StraightioLab - "Men’s Red Carpet Grooming" w/ Ananiah

Podcast: StraightioLab (Big Money Players Network, iHeartPodcasts)
Date: March 31, 2026
Hosts: George Civeris & Sam Taggart
Guest: Ananiah

Overview

This episode of StraightioLab dives deep into the world of men’s red carpet grooming with special guest Ananiah, Broadway performer and creator of the "Gaydar" talk show. The hosts and Ananiah examine the unique anxieties and double standards around how straight men present themselves at high-visibility celebrity events. With a trademark blend of irreverence, honesty, and cultural critique, they interrogate why men so often opt out of the glamour and playfulness typically expected at these showcases—and what might happen if more risk-taking, self-care, and style exploration were the norm.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Art of Pretending in Social Situations (04:11–07:39)

• The episode begins with a humorous anecdote about pretending to recognize a celebrity’s name to save face—a microcosm of how people “perform” in social and cultural situations.
• Sam discusses anxieties around bringing wine to a friend’s party, highlighting social performance and internal cultural barriers.
• Notable quote:
  “You think my household is like, going to a different country where you have to follow the customs of that country and, like, bow when you enter.” – George (06:43)

Cultures of Comments and Critique (09:05–13:08)

• Ananiah and the hosts discuss the unpredictability and ruthlessness of online comment culture, including personal experiences of being unfairly targeted for perceived slights. They agree that audiences often misinterpret intent and are quick to jump to conclusions.
• Memorable moment:
  George details an incident where he unintentionally criticized three non-white artists in succession, only to praise three white ones, which led to outsized online outrage.
  “I literally go, it’s completely by coincidence… and then I praise three white artists in a row.” – George (10:54)

Navigating Musical Taste and Identity (12:32–15:13)

• The conversation shifts to the idea of certain artists being “for” particular demographics and what happens when notions of cultural ownership or identity collide with taste.
• The crew teases apart the appeal of artists like Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter, Addison Rae, and FKA twigs, analyzing who certain musicians "belong" to in the collective consciousness.
• Notable exchange:
  “Sabrina Carpenter is bisexual.” – Ananiah (14:04)
  “If Sabrina Carpenter was bisexual, we would have flying cars.” – Ananiah (14:28)

Rocky Horror, Fandoms, and Safe Spaces (19:30–23:05)

• Ananiah discusses performing in Rocky Horror on Broadway, acknowledging the show as both a formative safe space for queer audiences and a site for intense, sometimes off-putting, fan devotion.
• They discuss the unique Blender of straight and queer energies in Rocky Horror fandom.
• Quote:
  “There’s an added layer [to every second of the show]… It’s kind of cool because a part of me thinks it’s intentional, but another part thinks it’s unintentionally so, like, culturally pervasive.” – Ananiah (20:27)

The Oscars: Are Awards Shows Losing Their Edge? (24:00–28:02)

• The group reminisces about a recent Oscars, noting the staleness and sanitized atmosphere compared to earlier, more chaotic live TV moments (e.g., the “slap”).
• There’s consensus that awards shows have become too safe and predictable, lacking the political edge or riskiness some attendees desire.
• Memorable quote:
  “It was like the aftermath of having bad sex. Like, everyone’s kind of looking at one another being like, did that just happen?” – George (25:35)

Segment: Straight Shooters (32:04–34:19)

• Rapid-fire questions with playful binaries (e.g., “FKA twigs or MGMT’s Kids?”). Ananiah’s quick and spirited answers display humor and a refusal to take the exercise—or herself—too seriously.

Main Topic: Men’s Grooming on the Red Carpet (37:28 onwards)

Ananiah’s “Pet Peeve”

• Ananiah’s straight topic: the lack of grooming/make-up by straight men on the red carpet.
• Why is it straight?
  – The refusal to participate in “the theater” of red carpet events, which he sees as betraying the fun and glamour such events should embody. – Observes a double standard: wives/partners are expected to be glamorous, while men’s lack of grooming seems “necessary” for masculinity.
  • “My problem is when straight men go on the carpet, there is a rejection of the theater of it…if you’re there, you should participate fully.” – Ananiah (38:17)
• Suggests the minimum should be trimmed beards, hydrated lips, subtle makeup, and some attention to style.

The Double Standard & Gendered Self-Care (39:50–41:31)

• The hosts and Ananiah note that male actors wear makeup on set, so refusing it on the red carpet is performative.
  • “You wear makeup on the set… and this is also part of your job.” – George (40:32)
• Sam shares a personal embarrassment about not knowing to trim nose hairs for a TV appearance, highlighting how male grooming is rarely openly taught or discussed, especially among straight men.

