Women Have the Hots for Vlodomyr Zelensky

JupiterKid

So it seems that the women of the West have a collective crush on the heroic President of Ukraine, Vlodomyr Zelensky. 😁

I would see the man as a hero and role model for sure, standing up as the underdog to the bully of Putin and the Russian army. He seems to have a very masculine vibe about him, to be a "man's man" and not capitulate or run away when his beloved country is invaded and reduced to rubble. I wonder how many of our own leaders would do that?

But surely women in the West are sick and tired of so-called "toxic masculinity" - Well, the media seems to think so - but yet at the same time they have the hots for Zelensky, voted Sexiest Man Of The Year.

So...am I missing something here? How is that apparent contradiction explained? 🤔

BorneTobyWilde

I think it's just wanting to give him every support in every way possible, had he entered Cruffs he's have won best in show.

Montage of Feck

Just wait until BongBong Marcos gets elected!

washman3

Maybe it's because having entered politics in 2018/2019 he is already worth €1.3 BILLION.

Doubt he made that kind of dosh in his previous job as a stand-up comedian.!!!

Pussyhands

Must be that beard he grew for the war. Who's cutting his hair though?

Montage of Feck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039205#Comment_119039205

Interesting, where's that figure from?

toyotatommy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039209#Comment_119039209

A hair dresser

Atlantic Dawn

It was gas seeing Macron dressing down to match Zelensky before the election in France, it was like in The Office when David Brent copied the new office managers clothes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxZh3XMna20

Hangdogroad

No he isn't.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattdurot/2022/04/20/president-zelensky-is-not-a-billionaire-so-how-much-is-he-worth/

spurious

Being a 'manly man' is not toxic masculinity.

Putin would be an example of toxic masculinity, because his version of manly man has very negative effects on others.

Billions were mentioned but probably exaggerated. In the Pandora papers he was shown to have ~180 million in Cypriot bank accounts..

Addmagnet

Well, I certainly wouldn't kick him out of bed for eating crisps!

"The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride!"

What a quote! Although, as he's married I can understand why he would refuse the ride 🤔

He's intelligent, has a sense of humour, seems self-deprecating but self-assured, scrubs up well in a suit and looks rugged in casual clothes and he seems to have empathy and is not emotionally stunted.

These two pictures have been doing the rounds side by side recently:

That Bucha picture just makes me want to give him a hug 😥

Fandymo

I think there is something off with him. Can’t put my finger on it. He comes across as an actor playing a role.

He also must be in a fairly safe part of Ukraine playing the hero, given that the worlds “best” have been popping over to see him and get their photo ops.

Jequ0n

Not surprising considering that Ukraine is still the current flavour of the month. At least people are slowly getting bored by it again.

BobbyMalone

I think you may be confusing 'masculinity' with 'toxic masculinity', OP.

Idle Passerby

I don't fancy him myself but I can easily see why he would be considered sexy by many. I wouldn't have put him in the category of "manly man". To me that means a vacous action hero type with greased muscles and a cigar hanging out of his mouth. Zelensky seems more genuine and intelligent than that stereotype. He comes across as a decent, empathetic person. He's not playing the usual slimey politician.

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039378#Comment_119039378

He's a corrupt individual whose support in Ukraine cratered after he got elected because he was the same as the rest of them. The local elections in late 2020 for him were a disaster.

Obviously support him in this war but people acting like he's some hero for staying in Ukraine and that the Russians are out to kill him. Zelensky being killed by the Russians would make him a martyr and remove any chance of negotiations so the Russians never had any intention of killing him.

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039640#Comment_119039640

https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/zelensky-servant-people-experience-major-setback-ukraine-local-elections

Things seemed to be going well for Ukraine under Zelensky, but by March 2020 everything changed. Zelensky appointed as his new chief of staff Andriy Yermak, a person rumored to have business connections to Russia. Zelensky sacked his cabinet of ministers, and Denys Shmyhal, a former governor who had ties to oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, became the new prime minister. The Verkhovna Rada also voted to remove prosecutor general Ruslan Ryaboshapka, a decision that concerned the West. In selecting his new cabinet, Zelensky appointed numerous figures who had ties to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk. Zelensky, it seemed, was surrounding himself with Ukraine’s old faces.

