m at a wedding. And then I'm like, well, it's my time. Nees me get water on the floor. Yeah, exactly. Every time it rains. I'm like, yeah. Such a good stuff. I'm going to watch that immediately when I go to move.

So, so you watch Step Up. Yeah. Realise that this is something that you could actually do, that men do. It's an actual career. What happened from there? Well, I just, I mean, weird, I just went to performing arts college. I went to a musical theatre college. I didn't get in the first time because I had zero ballet training.

They went, go away, get some ballet training under your belt. So I went to Lewisham College for a year and then went back, got in, did three years. And then it was just, it kind of was just like a course of just doing jobs and stuff. I was never really, I couldn't really sing. I mean, I can only sing in the shower or the car. Can't really sing. Can we all? The acoustics are just so good.

And it's, yeah, I never really got that far in the music. like musical theatre side of things so I mean I just doing like little gigs here and there and everything and I just got the the audition kind of come through for Magic and I went no absolutely not because of I get I never really saw the movies but then it was like the the idea of just being like this massive guy oiled up and stuff and I was like I don't I'm not that and I don't want to be that and then one of my mates who was actually giving in the audition as well, just convinced me to go and we both ended up getting it together.

Did you? That's amazing. Yeah. So if we weren't for him, I wouldn't to be in the show. When you were at school, I think Step Up probably did change the game a little bit in terms of like, Channing Tatum made it really cool for men to be really good dancers. But it feels like, particularly with us growing up, it felt like, I don't know, all the dancing that I think I saw growing up was women. Really? Maybe like, I think like the boy's music video, or they're like, yeah, basically, Britney Spears music videos maybe have men in. But otherwise, it kind of felt like something that girls did. Did you feel like, I don't know, different at school or like...

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you get a hard time for it? Yeah. Did you? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a shame. From boys or from girls? Yeah, I went to an old boy school.

Oh, so, from boys, okay. Oh, that is quite brave, dancing at all boys school. Yeah. Yeah. It wasn't, it was, I kind of got to a point where I just didn't care what they were saying. I just, there'd always be like the comments, do you know what I mean? But I didn't really. I didn't really care.

I didn't let it get to me too much. Yeah, yeah. But it was always there. Not one of the core kids and stuff like that. But I had my mate, so I had a great time. So, Magic Mike. Yes. When did you start doing it?

For the very beginning, 2018. Oh, wow. You've been doing it for one time then? What was it like when you first started? Did it like live up to what you thought it was going to be? I didn't really know, to be honest, because it was only until I booked the job that I then saw the movie.

And I remember watching it. I was in Sweden, visiting my uncle and auntie. And my parents were there. I think it was my brother, a couple of my cousins, and we were just sat there watching, imagine Mike, the first one.

And all of us were like, I mean, it was a great movie for them, but I was sitting there going, what, what am I actually getting myself into? I don't actually know from watching this movie what's going on. I was thinking, oh my God. So then getting into rehearsal and stuff,

It was just, for me, it was just like a regular dance job. Like, I mean, you learn choreography, you learn all these skills. There's like, obviously, there's so many different kind of elements to the show. It never really struck me as like, oh my God, what's going on? Like, it was, to me, it was just like a dance job. But then all of us got on. I think I actually knew quite a fair wedge of people before starting anyway. So we're all kind of just mates and whatever.

So it was just kind of, I know. It was weird, you're just dancing with your mates at the end of the day. But I remember the first show, that was, because there's a part in it, obviously, we're lap dancing. I remember all of us, the first time we'd ever done this with an audience, and we're just like waiting in darkness in our pants. And all of us, like, looking at each other going, oh, my God, what's about to happen? Like, what is going on?

And it was like, that was when a lot of us, we still talk about it now, like some of the original people, we still talk about it now, like how scared we actually were in that moment and then the lights come on you're like just going to perform mode but you're like you hear the music and you're like i know the assignment yeah yeah but yeah that was that was really that was for me the scariest the scariest thing yeah yeah because it is just so interactive well were you worried about that what the audience was going to be like we worried about that that dynamic not at the time it was more this like i'm in my pants right i'm literally just about I stand in front of someone in my pants, like that is quite vulnerable.

