This week on Re(e)ality Check, we are diving into Chanté Joseph’s recent British Vogue article that had everyone texting their group chats: Is having a boyfriend embarrassing now? With corners of the internet leaning into their ‘single era,’ celebrating independence, and treating their personal privacy like the ultimate glow-up, we needed to explore why being coupled has become so complicated.

We chat with Dr Kate Gilchrist, a feminist researcher, who had a very different take on the article. She shares her expertise, unpacking the cultural forces at play. She helps us understand how one article can attract so much attention in internet culture.

Plus, we speak to the very influencers who are part of the trend to get a fresh perspective on why they chose to react to the article.

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Here you can see how the influencers from this episode reacted to the trend: Jasmine’s Reel, Alexandra’s Reel, Ari’s Reel