Why do only male celebrities go viral for being supportive partners?

A viral moment during Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance has highlighted a very uncomfortable truth.

Olivia Wilde and ASAP Rocky. Source: TikTok

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Rihanna’s partner A$AP Rocky is going viral for sweetly filming her Super Bowl performance but the cuteness reveals an uncomfortable truth.

Rocky’s viral moment is just further proof that famous men get applauded for being supportive partners but famous women get mocked for doing the same thing.

Don’t believe me? Well, the best comparison I can give is Olivia Wilde.

Wilde was ruthlessly trolled when she was in a relationship with Harry Styles and was constantly spotted supporting him at his concerts. She was there dancing, clapping, smiling and she wasn’t labelled as a sweet girlfriend.

Olivia Wilde supporting Harry. Source: TikTok

Rocky being a proud partner. Source: TikTok

Meanwhile Rocky’s excitement for his girlfriend’s show wasn’t seen as needy but rather cute. You can’t blame the man for getting excited. Rihanna was in an oversized red jumpsuit singing her biggest hits and looking like a Queen while debuting her new baby bump at the bloody Super Bowl - but you can blame everyone that was mean to Wilde for doing the same thing.

Asap Rocky having the biggest smile being proud of Rihanna my HEART ❤️🎤 #SuperBowlpic.twitter.com/pXnTZxuVdn

— chérie ✨✌🏻🇷🇸 (@MissMaCherie) February 13, 2023

The internet lost their minds that Rocky was being such a supportive partner. Someone on Twitter commented, “My heart!” Another commented, “So cute!” with a crying emoji face.

Ironically, even Olivia Wilde couldn’t hold back and posted a photo of Rocky filming the performance with the caption: “If I thought he was hot before, this really put me over the edge.”

She later had to clarify she wasn’t coming for Rihanna’s man she just found his supportive actions attractive.

I hate to ruin this sweet moment, but why do we always applaud men for doing the bare minimum? Wouldn’t any normal partner support their partner during one of the most significant performances of their career?

Olivia Wilde supporting Harry. Source: TikTok

Rocky and Rihanna are an adorable couple. Photo by Jacopo M. Raule/Getty Images for Gucci.

Don’t get me wrong, the clips of Rocky sporting a wide smile and filming Rihanna like a proud dad at his child’s recital are adorable … But why are they so applauded? Shouldn’t we all shrug our shoulders and consider it normal behaviour.

I never see women go viral for being supportive of their partners. Wilde’s public support of Styles just meant she got constantly online trolled and dubbed as clingy. Meanwhile Rocky practically becomes a meme for looking in love with Rihanna.

Also, Olivia Wilde leave Harry be please on his tour. He doesn’t need a distraction okay. Clingy girl!

— Oliviaa (@oliviap_23) September 6, 2021

Interesting, isn’t it? When women show their support, they are labelled as needy. When men show their support, they are dubbed boyfriend goals. How does this happen?

Perhaps because we always like to paint women as villains, and we are always desperate to paint men as heroes.

So, if you celebrate Rocky’s actions, the next time you see a famous woman supporting her man, please lump her with the same praise. She’s not being clingy, she’s being supportive, loving and it should make you clutch your chest and go, “My heart!”