Netflix ‘Manosphere’ streamer Ed Matthews fined for lewd comment to female shop worker
Ed Matthews appeared on Louis Theroux’s Netflix documentary (Netflix)
‘Manosphere‘ streamer Ed Matthews, who appeared in Louis Theroux’s Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere, has been fined £4,500 after pleading guilty to making lewd sexual remarks to a Sainsbury’s worker in Lancaster.
The 24-year-old was fined £2,884 and ordered to pay a £1,154 victim surcharge, £85 in costs and £500 in compensation.
The court heard the incident happened on 2 March at around 9pm, when the worker was cleaning near the alcohol aisle and a group of five men approached her.
As per the The Sun, prosecutor Mr Anderton told the court: “Mr Matthews asked her about Yorkshire puddings and then asked whether she liked English wood.”
Matthews then asked the worker, who “knew this meant penis” whether she was a lesbian after she said she did not like “Polish wood”.
Mr Anderton said the worker felt trapped because the men had surrounded her, and that she felt sexualised and uncomfortable during the exchange.
The court heard she gave one of the men her Instagram details to get rid of the group, before reporting what had happened to her manager.
What happened
The exchange was described in court as a sustained incident, rather than a brief comment in passing.
Chair magistrate Deborah Topping said: “It wasn’t just one or two words and then you walked away – it was sustained.”
The court also heard Matthews was on crutches at the time, while the worker had her arm in a sling due to a shoulder injury.
Matthews pleaded guilty to one charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Turning to religion
According to Matthews’ lawyer Mr Rathor, the social media star regretted his actions and had turned a new leaf after time in HMP Chelmsford earlier in the year.
“Since his release from prison he has been delivering a new message,” Mr Rathor said. “The two weeks spent in HMP Chelmsford made him turn over a new leaf. He’s turned to God and he wants to inspire the young.”
Inside the Manosphere
Matthews is part of the UK’s online “manosphere” ecosystem, a loose network of controversial creators and communities built around hyper-masculine, often misogynistic talking points.
Louis Theroux’s Inside the Manosphere helped push those online dynamics into the mainstream.
It also featured the likes of HSTikkyTokky, real name Harrison Sullivan, who took issue with the documentary.
