Louise Thompson’s fiancé Ryan Libbey fights back tears as he shares his ‘visceral’ reaction to Louis Theroux’s manosphere documentary

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Ryan Libbey, Louise Thompson’s fiancé, was visibly emotional while discussing Louis Theroux’s recent documentary about the ‘manosphere’.

This week on their podcast, ‘He Said, She Said,’ the duo discussed the Netflix series about content creators who spread harmful and prejudiced views.

The parents talked about their worries raising their four-year-old son, Leo, in today’s world, and expressed their hope that they’ve taught him to treat women with respect.

Okay, seriously, when Ryan, who’s 35, started talking, I almost lost it too! He was SO emotional, like on the verge of tears, and I completely got it. I felt that same rage watching everything unfold! And then Louise, 36, just… broke down. It was everything! I was right there with her, honestly. It just hit us both so hard.

Louise mentioned on the podcast that they started watching the ‘Louise Theroux Manosphere’ series, but Ryan had to stop because he found it too difficult to watch.

‘It gave you such a visceral reaction.’

Now that he’s a father to a son, Ryan feels he has a responsibility to challenge the negative influences he sees around him.

Louise wondered what would happen if he went to Leo’s room and found him watching a video by Andrew Tate that expressed hatred towards women.

Oh my god, he said he’d absolutely destroy his phone if she didn’t listen! Like, snap it in half! And then just leave – pack a bag and go camping until she finally got the message. Seriously, he was practically crying while saying it, he felt so intensely about everything. It was… everything. I can’t even breathe thinking about how much he cares!

I’m not sure why I’m feeling so overwhelmed, but if this were to actually happen, it would be the ultimate challenge for me as a father.

It’s disturbing to see these individuals, who aren’t newcomers, suddenly gaining so much attention and praise. They have massive platforms and consistently express harmful and disrespectful views towards women, which is deeply problematic.

It bothers me that we’re giving these people so much attention. I plan to teach my son, Leo, to be respectful, but also to recognize and call out their harmful ideas. It feels like our society often focuses on those who are the loudest, rather than those with substance.

Louise became emotional as she explained, ‘As a parent, you always believe bad things won’t happen to your kids, and that raising them well will ensure they become good people. But it’s heartbreaking to consider what happens if they don’t turn out that way.’

It’s important to hope they don’t start hanging out with kids at school who are watching that type of content.

Honestly, it just feels…wrong. I’ve been noticing lately that something’s missing, and it’s really bothering me – my ring finger feels so bare. It’s like a little detail, but it’s been on my mind a lot.

While we were on vacation, I started to think about getting an engagement ring. A man at a restaurant was looking at me, and it made me realize people might assume we were just a family if I wasn’t wearing one.

This follows Louise’s recent heartfelt post about her health journey, as she continues to heal from post-traumatic stress disorder.

She’s currently receiving therapy for PTSD, and recently achieved a significant milestone: returning to Antigua. She had to abruptly end a trip to the island two years ago for emergency surgery to remove her colon.

In 2018, she received a diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis. While on vacation in Antigua in April 2024, her condition worsened, and she required a stoma. She was experiencing significant blood loss, was unable to walk or care for her son, and had to return home on the next available flight.

Louise recently shared that she revisited the place where a difficult event happened, this time with her son, Leo, and Ryan. She explained it was a chance to create new, healthier memories in that location.

Louise shared beautiful photos of herself and her son by the water, along with a heartfelt message about how she was feeling.

She shared that Antigua is a truly wonderful place. She explained that she’d visited two years prior, but unfortunately had to return home unexpectedly due to a severe flare-up of fulminant ulcerative colitis, which required her colon to be removed.

It was wonderful to have a chance to revisit those memories and create healthier ones. As you may have heard on the podcast, I was a bit nervous beforehand…

Traveling with PTSD can be challenging. I often feel disconnected and panicked a couple of days into a trip, especially when my usual routines are disrupted. But surprisingly, I haven’t felt unwell at all in the nearly two weeks we’ve been away!

I’m feeling incredibly happy and like I’ve made a significant breakthrough in my recovery. I hope this encourages anyone else who is struggling right now. I’m just feeling really good – truly full of joy and well-being. And just to clarify, I am doing well and healthy.

I’m focusing on simple things: being active, enjoying the sun, eating well, positive thinking, and getting plenty of sleep. I’m also trying to limit screen time. My family is a bit old-school – we’re still using older iPhone 6s and actual paper maps when we travel!

Did you know that most of your serotonin – around 90 to 95% – is actually made in your gut? So it makes sense that when I was sick for so long, my mental health really suffered.

It impacts digestion, blood clotting, and many other vital bodily functions. This is a bit of a side note, but I’m interested in researching what happened to me concerning SSRIs, my gut health, digestion, bleeding issues, and the nervous system – they all seem connected. I’m still experiencing unusual bleeding.

I can go places, but it’s difficult to find accommodations that are suitable for a woman during her period. It’s really challenging. A few years ago, I worried I’d never be able to travel again, but here we are, traveling like any other family.

To be honest, I’ve packed a lot of things to help me feel safe and comfortable. I think it’s just being prepared. I brought a whole collection of lotions, supplements, balms, bath soaks, and teas – little comforts to make me feel more at home.

I’ve even started using a special cream for cracks and sores – who would have thought! I’m not sure if it’s the change in air pressure, but things have really improved since my last visit when I had a more serious issue. I think everything combined has made a difference, and I’m feeling better since 2024.

Two years after a life-saving operation required her to have a stoma bag fitted, Louise recently shared a heartfelt letter she wrote to it last month.

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term illness that causes inflammation and sores in the lining of the colon and rectum, often leading to bleeding.

A stoma is an opening created during surgery on the abdomen. It allows waste to be diverted into a collectable medical pouch outside the body.

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2026-04-15 11:36