Yeah, it's very, it's right. It's not new if you can pay me in that. It's not that much of a shared experience. I'm just like strangers and I'm just stood in front of this, like even sometimes as a guy, I'm just stood in front of this guy in my pants, don't know who this person is. I'm like, well, you paid. You paid to come see me and this is me. Here I am.

Yeah. Can you, is it, was it, okay, is it awkward now doing it? Is it just like, it's work? Or was that first one, is it awkward to do? Was it awkward to do it the first time? No, it was, I mean, it was awkward because I'd never done it before. Mm-hmm. But over, I mean, over the years now, it's, it's kind of come to second nature.

You now know what to do when someone, when you can read someone who's necessarily not very kind of, they're quite reserved. So you come over to. What do you do with someone who's quite reserved? Yeah. It's just the politeness thing, rather than going like straight in. Yeah. You just, I mean, they can say no.

It's not the end of the world if they say no. You do get no. They're like, no, I'm okay. Because some people just come to see the show to just to spectate because it's a show at the end of the day. So people don't really come for the interaction side of things. But sometimes they'll kind of loosen up a little bit throughout the show. And then you realize, oh, they're actually kind of eased into it a little bit more.

So then, I don't know, you just kind of like, you ask them. You just like put your hands out. You just, it's just the polite kind of talking without talking sometimes. I find, I find it just like having your hands out and just, if they accept and kind of like give you their hands, then they're, okay, well, I know that you're okay, but I'm not going to go crazy. Like if someone, for me, it's like a guy sometimes. I'm just like, the whole crowd goes crazy because it's just this one guy in the room or in this section sort of thing and everyone can see it. And they get, it gets the biggest cheer. I like just standing in front of the guy

and just like putting my arms up and we're like, look, this is going to happen kind of thing and they're like, let's go. Kind of thing. So it's a straight guy, a straight guy. And it's just funny. Like you grab the hands, put on your butt and then everyone just goes, what?

And the guy's just like loving it going, yeah, man, let's go. So it is funny because I mean, he wouldn't necessarily pay to come like, oh yeah, I want a lap dance. Like, it's a straight guy kind of thing. But then it's how the show is. It's really good at setting it up for you to kind of

just feel more comfortable like it obviously starts off quite a hard hit in you're like what the hell's going on and then it kind of eases into actually like notice is like empowering women and stuff like that so it's quite interesting like I think like even the topic of consent within a show like this because

when we think of lap dancing traditionally you think of men going to like sort of strip clubs not performances you think of it more as kind of like that as kind of an industry a hobby for the men, I don't know

I guess it's an industry but like and there's a kind of like I mean there's a lot to unpack within that because it's not it's not about female empowerment really in that in the sort of traditional sense

and there is within it there's you know like empowered sex workers it's not to undermine that but the whole conversation is so different men versus women and like it's really interesting hearing that consent such a big element

of that and ensuring that women's comfort but I was also interested that you said it's kind of the show kind of leads on female empowerment and like how from your side like how do you perceive that and like how does what does that kind of like mean to you and to the show well it's it's a really huge part of what the show is about it's it's allowing women to have their kind of obviously the history of like how industries of like like you literally just said like it's the whole strip show kind of thing isn't exactly the most empowering thing yeah it's a huge part and I think it's it's come it's coming at a time obviously change is happening in the

world and it's like every like all the movements and stuff it's it's coming at the the right time it needs to come and it's it's really it's really point because the amount of people that come to the show and say I didn't expect that and I felt so empowered from that yeah which is just incredible so people leave like thinking it's one thing and then leaving like wow I didn't know I needed that yeah yeah so it's it's it there's a part in the show as well as Well, we slow dance with people. After this specific number, we come out to the audience, we had just slow dance with everyone out there,

as many we can get around kind of thing. Just like, we just start chatting to them. We just have a little slow dance, chatting to them, see how they are. And the amount of people that we've had over the years that have just said, thank you, I really needed this. Like, even just like us slow dancing them. They're like, I really need it. I'm having a really hard time.

