'Toxic masculinity' is a much-discussed subject in 2019. In the wake of the #MeToo, #ImWithHer, and #TimesUp movements, there has been a very palpable shift in society regarding the treatment and attitudes toward women.

The past 18 months have seen more and more people take stock of what is going on and ask, "Is that really okay?". Very often the answer is "No". As a result, many men (and women) have been called out for their inappropriate actions toward females, and punished in a variety of ways - some were fired, others ghosted from celebrity status, and in many high-profile cases, legal action was taken.

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We're living in a time that is referred to as "the fourth wave of feminism", and although many people think "feminism" is a negative word, it literally just stands for gender equality - something I'm sure we can all agree with.

But despite the fact more and more women are speaking out against mistreatment, there has been what many believe to be a "war on men" ignite as a result of these movements. Many men feel targeted and shamed simply for being a man and for having a "masculine" personality, and, most recently, it is a commercial that has driven many men to feel attacked simply for being male.

Yes, shaving and personal care brand Gillette have come under fire for releasing a commercial that Piers Morgan deemed "anti-masculine", and stated that a similar campaign never would have been made about women.

The ad itself explores "toxic masculinity" found in day-to-day life, and even includes clips of news reports from the #MeToo movement.

Check out the video below, and see whether or not you think this was a necessary ad from Gillette:

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The advert ends with a play on the brand’s iconic 30-year tagline, “The best a man can get” by using the phrase, “The best men can be”.

As of this writing, the advert has been incredibly unpopular on the video-sharing site, receiving just 512K upvotes, compared to 957K downvotes - leading to one commenter to dub it the "YouTube Rewind 2018 of adverts".

A representative from the shaving brand said the advert was created to "start a positive debate on what it means to be a man.” Elena Valbonesi, Gillette and Venus’ shave care director for Europe, went on to tell The Drum:

“This release in the US is just another step, it’s a bolder step because we want to make a statement. When we look at the younger generations they ask more of brands than just selling them a product… they appreciate Gillette meaning something to them. That’s exactly what we wanted to do and keep doing in the future.”

However, this has led to many people on Twitter - FOR MANY REASONS - letting their opinions about the controversial ad be heard.

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Firstly, there were those calling out the brand for being hypocritical, due to the fact Gillette was criticized for just a few years ago for sexism during the "pink tax" debate:

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And yes, you can certainly see their point. How can Gillette inform anybody of the correct way to treat anybody else when they are targetting the same product at women and charging them more money.

Piers Morgan wants us all to Boycott Gillette:

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Secondly, there were those who agreed with Piers Morgan that the advert was an "attack on men", and have vowed to boycott the brand from now on:

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Seriously, people were throwing away their Gillette products out of rage for this commercial:

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That's right, people are literally throwing away Gillette products they've already bought (I'm not sure how that sticks it to Gillette) because they were so offended by the ad - many arguing that it encourages "toxic feminism" and "emasculates men".

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William Galloway on Twitter raised the point that the suicide rate in males is so high at the moment, and that campaigns like Gillette's only add fuel to that fire, with many other commenters agreeing that Gillette is painting all men with the same brush.

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But is this advertisement really an attack on men? Or is it just such a change from the regular, "Men are great! Shave with FIVE POWER BLADES because you're awesome!!" commercial that men are used to?

The following tweets argue that if you're against the message that men need to encourage the next generation of males to be "the best a man can be", then they are part of the problem. Many people also agreed that many of those against the advert are being over-sensitive:

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As a man (with a Gillette Fusion 5 Proglide razor, no doubt), I don't really mind the message of the advert - it shows bullies and sexual harassment in a negative light, and what's wrong with that?

But what confuses me the most with this advert is the fact it does nothing in the way to advertise razors to me. I don't watch it and feel the need to go out and buy their products, I watch it and, as a male, think to myself, "Jeez, are men really that bad that we need an advert to remind us to teach our children not to sexually harass women?".

But once again the funniest thing about all of this is the sheer number of commenters attacking "SJW", "soyboys", and "snowflakes", when they are the ones SO annoyed at a commercial, to the point where they are literally throwing their already-paid-for products in the trash and calling for a boycott. The irony is incredible.

