As the saying goes, there are only a couple of guarantees in life. Death, taxes, and white men being problematic. However, I have discovered after minutes of feverous research that there are in fact some gems buried deep in the ground of misogyny and homophobia.
Harry Styles
This one is a no-brainer. TikTok’s (and my) biggest obsession, this 25-year-old Englishman is the very definition of pure, educated, and kind. Throughout the majority of the 2010s, Harry could be found performing benefit concerts, donating millions of dollars to charities and those in need, and raising awareness for marginalized groups.
Why He’s So Great
- In 2018, he donated $1.2 MILLION dollars to charities that support things such as migrants, gun control, workplace inequities, and sexual harassment.
- Set up his own charity called “Treat People With Kindness” where any proceeds from the “TPWK” merchandise line AND a portion of all ticket sales will be directly donated to local charities.
- Donated $42,000 dollars to the Times-Up movement
- Puts a gay-pride flag on his mic-stand at every single show during his tours to show his support.
- After being mobbed in the street, he noticed a fan had been caught in the stampede and he stopped, crouched down, and jeopardized his own safety to ensure that she was okay.
Timothée Chalamet
Fantastic bone structure, personality, and acting skills – honestly, what more could you want? An up-and-coming star, Timothée is known for his outgoing persona, hilarious interview moments, and his incredible talent. However, his appreciation and respect for everyone is what I believe truly sets him apart (and being the youngest Oscar nominee for “Best Actor” since 1939).
Why He’s So Great
- He donated the ENTIRETY of his salary from one of his films to Time’s Up, RAINN, and the L.G.B.T Center of New York. He quoted that “I am learning that a good role isn’t the only criteria for accepting a job—that has become much clearer to me in the past few months, having witnessed the birth of a powerful movement intent on ending injustice, inequality and, above all, silence,” he continued. Chalamet ultimately decided to donate his salary to various charities because he wants “to be worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with the brave artists who are fighting for all people to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”
- He’s a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, despite the fact that he identifies as straight
- Since starring in the critically acclaimed movie “Beautiful Boy” which focused on his characters struggle with drug and alcohol abuse, Chalamet has been an outspoken supporter for rehabilitation initiatives and narcotics education programs in the United States.
- He has spoken multiple times about his issues with mental health and identity as a result of his mixed heritage.
- He took his mom to the SAG Awards and the Oscars
Brendon Urie
Sure, Brendon might be better known as the lead singer of Panic! At the Disco, however, his philanthropy and general respect for human-kind is really what makes him a stand-out for me. He can hit killer high-notes, record awesome collaborations, play a countless number of instruments and do backflips off high ledges but in all honesty, I think that his lack of controversy and un-problematic attitude is equally as impressive.
Why He’s So Great
- He started his own charity called the “Highest Hopes Foundation” where $1 of every ticket sale for his latest tour will go to the foundation. To put that in perspective, that’s around $20,000 dollars nearly EVERY night.
- He tweeted that this foundation “is dedicated to all people + communities who are subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation + gender identity”
All in all, the world can be a dark, intimidating, disappointing place, no question about it. However, some light is able to break through the clouds in the form of these wonderful people. As a disclaimer, I am fully aware that there are SO many more white guys who are doing wonderful things for the world AKA Ryan Renolds and Chris Evans (our real-life superheroes). In the future, I honestly think that this is only going to increase as the racist and misogynistic boomers of Hollywood fade from the prevalence and the up-and-coming progressive and socially woke Millenials and Gen Z’s rise to take their place.
I absolutely love this idea, and I think you hit the nail right on the head with the people you chose. If I had written this blog, I would have 100% included Harry Styles and Timothee Chalamet, because first of all, I’m obsessed with unproblematic men who use their fame to help other people. And two, they seem like really genuine people who aren’t full of themselves. I think you should definitely do a part 2 or some type of continuation, because I would love to see if our ideas of “unproblematic white men” are aligned. Another thing I like about the men you chose if that they embrace their more “feminine” sides through fashion or music rather than neglecting it or being disgusted by it which is another reason why I think they are so open-minded and non-controversial. We stan open-minded men.