And this is like making my day right now. And like they forget everything that's at the door. They just come in. they completely forget everything they're going through. So there's so many things that in the show that you don't really, even when as a performer we started, we had no idea what it was going to do. I mean, for me, I just, it was just a dance job.

I just, I didn't know there was going to be so much to allow people to unpack kind of thing. Yeah. So it's been, it's been incredible to have those conversations with people and see what it actually does to people. going back to that that audience participation when you first when you very first started were you concerned that there wasn't going to be the level of respect that it sounds like you know that there is now between the

the dancers and the audience were you worried about that and being because I guess a normal dance job there wouldn't be audience participation and you wouldn't be in your pants you know so were you concerned about that or surprised about that, that there was the level of respect? See, it's a really hard one because not that I expected it, nor that I was surprised, because you don't think anything of it, if that makes sense. So being in my pants in front of someone,

not really expecting what they're going to do or know what they're going to do, because if I was in the other way, I wouldn't do certain things, you know what I mean? So I didn't really know, but there are times where people just get a little bit too excited and they may do something and then they've had it before

when someone did like I can't remember what I think like hit me really hard or like slap my bum really hard and I look back at them thinking like come on that that's not okay like if it was the other way around obviously you can tell in my eyes

like I didn't say anything I wasn't like aggressive or anything like that I just looked at this person and it was more like she then knew in that moment she went I'm so sorry I don't know what I'm going across here I'm really sorry

I would die I would die But it's just those little things, you don't expect, like, you don't expect that to happen. But it does at times. But there's also, like, there's these things that happen. Like, they get told that you can't do that by other people. We don't get involved. But other people say, like, you can't do that.

And they go, yeah, you're right. Sorry, I don't know why. I did that kind of thing. It's just, it's very easy to get into, like, the, get lost in that kind of energy. Yeah, yeah. Because it's, like, you join yourself. It's also not a very common thing, I suppose, in terms of like, you kind of know the lines of consent in normal day-to-day activity.

You kind of know what's appropriate, what's acceptable. But it's kind of like all bets are off. And I think maybe as well, the dynamic is interesting that it's for really the first time in a lot of our lives as young women, if you go to a show, it's always the only thing we ever see, really, is like kind of women in the positions that you don't, Magic Mike did change the game. kind of like it switched the audience around completely so it does feel a bit like there's no everyone gets a bit carried away because they don't know because it's like a completely new situation but do you ever feel within that have you ever had moments where you've just felt like

i guess people have taken it too far where you're genuinely like i am uncomfortable yeah you just remove yourself yeah because some people will do something you're like oh come on like what was that for like what was that about yeah so you just like walk away from that situation because it's some people, it's not for me to like sit there and like give them a lecture, do you know what I mean? I'm in a show on performing. So it's not for me to even do that. But it's, it's sort of just like removing yourself and they can just get on with their life. I'm just, I'm just going to take myself away from the situation because it's, it's not okay, but I'm not going to give them a lesson. Do you know what I mean? It's someone that we've got people in there who are, it's their sort of jobs like the front of house. we're in that sort of moment we're as we're going around lap dancing people if anything

happens they're the ones there that like no you can't do that they step in for us okay um so yeah it's it's sort of safe environment yeah it's a safe environment yeah but it's never it's never like hard police like crack down you know what i mean it's not like that it's just making them realize look look have fun but you understand that that's not okay and they're like yeah you're right yeah i don't know why i did that you know that kind of reaction that's interesting that they do take it so well though yeah yeah yeah yeah because you can't see it getting swept up in the excitement of it and be like i don't really know my boundaries here sometimes you can just see what you can you can sort of i mean i've been there for five years now you can sort of see it come in

like you can sort of just see like pockets of groups yeah and you just think i like i've got to go to this place but i know that i've got to be more aware of what's going to happen, like where my positioning is to just not allow for this to happen. So then you sort of learn how to deal with it by not letting it even happen. Yeah. This is so interesting to hear you speak because it literally, you sound speaking there, as a woman, it's how women really exist in life because it's like, you know you're not going to go here because it's asking for this, you know you're not going to wear that because and you're asking for this.