Last January, Gillette released an ad criticizing 'toxic masculinity' in the wake of the #MeToo movement. The video depicts men at their worst - bullying, catcalling, groping, fighting, mansplaining - while a long line of dudes grilling meat chant "Boys will be boys!" Then sobering news reports play of famous figures getting busted for sexual misconduct, which inspire men to be better and police each other's actions.

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The ad sparked a backlash from people who accused the company of "radicalized feminism," "absurd virtue signaling PC guff," and catering to "soyboys" with "no testosterone left." Furious about the company's supposed "war on men," some dudes even threw their razors away. Meanwhile, others praised Gillette for its "pro-humanity" message, stating, "If an ad about treating women with respect makes you angry, you are definitely part of the problem."

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Last week, Gillette Venus tweeted an ad that features 34-year-old plus-size model Anna O'Brien wearing a bikini at the beach. "Go out there and slay the day ?? ? Glitter + Lazers," the company wrote in the caption.

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In a subsequent tweet, Gillette said the ad is meant to promote inclusion and body diversity: "Venus is committed to representing beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, and skin types because ALL types of beautiful skin deserve to be shown. We love Anna because she lives out loud and loves her skin no matter how the 'rules' say she should display it."

However, similar to the 'Toxic Masculinity' commercial, the Venus ad sparked a heated debate.

Some people had mean-spirited jokes

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Some people claimed the ad glamorizes obesity, an unhealthy lifestyle

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Some people accused the critics of cruelty and presumption

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This guy insisted he's arguing in good faith, based on personal experience

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Some questioned Gillette's intentions

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These two argued over whether or not the plus-size model is healthy

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These two argued about whether or not weight is an indicator of health

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And these two argued over how the ad will affect children

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Well, one thing's for sure - Gillette's got people talking.

Earlier this week, you may have heard about the outrage that occurred in response to Gillette's commercial about toxic masculinity. Razor users flipped out, flushed their blades, and proclaimed that they wanted nothing more to do with the company (which sort of proved their point, in a way).

But if you thought that was bad, just wait until you see the mess that is PETA's advert:

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In order to make a statement on "traditional" masculinity, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals decided to make a 67-second commercial showing a bunch of guys hip-thrusting while kitted out with phallic fruits and vegetables. The message of this bizarre stunt? "The secret to male sexual stamina is veggies."

In a linked article, the organisation stated that "Men who eat steak, hotdogs, and hamburgers, thinking that it makes them 'real men,' are eating themselves to an early grave."

They continued: "As the APA points out, men in general eat fewer fruits and vegetables than women do. American men also consume 57 per cent more meat than women do. Yet it’s no secret that meat consumption has been linked to an increased risk of suffering from numerous health problems, including heart disease, obesity, cancer, strokes, and diabetes. Men have a higher risk for every one of these. Did we mention the link between eating meat and erectile dysfunction? So much for proving your 'manhood.'"

Predictably, though, a lot of people weren't buying it.

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Many people were unimpressed by the obtuse sexualisation of vegetables, while others were just baffled by how ridiculous the whole thing was.

"@peta This is why we mock you," said one person.

"This is idiotic," said another. "Stop tying Vegan to Masculinity or other complex topics. PETA’s toxic narratives is killing the planet more than anything else. And I don’t eat meat or seafood - Vegetarian..."

Ultimately, the whole message was quite confusing. PETA wants to put a stop to the "traditional" masculinity that encourages eating meat, but chooses to do so by portraying a bunch of dudes swinging their genitalia around in an over-sexualised way - something that is probably considered by many to be a huge part of the very problem they're trying to discourage.

The meaning behind the advert is important: meat-eating is linked to a huge number of illnesses and conditions that disproportionately affect men more than women; therefore, if men ate less meat, they will lower their chances of being impacted by these problems. Somehow, though, showing a tennis player jumping around with a carrot dangling between his legs doesn't really get that point across.

So, fellas, if you want to get a bit healthier, maybe consider cutting down on meat. Oh, and for the sake of your sanity, maybe avoid the weird propaganda that PETA often puts out. Sincerely, a vegan who thinks this commercial is utterly ridiculous.

Ever since the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke towards the end of last year, Hollywood has been doing its best to reshape its image. The Time's Up movement has seen hundreds of celebrities voice their support for gender equality both in and out of the film industry, and the #MeToo campaign saw hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of people worldwide sharing their experiences with sexual assault or harassment.

