Jesse Watters' new rule for bros: Don't say happy birthday

Jesse Watters, a Fox News personality known for his bold and often controversial opinions, has once again ignited heated debate—this time over a surprising matter: whether men should wish each other a happy birthday. The host, who previously made headlines by claiming that men should avoid licking ice cream in public, returned on Wednesday with yet another divisive statement. His new stance emerged on President Joe Biden's 82nd birthday.

The outspoken commentator clarified that he would not be extending the standard birthday pleasantries. Watters declared, "Primetime would wish him a happy birthday, but we have rules here: Men don't wish men happy birthdays." This wasn't the first time Watters shared this perspective. On an earlier episode of his show, aired on September 12, he refused to acknowledge his colleague Greg Gutfeld's birthday, saying, "I'm not wishing him a happy birthday. That would not be manly."

Despite his public insistence on avoiding birthday greetings between men, there is some irony in Watters' position. Evidence suggests he hasn't always adhered to his own rule. In a tweet from November 2017, Watters seemed to contradict himself by writing, "Everyone keeps wishing me a happy birthday...but it's not my birthday. It's @DavidSchwimmer ... happy bday ... you look good bro." The post was directed to an account that appeared to belong to David Schwimmer, the popular actor from the TV show Friends.

Unsurprisingly, Watters' remarks did not sit well with viewers, and many took to social media to voice their thoughts. Some found his comments perplexing, while others were harshly critical. One viewer, identified as @ElizabethShaula, said bluntly: "He's so pathetically stupid." Another viewer, @VashH3, seemed genuinely confused, asking, "What ? ? ? How many times was Watters dropped on his head at birth?" Meanwhile, @mrhenderson95 summarized his feelings with a simple phrase: "Peak stupidity!"

The backlash continued, with many questioning Watters' peculiar perspective on what makes a man. Social media user @cdacko said pointedly, "There is something wrong with this guy." Another commenter, using the handle @ergoking, didn't hold back in his criticism: "Jesse Watters sounds like a deeply self-loathing man who has unresolved sexuality issues."

The criticisms extended to a larger point about the concept of masculinity and the supposed restrictions it should carry. @ergoking elaborated, "Real men have no qualms about normal human interactions, such as wishing another person a Happy Birthday." This sentiment seemed to reflect the frustration many viewers had with Watters' attempt to rigidly define masculinity by such an arbitrary rule.

In his latest segment, Watters provided no clarification on why exactly a simple birthday wish between men would be considered unmanly, leaving many baffled by his logic. Given his influence on a major news network, his statements raised questions among audiences about the kind of masculinity being promoted. For many, the topic seemed trivial, yet the tone Watters used suggested he saw it as an important boundary for men—something that simply shouldn't be crossed.

Critics pointed out that Watters' position, while baffling to many, is a reflection of outdated stereotypes that still have a foothold in certain corners of public discourse. The idea that masculinity should be strictly tied to specific behaviors, and that any divergence from this somehow diminishes one's manhood, was something Watters evidently held to. However, for those opposing his viewpoint, these kinds of assertions only seem to highlight the more toxic aspects of enforcing a rigid gender identity.

"Why shouldn't men wish other men a happy birthday?" questioned many viewers online, challenging Watters' assumptions and suggesting that his views were out of step with the times. In a world that increasingly embraces genuine expression and emotional honesty, Watters' stance on such an innocuous gesture felt to many like a throwback to an era of restrictive social codes—an era where men were taught to keep emotional connections at arm's length, lest they appear vulnerable.

The discussion sparked by Watters also brought to light the broader implications of such opinions in the media. With so many prominent figures in the public eye, the messages they convey, even about seemingly trivial topics, can have an impact on societal attitudes. For Watters to insist on keeping birthday wishes off-limits between men seems a small matter on the surface, but it contributes to a larger narrative about what men should or should not do, a narrative that, for many, feels increasingly outdated.

Despite Watters' insistence, the public response showed that many people reject this overly narrow view of masculinity. To them, human interactions like celebrating someone's birthday are moments of connection, not something to be scrutinized for perceived weaknesses. As these critiques of Watters' comments illustrate, the broader cultural movement leans towards encouraging more open, sincere, and compassionate expressions of friendship and support, regardless of gender