And it is very interesting that this does feel like a dynamic and perhaps one of the only dynamics where you're in a really specific situation where you are having to think in a way that I think traditionally men don't really have to think. Yeah, no, literally. Yeah.

Yeah. And it's not great. It's interesting that the consent is kind of, because often you do hear men and it happens if I ever talk about anything like this online, you do get men in the comments being like well that happens the other way around and you do think well fucking barely

it does but like really not yeah not on the same scale but I suppose in this situation you kind of do experience it again rarely to an extent obviously not to the same sort of level but it's a it's like it's a very specific dynamic and I wonder like how you feel within yourself like the rest of the time

like are you able to just completely let's like turn it off yeah you're there just to put a show on they're enjoying themselves. So that's the crux of it, really. They're enjoying themselves. But it's also, yeah, it's just a really strange. I mean, I'm just stood there in my pants. How do you think about being in your pants?

Like, do you ever get like body conscious? Oh, no, there's been times, yeah. 100%, yeah. I mean, it's just like, right at the very beginning. This is literally burned into my memory. I stood in front of this woman. in my pants. Yeah.

And she just went, oh no, you're far too skinny for me. And I went, wow. That's so mean. I just, I moved on. I mean, fortunately, I was a okay mind to just like brush that aside. Yeah. I know I may not be like the biggest guys. You're not, I mean, but like, wow.

Wow. I was like, that's, that's rough. And that was like quite early on. And then, I mean, as a group of guys, I feel like, we'll like come back and then just like, oh my God, oh my God, listen to what just happened to me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you kind of like say these things, we talk about it, and then we just laugh it off or just like, oh, don't worry about it.

Or do you know what I mean? Like one of those kind of brush it off kind of chats. And it's, yeah, it's burnt in because I mean, it's just funny. Like you go to like a certain area and it's like where you're meant to go. And you're just like, you just go to a chair, like, seeing this woman enjoying herself. And then you just told that. And I was like, oh, fuck you. Great.

A whole movement. In the middle of a performance. well and you've got to carry on you're like oh okay well that was not nice but I mean completely forgot they just carried on and then I mean it's just like thinking about it there's only times like this where it just like pops back into my mind and like oh yeah yeah this actually happened I guess there's also in that environment and that context as well people feel like they can comment on your body because it's like it's there for yeah we're sort of like taking our tops off so it's kind of like you are there for how you look

which is obviously like it's great but it does draw that kind of opinion I guess like oh they'll just start comparing oh I don't like you I like you kind of thing yeah that's true as well compared yeah and how does that feel within the dark like within any of the amates but like how does that feel within I mean fine and we all know like we're all different body shapes and sizes and stuff like that is it's not the end of the world like we've obviously got that thing where like you want to be you want to be bigger and you want to be bigger and you want to to have like bigger arms or whatever like bigger chest or anything like that so you would look at someone who has that and you think oh i want i want that but also like you have to be okay with yourself like you can't go through life not being happy with yourself so and because we're mates it's very easy to just not take it that way that makes that make sense i really like that's just simplistic do you know you just took the words out of my mouth i love that i know i know because like it when they're like it's tough like that yeah because all just so supportive of me show. It is great. It's just, we're just a group of mates that go out. We take our tops off and it's just, I mean, you go to the beach, you take your top off and you don't think anything of it. It's just because you've got a spotlight. You've got like lights and whatever, make you look good. I must say, like, there are pictures I see and I go, that's, that looks Photoshop because it's a light that's helped me out there.

Yeah, yeah. We should get that in here. Yeah. But do you, but you must feel, I'm putting wordsy mouth, do you feel pressure to, to, you feel pressure to, you? look a certain way because, I mean, the idea behind Magic Mike, I guess, and is that, you know, you all are really ripped and chiseled and, you know, there's like barely any fat on your bodies,

you know, does that... That must be a lot of pressure. Ten shows a week. Is that what you do? Yeah. So, I mean, there, yeah, I guess there's, there are some pressures just because we know we have to look a certain way and that's why we've been, I guess, booked for it. Yeah.