Beyond the internal government turmoil, there also were problems within Servant of the People. Some reports claim the party is fragmenting. Other reports state that the party lacks a sense of direction. As a result, support for the party has significantly declined. According to a poll conducted by the Sociological Group Rating, support for Servant of the People has waned to 34 percent. Zelensky’s personal popularity has also declined. During the presidential election, Zelensky won 73.2 percent of the popular vote. By September 2020, his popularity dropped to 31.8 percent. This sharp decline demonstrates that voters have started to lose faith in their government.

Ukrainians expressed their frustrations with Zelensky and Servant of the People during the recent local elections, and the Ukrainian president and his party experienced their first major political loss since their historic presidential and parliamentary victories in 2019. According to Ukrainian exit polls, Servant of the People did not perform well in any of the prominent mayoral races. The party is also not expected to perform well in any of the runoff elections.

The results of Ukraine’s local elections illustrate the drastic decline of Servant of the People. What was once viewed as a potential reform party has now become a group synonymous with Ukraine’s corruption crisis. It is no wonder why Zelensky’s popularity and the popularity of his party have faded. Zelensky and his team will now regroup as they try to formulate a strategy on how they can maintain their influence despite this significant political loss.

It does go to show how easily people are manipulated.

funny and sad at the same time.

EmmetSpiceland

Well, looks like it’s time to move this one over to the “Current Affairs” forum, or even “Conspiracy Theories”.

The vocal 4% cavalry has arrived.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039979#Comment_119039979

While I fully support Ukraine in their efforts to oppose the disgusting aggressive actions of Russia, it would be silly to forget that before this, Ukraine was considered one of the most corrupt nations in the world and Zelensky was the head of it.

Mr. CooL ICE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040005#Comment_119040005

He has only been president since 2019 and one of the first things he did was the repeal an act that gave MPs legal immunity. If you want to find a stick to beat Zelenskyy with, you'll have to do better

BrianD3

He is below average height and his shoulders and overall build look small relative to the size of his head. The real hunk in the Ukraine conflict is Vitali Klitschko, looks and sounds like a serious badass. Makes everyone around him look like a child, this will be very stark if Zelensky and him are pictured together.

Putin gets described as a midget and dwarf but him and Zelensky are about the same height

Zelensky can do no wrong at the moment but it will be astounding if he doesn't have skeletons in the closet that will come out at some stage. I expect the midget sneers to start then.

Mr. CooL ICE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039863#Comment_119039863

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039877#Comment_119039877

You got threadbanned from the CA thread so now you're spouting your nonsense here.

Well, at least you're consistent

JupiterKid

I'm sure Zekensky is far from an angel - but there is just...something about the man that I find myself attracted to. 😁 He certainly seems to be a man of action who is both very hands on and charismatic.

I'm a gay man, not a woman BTW. I can see why women think he's hot.

Personally I think that concept of "toxic" masculinity is a load of American imported bull.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040097#Comment_119040097

lol

I dont want to beat Zelensky with a stick at all. I think he has handled the situation he has found himself in, exceptionally well.

growleaves

I don't recall that ordinary women were asked if they wanted the waffly concept of "toxic masculinity" inserted into culture in the first place.

People are more usually told what to think by mainstream culture rather than asked.

In any case Zelensky is a pretty-faced actor, much softer-looking than most political/military leaders past or present.

I know nothing about him and don't really have much opinion. I don't want to see Russia gain territory though.

I feel sorry for people who transfer their savings to an IBAN in Ukraine that has been 'verified' as 'legitimate'.

Newsflash: your money is being embezzled, it's not being used to buy grenades

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039877#Comment_119039877

I've a few extra hatchets lying around if you'd like to borrow and deploy them btw

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040101#Comment_119040101

I expect the midget sneers to start then.

