Danny Dyer shocked his son is fan of Andrew Tate

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Danny Dyer shared his shock that his nine-year-old son Arty is a fan of Andrew Tate as the EastEnders star examined toxic masculinity for his new Channel 4 documentary Danny Dyer: How To Be A Man.

Dyer explores many aspects men and masculinity in the documentary and said he feels there is a war against men in modern society.

He visited a men's refuge for men fleeing abusive relationships, interviewed a father whose son was murdered by his violent ex-partner, and spoke to Conservative MP for Mansfield in Nottinghamshire Ben Bradley who has proposed there be a minister for men. He also interviewed teenage boys about the rise of misogynistic social media influencers and met members of Brighton's Gay Men's Chorus.

One stand out moment from the show saw Dyer horrified to learn his son is a fan of Tate, who is a self-proclaimed misogynist. Tate will be extradited to UK after a British police force secured a European arrest warrant for allegations of rape and human trafficking. Never one to shy away from difficult conversations, Dyer told his son his true feelings about the influencer.

What, how and why?

He said: "Andrew Tate's loud-mouthed, anti-feminist rants have attracted him millions of followers worldwide. If there wasn't social media, there would be no Andrew Tate. I remember back in the day, I think Andrew Tate tried to be on Big Brother. So he was looking for fame, and that was his only avenue in."

He added: "Now he's the most Googled man on the planet apparently, there's disciples, there's other little youngsters going, 'I like what he's doing, I'm going to do the same thing'."

Dyer explained: "My little boy who’s nine, he's really smart, but he's got a phone now. So the other day his mum said to me, 'Oh, you know, he likes Andrew Tate', and I went, 'What?' So I went, 'You like Andrew Tate?' He went, 'Yeah, that is a top G'. And I went, 'Right, OK. But, you know he says really f**king stupid things?' And he went, 'Yeah, but he's still a top G'."

He added: "It is flowing through every school, even here. It's integrating into young boys' souls. And that's all they need, because it's a tough time to be a boy. At school, they're behind girls at every level. From early years to SATs, GCSEs, A-levels, university admissions and degrees.

"They've got to figure out sex and relationships in the post MeToo era, and that’s a minefield. And they've got toxic alpha influences promising them empowerment, making them feel good about themselves."

What else happened on How To Be A Man?

Also in the show, the Football Factor star admitted that he may have some traits of toxic masculinity himself. Dyer confessed: "Looking at myself have I got some toxic masculinity traits, yeah I probably have. But I don't feel that men are better than women, in any way shape or form."

Speaking to Tory politician Bradley about toxic masculinity he said: "You've got the few bad eggs, we're all being tarnished with that same brush, aren't we? There's so much anger and so much division. There's so much s**t going on."

Elsewhere in the show, Dyer met with his younger brother Tony to discuss growing up with their abusive father and how he felt when his dad left home. Visiting their childhood home he said: "What it reminds me of more than anything is when dad f**ked off, because this was the moment where all of a sudden there was no father figure in the house."

Tony said: "My memories of dad is just being horrible to mum and the arguments, so the day mum said he'd moved out was a day of joy to me."

Dyer confessed he was jealous of his brother, who had a female best friend and played with dolls as a child. He said: "He's a lovely fella, he's a good dad and husband and he would not hurt a fly, must be the least toxic bloke I know...

"Me and my brother who came out the same womb and had the same upbringing and we're so different. I've got so much respect for him. Never in a million years would I have had the b*****ks to play with dolls. Because it's not what boys do. So I look back on it and I think f**king good for you bruv."

Danny Dyer: How To Be A Man continues on Channel 4 at 10pm on Wednesday, 17 April.

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