So there is a level of pressure to maintain, but it's never to the point where I don't think it's unhealthy for us. Yeah. Because we, I mean, we're fortunate to have a job where it's, there's a lot of climbing, running around, doing, just going all over the place. So it does keep you fit. So there's an element of like, I'm actually keeping fit at work anyway. So it's not like the pressures of like, oh, I need to go to, I need to make sure I go to the gym this morning. Otherwise, you know what I mean? Do you think the pressure comes from yourselves or the sort of casting element of it?

No, I think it's, I think it's just ingrained. Well, actually, no, I'd say, no, I'll take that back. I don't think it's from ourselves. I think it's from ourselves because of other things in the world. Like, obviously, social medias and stuff is not great for us this day and age anywhere. And I feel sorry for kids growing up now because of how it's all going. So I think that does play in your mind a little bit. But, no, it's, you.

You kind of just have to, for me, it's about just being happy with yourself. Is there any, like, body diversity within the cast, is there like? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know, just naturally smaller, small framed guys. And we're all booked because we are different from each other. We just look and are different. And I guess to that woman's, like, horrible comment. Like, it's done probably on the basis that everybody,

that there isn't one type of attractiveness. 100% yeah and everybody does have different preferences I suppose in terms of if you're putting on a show yeah which is probably why she got she's literally like doing you like a menu I know no I don't like laughs oh I know it's it is it does feel like it's such a it's such an interesting like first I can't think of another situation where yeah men are in this position it just feels so it feels so unique it no it is it is but it's yeah I know it is such a very kind of specific and unique circumstance that kind of would draw out something like that but it's never that I don't think it's that deep or that negative they'll say it but I mean we might all say it on an off cuff comment kind of thing like it's just your preferences right we've all got preferences yeah but it's just obviously she felt comfortable enough to say it not realizing that there's someone on the receiving end of that like right in front of that person like you can say that while like they're on stage like they're on stage like like, oh no, I don't like him, you're like, but because it was right to my face, I was like, wow, that, that was bullse. Savage. Yeah, yeah. When I, when I, when I asked why, just explaining why asked what, if there was body diversity in the cast, I mean, like, is it the, does the show dictate that you have to look a certain way? Like, would you be allowed to maybe, you know, soften?

Stop and that's the word, yeah I mean it's hard because you're contracted so you're booked on there are elements of the contract to be like you are booked as you are so maintain you kind of thing Do you have to be? Yeah well yeah

it's six years Yeah I've got a lot more greys than I did before Yeah well isn't coming in the scrutiny Is that exactly it will that be something that you consider those you go Well I know it's just like I know it's just looks how it's really hard to kind of go

I mean delve into that I guess if you will if you sorry I keep press I'm just intrigued like if you were to like suddenly put on two stone say yeah would that go and notice

and you just be like you'd be able to carry on as normal or would it be well it depends where you put it on yeah I mean at the moment I'm actually trying to gain weight it's not because of that woman's comment no no no I mean that was years ago

like I just I just want to I just, I want to just get a little bit bigger than I am. That's all it is. But I mean, I'm the one who's going to feel that weight. Because that is me then carrying around extra weight. My poor knees at the moment and my poor lower back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're going to really be taking a brunt.

Yeah, of course, yeah. It's probably quite hard to put on weight when you're doing 10 shows a week as well. Also, I've got really fast metabolism, which is why I've stayed quite smaller than some. I mean, thank you, Dad, for my genetics. But also, it is pretty hard. for me to look a certain way as what I want to aspire to look not that I want to be like bodybuilder big

I just want to I just I've always wanted to be a bit bigger than I am I think it might be quite like toxic of myself yeah because I am happy but also there is a desire for me to like I want to look a certain like a different way maybe you touched on before about how you were like worried for kids now with social media

I wonder like do you think about not really to do with the show but just in your line of work I guess Like, because you will be a role model to young men. Like, do you think, what do you think about, like, kind of the trajectory of socials for kids at the moment, for young men, young boys? Because we talk a lot about it in the context of girls. But, like, it seems kind of terrifying.