I think you're doing quite a good job there already tbf

God help anyone who isn't over 6 foot 🙄

Mr. CooL ICE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040163#Comment_119040163

What was that about being head of a corrupt nation, then? Some sort of attempt at throwing mud at the wall and hoping it'll stick?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040256#Comment_119040256

What?

I can say that Zelensky has handled the situation he has found himself in remarkably well and still acknowledge that he is the leader of a nation which, up until the Russian invasion, was considered a far-right corrupt nation.

That's not throwing mud.

Why do you think it is?

glen123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039205#Comment_119039205

Before he got elected, he was probably the most successful tv producer in Ukraine with his own TV shows. At least one was very successful in Russia and he could have sold it to them. Good few roles in Russian made movies that would have got him decent money too.

He was the top person in showbiz, not just some stand-up comedian for sure.

growleaves

But yeah Zelensky is a pretty good combination of masculine qualities and feminine looks.

Isn't this also partly Brad Pitt's appeal? Pitt is masculine, muscular but with soft manner and looks.

squigglestrebor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039210#Comment_119039210

The posters arse.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040256#Comment_119040256

To be fair, Ukraine is one of the most corrupt nations in the world.

It is possible to be a great leader and be corrupt at the same time, look at our own CJH.

Wibbs

It is interesting that in much of Western "liberal" media and commentators within that has been obsessed with the rise of the Right(to the point of paranoia with some) over the last decade Ukraine was regularly pointed to as an example that warranted this fear and obsession, even though support for the right in Ukraine has actually fallen off a cliff over the same ten years... Now the same media are almost entirely ignoring all of that and in the case of the BBC which was shouting about it since Maidan, have now come out a couple of times with essentally "ah well, nothing to see here" and institutional amnesia.

Zelensky is an interesting character. IMHO with his TV show he ran one of the most innovative and clever political campaigns in modern history and IMHO this was his intention from the start and the intention of his backer who owns the TV station who ran his series.

Now he did change a few things for the positive, removing the loophole where ministers couldn't be prosecuted, removing the daft Soviet personality cult portraits of the Dear Leader in every govrtnment office and made some welcome changes to corruption laws. He's had a few negative issues too as far as looking to quash other political voices. Then again Ukraine had some way to go, but it was going.

With this Russian invasion he really stepped up to the plate as the Yanks say, no doubt there. He's the man for the job on that score and will go down in history as such too. Maybe he's another Winston Churchill of sorts? IE great man for a time of war, but so so, even not so great either side of it? Still, kudos where kudos are due.

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040349#Comment_119040349

Ah faint praise. Very good. Though I somehow don't think you can usefully compare CJH with Zelensky as leaders no matter how you twist it.

As a former Russian satalite, the country only gained its independence in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately the newly independent country inherited much of the worst elements of corruption from Soviet era central government and the remnants of a pro Russian intelligentsia, with Ukraine and Russia continuing to circle each other for top prize. Unlike Russia however, significant efforts have been brought to bear on removing corruption and Russian influences from Ukrainian business and politics. Long may that continue.

Wibbs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039441#Comment_119039441

"Toxic masculinity" is largely the preserve of agitprop feminist screechers and like they say there are few athiests in foxholes, there are even fewer of those so called "feminists", because that busted flush third wave social studies nonsense is about as much tits on a bull when the poo hits the propellor. That's when you need strong men and indeed strong women, not fey student isms.

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040434#Comment_119040434

I think people are being very presumptuous by saying that all corruption in Ukraine has a Russian and pro-Russian origin.

Where is the proof of that?

I doubt if the typical pro-Ukrainian westerner really knows enough about both countries to be able to say that definitively.

It's a standard nationalist viewpoint to claim a foreign influence is responsible for a country's problems.

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040103#Comment_119040103

I'm happily posting away in the Ukraine thread in the politics forum, which has much higher posting standards than CA and I haven't changed my views, opinions or posting style in any way. Make of that what you will.

