Terry Crews is not mincing words when it comes to toxic masculinity.
The actor, known for his comedic roles in shows like "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Everybody Hates Chris," was a part of a recent discussion during Tina Brown’s ninth annual Women in the World Summit on Saturday, April 14.
“Masculinity can be a cult,” Crews said. “And when I say ‘cult,’ it’s no different than David Koresh. It’s no different than Jim Jones.”
Living in a male-dominated society can negatively influence the way men look at the women in their lives.
“This is what you have to understand ― there is a humanity issue here,” he continued. “[Women are] like, ‘Why don’t you hear me? Why don’t you see my feelings?’ And [men are] like, ‘But you’re not all the way human. You’re here for me, you’re here for my deal.’ It’s real.”
Recently, Crews revealed in an interview with Dr. Phil his battles with porn addiction and how he looked at women only as objects of pleasure.
“I am guilty,” Crews said. “I believed, simply because I was a man, that I was more valuable than my wife and the other women in my life.”
He told the enthusiastic crowd that prior to his acting career, he would frequent strip clubs when he was a football player after a long day of practice or a game. Every time a woman would speak about her life, his teammates would tell her to stop because he claims the women were being humanized before their eyes.
“Once she starts talking about that she has kids or she starts talking about anything in her life, it’s like, ‘Stop, stop, stop.’ Because [she’s] becoming a human before my eyes,” he said. “I don’t want you to be a human. I want you to be an object. I want you to be something pretty to look at. But as you talk, you’re making things too real for me.”
Crews has become an outspoken activist in recent years and become a pivotal voice in the #MeToo movement after speaking about his experiences with sexual harassment.