Yeah, yeah, I think, I mean, I, even as a guy, I think it's, I'm looking at it even with, like, the, the girls' side of things, if that makes sense. I'm thinking more of the girls because of, how I'm seeing social media, not that because of for me, but what's on there. And you think, like, oh, the girls want to do this. I want to do that to make them look like this and the kind of thing. And I actually feel really sorry that it's going that way kind of thing.

Like, it's, it's like something being pushed out there that's, that is being branded, like, natural and attainable. And then people try and do it. And, you know, it's people trying to, like, follow what's kind of current kind of thing. And I do feel it's going to be It's going to be rough for kids growing up Because you're exposed to it so early on now I've got my Mrs 6 year old niece She's got a phone

She doesn't use it all the time But she's got a phone And at that age I mean I didn't have an iPhone God know how old was I I must have been like secondary school When I got an iPhone Like I had a silly little like

I had an aerial My first phone had an aerial That's how old that was it's just so accessible and I mean it's great but also it can it can do some damage and I just think it needs

it's scary it is really scary yeah I feel like for I feel like for men for like yeah with the standards like for boys like body standards as well

I feel like Love Island was really I don't know what you think of this as like a guy but I feel like Love Island was really pivotal in like in setting body standards for men and really, you know, like everyone who went on Love Island and a lot of the male contestants now have said that before they went on Love Island they did like steroids

and you know these like crazy crash diets and like I guess this is the exposing nature of it like you're always going to be filmed and like you wouldn't even know like for me it's I'm obviously being filmed at my place of at the show so I know like

that's the kind of my safe space is outside of the show where I know I'm like I don't have to worry about what I look like really but because of it being

so 24 seven for that show I guess it kind of creates that worry that oh my God like if I turn off at any point that picture or video is going to be online

forever so it's actually quite scary that leaks out into the general male population who are like oh that's how I need to look yeah yeah because you do I see I I I do a lot of running and I I make a lot of like fitness content and I think because of that I then get fed the fitness

algorithm yeah so I've ended up in some weird places particularly like I've found some of the transformations have been amazing but I've seen a lot more of like men in this in this space and like men either trying to lose a lot of weight well it and it feels easier like those transformation videos it's like you know men going from like sort of really big to like getting really ripped and it's like that's cool but what I also see which seems harder is like young boys and really quite young like at school showing like before they you know like I saw this guy oh what's not really mean in the comments but um and he was like 11 or 12 and he was on his way to he was he was he vlogged his day to school but then in the morning he got up at 5 so he could go to the gym

and he's like taking creatine before he could go to the before he'd go into the gym I know and then he was like 11 I don't know and you look young he didn't like didn't like didn't look very puberty and then did like technical terminology didn't have to do it and then he went and then he did his full workout and then he came back

and then he had its like protein shaking his porridge and then he got his school uniform and I was so shocked at the end when he put a school uniform and I was like oh no yeah that's crazy but I feel like it does feel just on what you were saying

before about like you wanting to be bigger like that feels almost harder for young boys who are growing up seeing this kind of like and we don't really talk about the beauty ideals for men but it is like jacked and so like if you're If you're thinner and you've struggled to put on weight and whatever,

it's just like, it must be really hard. Yeah. I guess like that's the kind of worry for young boys. Yeah. Oh, that poor God. I know. Because some of the comments were really nice. Some of the comments were like,

and all these gym bros being like, proud of you, buddy. Like this is where it starts. And the community was really nice and then some of them weren't very nice. Yeah, it's the trolling side of side of life that it's just insane. Do you get that with the show? Do you get it? Oh, oh, yeah.

Do you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it makes me laugh. Does it? Because of how, funny that you've been talking about this, there was a video of me that went on TikTok that it was just me taking off my shirt at this part of the show. Yeah, at work.

