My Story Asking if Boyfriends Were Embarrassing Went Viral. Here’s What That Says About the State of Heterosexual Dating

As a straight woman, I say this with love, care, and concern: are we okay? Earlier this month, I filed an article asking a simple question: “ Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? ” I could not have imagined the chaos that would follow.

Since I shared it on social media, the TikTok I flung into the ether at 2 a.m. has been watched 5.7 million times. I acquired more than 100,000 new followers across my platforms practically overnight. I’ve spoken to media outlets across the globe. My face has been everywhere, my name butchered in multiple dialects. People have stopped me to ask for photos. I’ve been heralded as the voice of single women, a wannabe Carrie Bradshaw, a witch! Even the mayor of New York, my mayor (I live in West London), chimed in.

I watched my article spawn a global T