The documentary is available to stream now on the BBC iPlayer09:34, 28 May 2026An unmissable documentary exploring the "global spread of the manosphere" is available to watch now.‌BBC Eye has taken a deep dive into the worldwide issue that is driven by online networks promoting harmful stereotypes, focusing on men's issues and masculinity.‌As the international debate over online safety continues, BBC Eye has examined the rise of two prominent manosphere figures as well as speaking to the women who are living with the real life consequence of their influence.‌Titled Manosphere Messiahs, the documentary special is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and the BBC World Service YouTube channel from today (Thursday 28 May).The BBC has teased: "It started in the West with influencers like Andrew Tate. Now the Manosphere has gone global - with copycats from Africa to Latin America attracting huge audiences and the cash to match.‌"In this investigation, reporter Jacqui Wakefield explores the booming industry in Kenya and Mexico, where social media algorithms are fuelling a growing gender divide. She meets the influencers, their devoted fans and speaks to some of the women paying the price."Following the investigation over the course of a year, reporter Jacqui Wakefield examines the rise of two of the most influential manosphere figures in Latin American and Africa – El Temach in Mexico and, Andrew Kibe in Kenya who have millions of followers.One woman, Fernanda, who is a medical professional in Mexico, told the BBC that her former partner – a dedicated follower of El Temach – subjected her to physical aggression, control, and threatened to kill her during their relationship.‌She said: "I think it affected me very deeply that this type of content was in our relationship. I think he was already a sexist who was hiding it."But El Temach influenced him to no longer feel bad about it. He also forced me to watch videos from El Temach – the only option I had to survive was to be there listening to those videos. And he told me, 'See? I'm not doing anything wrong. You have the wrong ideas. You're the one who's wrong.’"‌As part of the investigation, young male followers of Kibe and El Temach also shared access to their social media histories, allowing the BBC to map how algorithms may be directing users toward increasingly polarising content.Speaking about the harrowing finds, Jacqui Wakefield added: "Through meeting devoted fans in a nightclub in Kenya to a live event in Las Vegas - and even being told misogyny doesn’t exist by an influencer, I saw first-hand how what begins online can have real, global consequences for women."As a woman stepping into this space, I experienced how this content is fuelling misogynistic attitudes and driving the gender divide. But above all, it was important for me to ensure the stories of the women being impacted by this content were heard.Article continues below"Gaining access to young men’s social media accounts, allowed me to see how quickly their feeds were dominated by this type of content: what appears to begin as self-development advice rapidly leaps into harmful misogynistic quick fixes."Manosphere Messiahs can be streamed on BBC iPlayer