Just doing my job. Yeah, right. And it was just some of the comments, but then realizing that the comments are from guys. Well, yeah. That were the ones that were trolling. It was like, uh, they usually are. Like, needs bigger arms. I was just like, comment on like things that I already like have that.

negative thought about, not that it, like, overwhelms me. But you're aware of it. I'm aware, like, oh, yeah, I want to do it. But also, it's to my, like, I need, if I want that, I need to train it. But then I was, I just wasn't doing anything. Yeah. But it was just those comments coming in. I was like, wow. Christ, I just kept flicking through.

And I went, Jesus. Jesus. They're all like, oh, he's got no arms and got, he doesn't, he skips his carbs or something like that because I'm just naturally a thin of frame. I mean, it's just like the comments and like the jockey comment. It made me laugh because I was like, Actually, it is quite funny, but also it's damaging to, like, to the person. Yeah. I mean, I'm only saying it's funny because it's me in the video.

So I think I'm able to like laugh at it. You can take it. I mean, I can take it because, and I'm just like, God, well, God, like, what's sake? What the fun is going on? Does it make you not want to do the social side of it? Not really. Yeah. No, I mean, I don't mind.

No, I mean, they're just keyboard war, is it in the day. Yeah. I just, it's, fortunately, it's never been that bad kind of thing. I did have one years ago. It was like, look like you smell when you dress like a twat. But I was like, what the hell? Like, how old is? We'd actually call that compliment.

But we still like, even like every now and again we talk about it and now it work because it was just like those comments. Like, they can be funny if you take it in that way. But they're doing it for a specific reaction. So it's, yeah, it's, but it's good that. for this for this kid who's going through that to have those positive comments coming in that's that's that's that's the main main thing is yeah it's the support is why is it's so easy to go the wrong way in a comment isn't it it's just so easy

about this yeah we were talking about it's recently it's just so i don't know what it is we were trying to work out if it's like if it's like an innate psychological fault that like yeah i guess we're quite critical, aren't we? Yeah, and kind of like pack mentality. But then it feels quite transparent. Like, if men are coming for you, like they're seeing a video of you, like you're objectively, like, aspirational in terms of like what you're doing.

You've got girls there. You look good. Like, you're, you've won. So they're going to be triggered. Yeah, I guess. Like, it's quite like, it's easy. Like, like, he's going to attack your arms. Yeah, trying to like pick things out.

Yeah, exactly. It's like, oh, don't worry about the earlier. Yeah, exactly. It's like what he's basically saying is the rest of you is perfection. your arms. Like, this is the one thing I could find wrong. And I find that kind of a fun reframe to do it generally. When you get a very specific comment, I'm like, well, the rest of me is obviously fucking fired. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. No, it's just weird. It's just so hard to be nice for some people. I don't get it. Yeah. But it's, if we all strive to just be

kind, like, you imagine how great the world. If we're just like nice to people, like, it's not that hard to be nice. I know. And it, it goes a long way. Because, like, smiling, it's like, that whole thing about when you walk past something, you just smile at them and they smile back. Like, you don't know what that's done to them. You don't know what that's done to you kind of thing. You never know, but then it's, it's, no one ever thinks of that. I want to smile at Australia. I mean, we're in London, so it's a bit different.

Like, we're all very like, you get on the tube and you're like, mm, kind of thing. Head down. It's like, as soon as someone talks to me, I'm like, no, no, don't talk to me. I got my coat stuck in the chair this morning of the tube. Shame on you. It's so fucking embarrassing. It's certainly right for sitting in a priority seat, to be honest, because when I stood up with chair and just ate it and I'm not a priority I didn't deserve it

it was an empty fucking train when I got on and I tried to offer it to a pregnant woman and she ran away I saw her and I we would try to stand up and then she's gone so you know what I deserved it you deserve I deserved it okay fuck me actually you're right well look thank you so much for coming on thank you it's really cool to chat to you and we have to go see the show I know I haven't been we've got to come definitely You said two shows a day. You did you do in daytime? No, the oldest we do is a four o'clock show on Saturday and Sunday.

