Astead Herndon

I remember that one.

Yeah, I wanted to ask about the reaction.

Why do you think it struck a nerve in such a way?

And I want to specifically ask about, like, was there any pushback that you got that you felt was legitimate?

You write in a piece that you did a call out on your Instagram, and the responses from followers said that there was, quote, an overwhelming sense from single and partnered women that regardless of the relationship, being with a man was almost a guilty thing to do.

So are we talking here just about, like, shame of heterosexuality partnerships?

Like, it seems like straightness is at the core of this.

I can tell you what I thought when I read the piece.

I thought...

Well, one, are you embarrassing?

It's a question you have to ask yourself, you know?

Like, as a boyfriend, like, you know, are you one that can be proud of, right?

As a question, I feel like it inspires.

But there's also something that I think I want to bring up in this convo, you know?

Because it does sometimes feel as if when we talk about dating on the internet, like, it's all, you know, like...

I don't want to defend the boys, but I'm saying, like, it does sometimes feel like, you know, in straight relationships, we talk about women as perfect daters and perfect friends, and it's only a question of, like, male lack.

And it probably is.

But, you know, is it always?

And so I feel like that's probably another tone that I think comes up.

But it's funny because I read it, you know, when I asked my girlfriend about it, she said just pretty, I was like, well, do you think it's true?