Channing Tatum recently penned a guest essay for the June issue of Cosmopolitan. It did not involve “50 Ways to Drive Your Man Wild” or anything you’re probably used to seeing in the women’s mag. The 37-year-old actor used the space to promote his newly-launched Magic Mike Live show at Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (yes, this really is a thing,) but also took some time to gush about wife Jenna Dewan Tatum and to share his hope that his 4-year-old daughter, Everly, can live in a world without “preconceived standards” for women.
In the essay, Channing, who (possibly as a result of Jenna’s influence) identifies himself as a feminist, says that the sexiest thing his 36-year-old wife ever did was when she “blurted out that she knew exactly what she wanted in life and she didn’t have to look for it anymore because it was me.” He went on to say that Jenna’s “radical authenticity” made him fall “head over heels” in love. He went on to say that all he really wanted for Everly was for her “to be expectation-less with her love and not allow preconceived standards to affect her, to ask herself what she wants and feel empowered enough to act on it,” just like her Mom.
He goes on to wax poetic about the power of finding one’s true love, declaring, “I guess if there’s one thing that I think men wish women knew, it’s just that they alone are enough. When more women start to truly feel this power in themselves, the world will become so magical, it makes my head hurt.”
Speaking of magical, Channing makes a subtle plug about the new Vegas show. He says he turned the film into a live experience because he wanted women “to feel what it’s like to exist in a world where men really listen to them, where they treat them like goddesses, and where they can feel comfortable and proud to express the full force of their sexual energy together.”
Ummm…I’m good on the first bit, true love for your wife, high hopes for your daughter, but that last bit is a little much. Granted, I am not a big fan of male strip revues or Magic Mike, but I’ve never thought that a lap dance would make me feel “listened to” or anything like a goddess. Maybe that’s just me. But hey, I still like Channing…and, if you’re into that sort of thing, I heard the Vegas show is actually pretty good.
…and lap danced #MagicMikeLive pic.twitter.com/nZMIq4ipSG
— Carly Mallenbaum (@ThatGirlCarly) April 20, 2017
Photos: Getty Images, WENN.com
Is Jenna wearing bike shorts? That is a very confusing frock.
I think it’s a romper.
Oh charming potato, you are one of my favourites. Those were very good words, thank you.
Honestly, him trying to learn more and be a feminist and ally is really attractive. I have to present facts and cajole and reframe and work to get my partner to understand half of it. he has the basics but institutionalized sexist/racism is still not going well. If I even mention the word patriarchy the game is over. I know it’s a silly big serious off putting word, but sometimes it’s the only one that fits.
You could also just dump him.
Most of us would be single forever. If you dig deep enough or get enough alcohol etc. in them, a shocking amount of guys will tell you it’s all bs anyway and only the ugly ones need feminism anyway.
I vote also to dump him. Most men don’t change or grow, it’s called patriarchy!!
I working on my BF as well. So bloody blinded by his white-male privilege (I am not white or male :)). But slowly but surely he’s getting there.
Ahhh ladies, thank you, I appreciate the concern. He’s a wonderful man, and his excellent traits include forgiving me for being the type of asshole who pms bitches about him online.
We’ve done a ton of growing together, and unfortunately I’ve just outpaced him on this issue, and am frustrated by it. I’m not going to jettison my best friend for that yet, not when he is willing (although slower than I would like) to learn. I think my comment outlines why I’m a dick more than why he is, as I’m definitely not perfect on those fronts either.
I’m guess I’m frustrated that effective isn’t cathartic, and that effective often means making things more basic or palatable to your audience.
The last bit is over the top and I have no desire to see male strippers but I can kind of see where he is going with it. In our culture the male gaze is everywhere and wherever you look there are women sexualized and objectified for the male gaze. So it’s kind of cool that there is one space where women can do the same thing and feel safe and comfortable doing it if they wish to.
So if that experience is there only for women to feel like godesses its certainly free isnt it? Or does Channing want to make money with that? Hmm…
I thought he was an actor. Is he a stripper-actor? Not that there’s anything wrong with that but I wonder if Megan Fox did the same. Or maybe I just misunderstood.
Anyhoo, I would never want my husband to talk about me this way. I find it incredibly patronizing and condescending. Women are independent and strong and empowered and enough. It’s the horrible macho men that tell us otherwise.
He was a stripper prior to finding his fame, so that’s kind of his thing I think? He’s an ex-stripper who now is an actor.
Oh, I didn’t know that. Thanks.
I love him so much.
I get the feeling that he thinks Jenna is out of his league and is this magical creature. Which he’s said before, but that’s the vibe I get from his presence on social media and his interviews. They’re so cute together, and I hope they last and last. On her instagram/snapchat she seems a little bit exhausting day-to-day. But any time he’s on there, it’s all about her or their daughter or something about his current project. He’s very strategic about social media. He doesn’t post every little thing.
His comments about the goal for the magic mike show seem to match the feeling I got from the magic mike sequel – making women feel like goddesses. It seems like a fun show. Not something I would go to, but I’m sure there’s a market for it. 🙂