Actor Jonah Hill is facing mixed public reactions after his ex-girlfriend Sarah Brady shared text messages between her and Hill alleging emotional abuse and manipulation. Brady, who is a law student and a professional surfer and surf instructor, regularly posts action shots of herself in a swimsuit on the job. A series of aggressive comments from Hill regarding Brady’s profession and social media presence ensued over text.
The actor made a lengthy list of demands, which included “no surfing with men” and “no friendships with unstable women.” He described these demands as his “boundaries” in their relationship. Now, onlookers, abuse survivors, and therapists alike are calling Hill out for weaponizing “therapy speak.”
The reason the Jonah Hill texts resonate so much with women is because every woman alive has had multiple men confidently tell her what to do, how to dress, how to speak and even what she may or may not eat.
And they don’t resonate with most men because men rarely exhibit this… pic.twitter.com/ik6VTLXH7l
— MFW (@MFWitches) July 9, 2023
Hill recently produced a documentary with Netflix about his own therapist, and his role in his healing journey. “Stutz” was released in 2022, and was widely praised among mental health professionals at the time of its release. Many now point to the absurd irony of Hill’s perceived insecurity and alleged weaponization of therapy tactics despite his role in the documentary.
People are surprised by this Jonah Hill news? Anyone in the industry could tell you he’s a terrorist. This is precisely why I refused to work on Stutz. He made that doc to craft a narrative he had been working to change, but we all knew it to be patently false. Stay woke, kids.
— Alex (@Alexlikesittoo) July 8, 2023
Genuinely chilling Jonah Hill would make something like STUTZ to convince people he is some enlightened, altruistic beacon of mental wellness and be doing this behind closed doors. Chilling, but not surprising in the slightest. Fuck him. https://t.co/GJJx2WoHKs
— Sydney???? (@CountVolpe) July 8, 2023
Some are also recognizing that his matching suits to a premiere last year with Brady was likely actually an attempt at controlling her appearance.
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it’s not funny but that’s why jonah hill had her dressed like him? ???? pic.twitter.com/BmheuStsQp
— the scarlet witch (@samythesaint) July 8, 2023
Brady further alleged that Hill demanded her to take down several social media posts.
Men shouldn’t police their girlfriends’ outfits PERIOD but on top of that, these are the kinds of pictures Jonah Hill said were too “sexy.” This is just a woman existing in a swimsuit (a modest one piece and hat nonetheless) and in weather-appropriate clothing. pic.twitter.com/CS8EPg19oG
— Kat Tenbarge (@kattenbarge) July 10, 2023
Social Media Response
Licensed therapist Jeff Guenther has amassed a sizable TikTok following (@therapyjeff). He reaches his audience through humorous graphic tees and pop culture references in relation to daily wisdom about self improvement. Given the nature of his platform, Guenther addressed the newly released Jonah Hill texts. He echoed the opinions of several onlookers of the situation, and clarified the true meaning of the word “boundaries” and why Hill misused it.
@therapyjeff Jonah Hill was using therapy speak to control his girlfriend. #jonahhill #therapyspeak #therapy #mentalhealth #manipulation
Despite the wealth of professional opinions on the situation, several average internet users decided to drop their own two cents on the conversation. Several straight men are supporting Hill and found his behavior reasonable–notably, NBA star Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. Hill was pictured wearing a jersey representing Booker’s team, and the basketball player coincidentally reposted the image to his Instagram story in an apparent show of support. Booker previously dated model Kendall Jenner.
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Devin Booker. Insecure closeted Andrew Tate fan?
— Washed Gamer (@MitchellRossman) July 9, 2023
Elsewhere, countless women share stories of similar emotional manipulation and alleged abuse that they experienced at the hands of their partners. Some feel that the situation is an example of generational misogyny.
This is one a man replying to one of the Jonah Hill tweets. What's going on here by claiming "what is exclusive to your man" is that straight men fundamentally believe that their partner's body *is the man's property.*
Chattel, even now. pic.twitter.com/jHNXdjvItj
— Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) July 9, 2023
One Twitter user pointed out a quote from longtime “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah’s mother. Some immediately felt that Hill should have simply dated someone that he felt aligned with instead of attempting to change Brady, but the quote points to toxic men wanting to break powerful women down.
Seeing the KeKe Palmer BD & Jonah Hill BS, these tiny men pursued these women FOR their freedom: Trevor Noah's mother said it best pic.twitter.com/nCpKYgLloM
— Sue Jordan???? (@ItsCherrySue) July 9, 2023
Elsewhere, some draw comparisons to a recent incident in which actress KeKe Palmer was publicly criticized by her boyfriend Darius Jackson over an outfit she wore to an Usher concert.
???? New piece alert! ????
Keke Palmer’s boyfriend is acting up, Jonah Hill is a lame, and at least one guy you know has turned into an absolute weirdo.
What’s going on with men???
I spent a few months investigating…https://t.co/SkNNFtpKUv
— Christine Emba (@ChristineEmba) July 10, 2023
Meanwhile, Hill is yet to address the allegations. Since August 2022, he has been in a relationship with fashion entrepreneur Olivia Millar. Millar recently gave birth to the couple’s first child.