Fashion Risks—or Lack Thereof (42:13–44:01)

• Ananiah advocates for men to “take a swing” with red carpet looks, rather than defaulting to safe, black-and-white tuxedos:
  • “There’s so many things you can do with a suit that I just think they’re not doing because it’s easier not to.”
• Praises fashion innovators like Colman Domingo and Wisdom K as exceptions who show what’s possible.

On “Fake Gay” Aesthetics and Marketability (45:02–46:41; 57:09–59:14)

• Discussion about formerly “fake gay” sartorial statements by straight stars (e.g., Timothée Chalamet, Harry Styles), and how those looks no longer dominate as the culture shifts.
  • “There was just a moment where they were like… this is no longer marketable. Like, I don’t need to pretend I love wearing a skirt.” – George (45:34)
• Critique of celebrities who perform queerness for attention or market access but later retreat.
  • “I just hate that he gets the opportunity to turn it off, you know, and a lot of people don’t get that option.” – Ananiah (58:52)

Style Diversity and Award Show Uniformity (63:34–65:16)

• Men’s red carpet fashion often feels like “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”—taking risks brings mockery, but playing it safe is boring.
• Proposes a “potluck sign-up” approach to ensure diversity of looks at events:
  • “We need to do that with award shows where one person's allowed to wear the black shirt…” – Sam (64:23)

The Met Gala Exception

• The crew agrees that if there’s ever a place to be bold, it’s the Met Gala; wearing a plain tux is an actual fashion crime there.

The Political Meaning of Fashion (55:50–56:36)

• Ananiah sees color and playfulness in men’s fashion as a form of resistance:
  • "If we start going to the grayscale, I think it’s almost like a submission… There should just be more color.” – Ananiah (56:14)

Notable Quotes & Culture Commentary

• On Harry Styles and performative queerness:
  “If he was nonbinary, that would help. But alas… he gets the opportunity to turn it off, you know, and a lot of people don’t get that option.” – Ananiah (58:14, 58:52)

• Perfect Phrase:
  “Either suck a dick or knock this off.” – (59:32, referencing the performance of queerness without substance by certain celebrities)

• On award show boredom:
  “By hour three, we’re just blankly watching the screen. No one’s getting any riffs in. Everyone’s like, let’s wrap this up.” – Sam (25:20)

Highlighted Moments

• Straight Shooters Segment – Ananiah speed-answers wild binary choices (32:04–34:19)
• Rocky Horror fandom insights – “It expedites the process for a lot of us coming to terms with who we are…that’s net positive.” – Ananiah (20:10)
• Cultural history of men’s fashion: From “metrosexual” and faux-queerbaiting to the return of masculine basics (57:09–57:10)

Important Timestamps

• Social Performance and Pretending – 04:11
• Comments Culture & Criticism – 10:54
• Straight Shooters segment – 32:04
• Men’s Grooming Topic Introduced – 37:28
• Call-out for Fashion Experimentation – 42:13, 44:01
• Discussion on Fake Queer Fashion – 45:02–46:41
• Resisting Grayscale/Political Message – 55:50
• Final Thoughts and Shoutouts – 71:21

Tone & Language

The episode is playful, witty, and sharply observant—balancing comedic exaggerations with keen social insights. There’s a recurring motif of performing for the public—whether it’s lying about knowing someone, fulfilling gender/fashion expectations, or navigating online backlash. While the tone is often tongue-in-cheek, the group doesn’t shy away from calling out hypocrisy, artistic laziness, or the complexities of representation.

Conclusion

Takeaway from Ananiah:
“Just take a swing fellas, and let me judge you from home.” (71:32)

The episode argues that participation in the "theater" of public events—through grooming, dress, and attitude—shouldn’t be gendered or feel like a risk, but an invitation to play, express, and resist conformity. The hosts leave both men and women, gay and straight, with an edict to be bolder, more creative, and less afraid to be judged—not just on the red carpet, but everywhere.

Shoutouts Segment (72:27–75:14)

• Sam: To “bopping” around NYC.
• George: Courage to eat messy wings and embrace pleasure.
• Ananiah: To trees’ versatility and the wide spectrum of what they can become—“Shout out to oak, birch, willow, all of you.”

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode of StraightioLab is a hilarious, illuminating plea for a world where men embrace self-presentation as fully as anyone else, where fashion is colorful, self-care is un-gendered, and the red carpet is for boldness, not boredom. You’ll walk away rethinking why men have been let off the style hook for so long—and what it’d actually mean if that changed.