I Am Toxic! Call Me CHAD!

So, apparently, I’m a “toxic male.” At least, that’s what some friend tried to tell me the other day. His argument?

“Johnny, you do martial arts, you work out, you’re confident… don’t you think people who are weaker, less sure of themselves, or gay might feel inferior or uncomfortable around you? Aren’t you… toxic?”

Image: A person with long dark hair tied back is in the foreground, wearing a black T‑shirt. They are holding a large kitchen knife or chef’s knife in their right hand, raised up in front of them, blade pointing upward.

The setting appears to be a cluttered room. Behind the person, on the wall, there is a framed picture of a tiger. Nearby are colorful shelves or boxes with various items and figurines. On the right side of the image, partly on a couch or cushion, there is an orange cat curled up and resting. There are also plastic crates, bags, and other household items scattered around, giving the room a busy, lived‑in look.

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😂 First of all, I had to laugh. My answer was simple:

“Dude… if me being awesome makes someone feel uncomfortable without me even meaning to, the only thing I can say is… sorry, not sorry.”

Image: person with black T-shirt, wearing Smith & Wesson folding knife on a lanyard.

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Then I told my girl Desi. Ohhh… she exploded. 

“So by that logic… you existing and having working eyes makes me uncomfortable. You’re toxic too?”

💥 BOOM. Instantly exposed the absurdity.

Image: Glasses-Johnny, with short black hair, wearing sunglasses and a gray t-shirt, holds a folded cane outdoors with blurred greenery and orange netting behind him.

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Toxic Masculinity: Real or Meme?

This got me thinking about the larger cultural obsession with “toxic masculinity.” Everywhere you look, people are dissecting Hulk, He-Man, Superman, G.I. Joe—even calling for G.I. Jane. “Violent video games contribute to violence.” “Superheroes teach boys the wrong kind of aggression.”

But let’s be real: I grew up playing violent video games. Mortal Kombat? Street Fighter? Tekken? Never once did I feel the urge to shoot up a high school, or Shoruken someone just for fun. And most kids, by puberty, understand that Hulk smashing isn’t real life and that no amount of gym time will make them fly or turn green.

Image: The photo shows several action figures standing in a row on a surface. In the center is a large, brightly colored Thanos figure in blue and yellow armor with a big gold gauntlet reaching forward. On either side of him are slimmer, more detailed figures of other characters in darker outfits, including a female figure in a long dark maroon dress and hood to his left, and a gray‑suited, thin male figure to his right. At the far left and right edges are additional armored figures partly cut off by the frame.

Behind them is a vivid backdrop: a painted scene with a huge green dragon head on the left, glowing eyes and open mouth, and a sunset sky with red, orange, and blue tones over a landscape with trees, mountains, and what looks like a fairground or ferris wheel in the distance.

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Yet somehow, some social critics insist that being alpha, confident, or physically capable is inherently harmful. If simply existing as a capable human being can be labeled “toxic,” then by that logic, literally everyone who has any advantage—strength, talent, skills, working eyes, even just being tall—must be morally responsible for everyone else’s feelings. Spoiler: that’s ridiculous.

Image: Sparring-Johnny, in a black shirt and gloves, stands center, facing both opponents. Left man, blurred, wears black. Right man, in blue shirt, spars energetically. Johnny confidently handles both.

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The Meme That Is Reality

People love to weaponize labels like “toxic male” and “CHAD” to shame others, but the reality is: confidence, capability, and mastery are not inherently harmful. Toxicity only exists when someone actively manipulates, coerces, or harms others using their advantages.

Image: A young man is standing indoors against a plain, light‑colored wall, posing for the camera from about mid‑thigh upward. He has straight, dark hair that comes down to around his ears and is brushed back from his forehead. He is wearing sleek, wraparound dark sunglasses that cover his eyes, giving him a cool, athletic look. His expression is neutral to slightly serious, with his lips closed and face turned slightly to his left, so he’s looking off‑camera rather than straight ahead.

He is dressed in a bright red Adidas track jacket with a full front zipper. The jacket has white piping along the zipper and sleeves, and black panels on the shoulders and down the sides of the arms. On the left chest is the Adidas logo in white on a black background panel. On the right chest is a Team Canada martial arts logo: a stylized white fist and red maple leaf, with small text beneath it.

Around his neck hangs a large, round, gold‑colored medal on a wide, bright‑green ribbon. The ribbon has white text repeating along its length that reads “Richmond Olympic Oval Canada” and “National MS Games.” The medal itself is embossed with detailed figures and designs, catching the light so it stands out clearly against the red of the jacket.

His body posture is upright and confident, shoulders back, arms relaxed at his sides, and head slightly tilted up. The overall impression is of an accomplished athlete proudly displaying a major achievement.

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And let’s not forget the hilarity: GameBoy has survived decades of cultural critique, even though the name screams male default. Why? Because product names aren’t teaching life lessons. Meanwhile, He-Man, Hulk, and Superman—characters that clearly live in fantasy worlds—are constantly being dissected as morally dangerous. Internet logic, ladies and gentlemen.

Image: Johnny, seated on stage, wears a dark suit with a tie and sunglasses. He holds a microphone, appearing engaged. His hair is neatly styled.

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The Takeaway

So here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Perception ≠ Moral Responsibility – Feeling uncomfortable around someone else’s skill or confidence is not their fault.
2. Confidence ≠ Toxicity – Being strong, capable, and unapologetic is human, not harmful.
3. Some critiques are absurd – Violent video games, superheroes, alpha energy… all mostly harmless fantasy or self-improvement.
4. Desi logic is unbeatable – She will roast anyone who tries to weaponize feelings against reality.

Image: Johnny Tai, wearing sunglasses, stands with a microphone. The screen reads Visually Impaired Warrior - Martial Arts Legend 2014 Tiger Balm.

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So yes, I am a CHAD. Yes, I am strong, confident, and skilled. And yes… if anyone has a problem with that, the only thing I can say is: sorry you feel that way, but not sorry I live my life.

Stay strong. Stay unapologetic. And maybe keep a GameBoy handy—because some things in life are just untouchable. 😏

#ToxicMale #CHADLife #AlphaEnergy #NotSorry #ConfidenceIsKey #MartialArtsLife #DesiSavesTheDay #FunnyButTrue #PopCultureLogic #ViolentVideoGames #HeMan #Superman #GameBoyForever

For more of my thoughts, adventures, and tactile art, visit johnnytiger.com and explore my artwork at tigertactile.com.