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040349#Comment_119040349

No no, Ukraine has more EU values than the EU itself. The country is the most liberal accepting country in the whole of Europe and anyone who says any different is just a Putin bot.

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040457#Comment_119040457

All corruption? You need to check was written before commenting tbf

I stated

As a former Russian satalite, the country only gained its independence in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately the newly independent country inherited much of the worst elements of corruption from Soviet era central government and the remnants of a pro Russian intelligentsia,

But to answer that its primarily (but not exclusively) because Ukraine only got its independence from Russia in 1991 and the country has been trying hard to rid itself of the corruption which came from Soviet era influence and the inherent corruption writ large over every facet of Russian politics and business. If you are forced to lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas. Making concerted efforts to get rid of those fleas is the most important thing. The sooner the better for Ukraine.

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040541#Comment_119040541

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040565#Comment_119040565

I'm happily posting away in the Ukraine thread in the politics forum

I haven't changed my views, opinions or posting style in any way

Yeah we've noticed 🙄

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040572#Comment_119040572

It's only been 30 years.

My point is most westerners don't know what Ukrainian culture apart from Russian influence is/will be like.

We do know is that both cultures are similar and interlinked. So scepticism is warranted imo.

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040648#Comment_119040648

It's only been 30 years.

I think that the point, with much of those 30 years spent under the governance of a largely pro Russian regime

I don't believe anyone needs to know the ins and outs of either Russian or Ukrainian culture.

What we do need to know is that Ukraine within the last decade, has shown a willingness to move away from the corruption it inherited under Soviet rule and a move towards more European style democracy and structures including its application to join the EU where it will have to meet rigorous standards in governance, fight corruption and apply the rule of law before it could be admitted as a member.

Russia, not surprisingly has demonstated no such willingness to rid itself of corruption and I somehow reckon it never will.

He is very attractively masculine in appearance, manner, voice, everything. I’d swipe right if he appeared on my media 😎

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119040774#Comment_119040774

I'd agree with you tbh that he has a masculine type look. Some else here thought he was feminine looking 🤔

Tbh if my girlfriend looked anything like Zelensky, I wouldn't have been swiping right

EmmetSpiceland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119041060#Comment_119041060

Real men fancy Putin.

growleaves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119041060#Comment_119041060

Cop on would you. I didn't say he looked exactly like a woman. Obviously that isn't the case.

I regard him as a mixture of feminine-masculine like Brad Pitt.

He has soft features and is not straightforwardly masculine only.

How many war leaders look like they could've been in a boy band or a soap opera?

He is extremely soft-looking by those standards. Compare to General Franco or Montgomery - or even a handsome military man like Napoleon or Murat.

He looks like what he is, an actor.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119041089#Comment_119041089

And the feeling is mutual.

Mecanudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119041151#Comment_119041151

Do you ever read what is written?

You said

But yeah Zelensky is a pretty good combination of masculine qualities and feminine looks.

And I said

Some else here thought he was feminine looking

Well excuse my French if I didn't paraphrase you correctly. Maybe "cop on" yourself

As for

"How many war leaders look like they could've been in a boy band or a soap opera?"

He's a "war leader" now is he? I was under the impression he was the democratically elected president of Ukraine who with many other Ukrainians are fighting the illegal invasion of their country. Thanks for correcting us on that mistake

But no I don't believe he "looks like  (he)  could've been in a boy band or a soap opera" at all.

But again thanks for the heads up

He looks like what he is, an actor

Once again I'll have to politely largely disagree. He appears to be a very intelligent individual and every bit a statesman.

He is also a graduate of Kyiv National Economic University with a degree in law. He pursued a career in comedy and created the production company Kvartal 95, which produced films and TV shows, in which he also acted.

He then went into politics in 2018 and was duly elected president of Ukraine in May 2019.

I gather you don't like the guy and not necessarily because of his looks. Ah well, there you go.