Fighter wore silk scarf and tow rope in protest against male silence and stigma of seeking psychological help
In an extreme attempt to draw attention to the mental health crisis among men, British kickboxing fighter John Stephenson, 50, resorted to an unusual method: he pulled a car weighing more than two tons using only the force of his testicles. The feat, carried out at the end of February in the city of Halifax, in the north of England, quickly went viral on social networks.
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The vehicle chosen for the challenge was a Seat León, weighing approximately 2,041 kg. To tow the car for a distance of 45 meters, Stephenson used an automotive traction rope connected to the genitalia by means of a silk scarf. The contrast between the physical brutality of the act and the seriousness of the cause is at the heart of the athlete’s campaign.
Stephenson argues that the physical pain endured during the test acts as a metaphor for the psychological distress that many men face in silence. According to him, social pressure and the “ego to be careful” create a barrier that prevents the male public from showing vulnerability and seeking professional help.
“Men who talk can heal,” defends the fighter. He points out that the rates of undiagnosed mental problems among men are high precisely because of the reluctance to seek help, reinforcing that recognizing the need for treatment is an act of courage, not weakness.
Despite the obvious risk, the event was conducted with a certain amount of British humor. During the course, the fighter was filmed eating a package of nuts — a double joke with the English term “nuts”, which is also slang for testicles. After crossing the finish line, he mocked the state of his “plums”, but soon regained focus. The purpose of the bizarre attitude is purely to encourage men to put prejudice aside before mental illness becomes irreversible.