However, in light of this, several prominent Hollywood figures have found themselves under fire for their own inappropriate or aggressive behaviour.

Kevin Spacey was infamously outed as an alleged sexual predator, and the likes of Ed Westwick and James Franco were forced to face up to similar allegations. Most recently, Morgan Freeman has also come under fire for supposedly behaving in a lewd way on several occasions - and yet he still has many people in his corner defending him.

While it may seem sudden, though, Hollywood has had suspicions of abuse within its ranks for a long time. Just take a look at Woody Allen: people have been accusing him of assault for more than 25 years.

Despite the criminal allegations levelled against him, though, Allen seems to believe that he is a "poster boy" of good behaviour in the film industry.

In an interview with Argentinian news program Periodismo Para Todos, which came out on Monday, he is reported to have said:

"I’m a big advocate of the #MeToo movement. I feel when they find people who harass innocent women and men, it’s a good thing that they’re exposing them.

"But you know, I should be the poster boy for the #MeToo movement. Because I have worked in movies for 50 years. I’ve worked with hundreds of actresses and not a single one — big ones, famous ones, ones starting out — have ever ever suggested any kind of impropriety at all. I’ve always had a wonderful record with them."

He then went on to allude to the negative criticisms he has faced over his career.

"I think in any situation where anyone is accused of something unjustly, this is a sad thing," he said. "I think everybody would agree with that… Everyone wants justice to be done. If there is something like the #MeToo movement now, you root for them, you want them to bring to justice these terrible harassers, these people who do all these terrible things. And I think that’s a good thing."

He continued:

"What bothers me is that I get linked in with them. People who have been accused by 20 women, 50 women, 100 women of abuse and abuse and abuse– and I, who was only accused by one woman in a child custody case which was looked at and proven to be untrue, I get lumped in with these people."

This prompted the interviewer to ask him if there was any truth to the case against him, in which he was famously accused by his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, of sexual abuse. She was just seven years old at the time.

"Of course not, I mean this is just so crazy," Allen said. "This is something that has been thoroughly looked at 25 years ago by all the authorities and everybody came to the conclusion that it was untrue. And that was the end and I’ve gone on with my life. For it to come back now, it’s a terrible thing to accuse a person of. I’m a man with a family and my own children. So, of course, it’s upsetting."

Last month, Allen's son, Moses Farrow, defended his father in a blog post. He described his sister's story as "a discredited allegation", and accused his mother - Mia Farrow - of "brainwashing" her child.

Moses has made similar statements before and, when he published the same sentiments in a book in 2017, Mia said:  "Moses has cut off his entire family including his ex-wife, who was pregnant when he left. It’s heartbreaking and bewildering that he would make this up, perhaps to please Woody. We all miss and love him very much."

Dylan Farrow continues to maintain that her account is true.

The gender roles that have been prescribed to us by society have formed an integral part of our identities for far too long. Many people still cling to traditional conceptions of what it means to be a man or a woman; believing, at the most fundamental, that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Moreover, many people still believe that women should reside in the domestic sphere, whereas men are responsible for going out, working, and providing for their family. One artist, however, decided to turn expose just how sexist some gender roles are. 31-year-old visual artist and photographer, Eli Rezkallah recently created a photo series titled, In a Parallel Universe, which reimagined sexist advertisements from the 20th century with the gender roles reversed. And the results are seriously eye-opening...

1.  So much for "the angel in the house"

2. Burning dinner doesn't seem so serious now, does it? 

3. Yes, "show him"

4. Doesn't seem so innocuous now, right?

5. This certainly makes an impact 

6. This has a rather different message now

7. Who knew ketchup could be so political? 

Speaking about what inspired the project, Rezkallah said, "Last Thanksgiving, I was visiting my family in New Jersey and I overheard my uncles talk about how women are better off cooking, taking care of the kitchen, and fulfilling “their womanly duties.” Although I know that not all men like my uncles think that way I was surprised to learn that some still do". "These ads were made in the '50s and it felt at that moment that their essence is still present in the folds of today's modern social fabric". In other news, This is what the original "Wonder Woman", Lynda Carter, looks like now.