Instagram/@nickcannon
Every clip from Nick Cannon’s show sparks relevant discussions, with this one, in particular, attracting additional attention for the blatantly naked and gold digging jargon it uses to describe contemporary relationships. As the clip opens, the Nick Cannon at Night show host deepens pressure on his panel and adopts a more inquisitive tone on the topics of hypergamy and gold digging, as well as what, beyond looks and other superficial elements, truly lifts the value of a partner. While the panelist is speaking, we realize that even though women look for security and men seek physical attraction, none of these are sufficient by a long shot. To truly sustain and nurture a relationship, these need to be there in addition to emotional maturity, intelligence, and kindness. The debate divides the audience, with some praising the panel for its unguarded truth and others diving headlong into the ongoing melee of gender politics.
Advertisement
As one of the vice panelists remarks, “As a woman, if all you bring to the table is your body, you’re also broke. If you’re a man, and all you bring is your money, you’re broke too.” With these words, we shed the sugar coating and acknowledge what truly is broken in modern relationships: transactional relationships. While it is widely agreed that the true currency of a human being is character and the emotional currency a person can bring to the table, this further explores how emotional success is not assumed to come from any discipline, whether in business or any other field. It calls for a partner to be viewed with deeper parameters and for the partner to abandon the notion that money or looks are the only sign of a working relationship.
Responses to the clip have ranged widely, most notably with one user commenting succinctly: “Emotional maturity is top notch,” endorsing the panel’s focus on soft skills in human relationships. A different user vocalized the same sentiments as the panel, stating, “The money is definitely not enough,” in support of the panel’s claim that financial sufficiency is not enough to assurer fulfillment in relationships. Other users appear entertained by the disagreement, saying: “I’m just here for the comments,” referring to the explosive response relating to the topic.
Neither of these sentiments fully describe the responses. One very-long and withdrawn comment goes into redpill ideology, arguing women’s nature is by design instable and at odds with abundance. This user argued that women are at odds with stability and abundance and argued that femininity is at the core of a preference for drama and chaos. The user argued that femininity is core of chaos and it destroys expectations that women are by nature doomed to fail at meaningful relationships. While this filled with controversial views seems to summarize the divisiveness of these conversations, comments regarding romantic relations tend to escalate quickly.
An equally verbose reply increased the confusion by positing that women “have at least 4 heads” which to the user comprises hypergamy, independence, a dark side attracted to selfish masculinity, and motherhood in ‘many forms.’ As detailed by the user, this is ‘internal sabotage’ that complicates matters relating to men, citing high divorce rates, and in the same breath adding lesbian relationship statistics. Though this reply is in the extreme of the spectrum, it demonstrates the frustration and perplexity some experience in the modern world of dating, where ‘some’ traditional gender roles have disappeared and with disarray in expectations.
The panel’s discussion is relevant considering it touches on the worries people have when they fall in love, and the increasing value in the world. Nick Cannon At Night is known for tackling issues that are borderline controversial, and this episode, like the others, does not disappoint. Because of the candidness in which the matters are addressed, it is indeed the case that the show is encouraging the audience to reflect on their relationships and on the question, “What is it they desire in a partner?” It reminds us that there is still so much more to the puzzle, even though falling in love and seeking security are vital in life.
Advertisement
Ultimately, the viral clip acts as an incitement to more self-reflective questioning concerning the worth of an individual and partnerships. The clip challenges societal norms which place a greater value on stardom, financial wealth, and a person’s appearance rather than on connectivity, emotions, and growth. It is evident that the comments are coming in large numbers and addressing the issue—the comments indicate that many people find themselves connected to the issue in some way, implying that these topics of self-worth and romance touch a deep reservoir of feelings and disappointments with which people empathize. Individuals concur or oppose the severity of the panel’s remarks, but irrespective of the reason, it has ignited a plethora of dialogues and is leading people to urgently reevaluate their self-worth. In the modern era, such candid dialogue is a rarity, and this is the only way this panel is proving useful.