It's like we could pop in for a matinee. But our last show is a 9.30. Okay. Cool. Amazing. Okay. We're going to come. Yeah.

Can we actually? Yeah. She's just want a baby, but I feel like this is a good night out. Very excited. Let's do it. It's a great show. I mean, I'm biased. I think it's a great show.

I generally think it's a great show. It's such a feel good show. Does it feel kind? said like nice for kindness you know like if we were all kind does it feel is that it yeah because that's yeah you kind of want to emulate the girls bathroom everywhere you go you probably haven't been in one but in nighttime you go into a girl's bathroom yeah no i've heard yeah miss is it's quite a funny like the drunk girls when you're when you're at a nightclub and that's what i imagine the magic mic audience to be so like one big girl's bathroom it is very supportive like when

someone gets picked to go on stage the whole crowd like cheer and stuff so it's yeah it is very I don't want to go on stage, no, frankly. Don't pick me. Two questions. First one, can you pick her? Second one, when you go to pick girls, when you go to pick women, people to go on the stage, do you do that just, or can you tell the confident, like, would you ever pick someone that just is like, fuck off?

I would rather like, no, no, no, no. You have to kind of be aware. Like, again, what we've said earlier, like, you kind of learn how people are feeling. And so there's been times where I've got a decision completely wrong and the person was too drunk. Oh no. And it became such a problem because she was like all like couldn't control herself. I was like oh my God my job right right now is so hard.

Oh no. And like trying to control this person whilst like turning around doing this, doing this choreography and like she's having a great time. Yeah. It's just really hard to like work with on the stage. Yeah. And you're like okay fine. But there are times where if you leave it too late there's a part of the show where you get someone

fresh for part of the show. But it's like one of the last people to get picked. So there's like these process you get that person been picked for that that person be picked for that though you're thinking up but there'd have been a really good option because they're because they're having such a good time yeah and then you there's an element of like you're scrambling the main goal is that you're looking for someone in trousers because obviously you don't want to when the legs go up obviously you don't want to expose anything so you're looking at like you're looking at wear a skirt there's so many things

that you're looking at trousers are they having a good time um how like how are they in this space enjoying themselves you'd like run running around there's been times where we come back and you like we take it in turn sometimes to like find this person for this number and amount of times like each of us have come back and gone my god that was stressful I had four people say no to me and I'm like walking around like running like please anyone please like come and help me right now because I'm like really cutting this fine like help me like someone and you look at someone who's just like enjoy himself you say do you want to help short, you're in.

Do you watch Formula One? Yes. You're like Martin doing the grid walk. It's like, we're trying to find someone to talk to him. So I've imagined me except in his pants. Lewis, please. That Drive to Survive program has really got me on the, oh, I told you to have that,

I told you to watch that for so long before you do. I know, it's so good. It's so good. The drama and like the suspense and stuff, I know, oh my God. The life's just reality TV now. I love it. So good. Yeah, fantastic.

is my guilty pleasure. Is it? So our producer Daisy has a podcast with her fiancé, he called Doing the Maffes. And they talk about the episodes. They do deep dives on them afterwards, interviews and everything. So, yeah, if you did more of a fix.

Well, this has been great. Yeah, it was like fun. Yeah, you know, we'll see you at the show. You'll see you at the show. You have to go on the stage. He's going to need the help. I'm wearing a mini skirt, so no one can, no one can come in. We'll bring the shorts.

We'll bring some shorts for it. Don't worry. Keep going out. Go and do it. Like physio shorts. If I'm going up, you're going up. That's fine, but you absolutely know that's fine by me. This isn't about me. This is about you.

You deserve a little treat. Oh, yeah, you deserve a little treats. Yeah, you're going to come to the show. You'll have a great time. It's a lot of fun. Which should I do that meet up there? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Oh, my God. Yeah. That is such a cool idea. Bring Alex along, let's go. Yeah, yeah. He'll be up there with you. Yeah, he'll be dragging up. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much, Jake. Thanks. Should I delete that is part of the ACAS creator network.