The Brett Cooper Show – Episode 141
Title: NYC Women Are Paying $100 to Meet Men
Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Brett Cooper
Episode Overview
In this episode, Brett Cooper delves into the viral frenzy sparked by a claim that some NYC dating events are charging women $100 and men $0, yet still struggling to attract male attendees. Using this as a springboard, she examines the broader dynamics of modern dating, the so-called “manosphere” and “red pill” responses, and cultural shifts that have restructured how men and women relate, date, and view one another. Brett also critiques online narratives that pit the sexes against each other and explores attempts to foster healthier relationships.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Viral NYC Dating Event Controversy
- Prompt: A post on X (formerly Twitter) alleged NYC dating events now charge women $100 and men $0, yet still attract more women than men—a reported 3:1 ratio (00:52).
- The post amassed nearly 11 million views in 24 hours and was accompanied by an AI-generated image, which Brett points out as obviously fake. (01:08)
- Brett’s take: “It really does feel like a certain sect of the Internet just wants men and women to hate each other. They profit off of that.” (01:18)
2. Setting the Record Straight
- Source correction: The story originated not from a NYT article but a podcast discussing the death of swiping culture and the rise of curated dating events. The focal event: a wine mixer hosted in Brooklyn, with $100 tickets for women and free entry for men, yet women still greatly outnumbered men. (04:08)
- Brett describes the event as “intimate dinner party meets bachelorette party...playing drinking games and that sort of thing.” (04:38)
3. Context on NYC Singles Events & Gender Ratios
- According to a Reddit comment cited by Brett: “Everything marketed as a straight singles event usually winds up being 90% women and 10% men. Go with an open mind and low expectations.” (05:46)
- Brett opines that “dating events are a bit more up women’s alleys… it becomes a social event. They go with girlfriends… their male counterparts are not doing the same thing.” (07:23)
4. The Manosphere/Red Pill Response
- Many online, especially “red pill bros,” hailed this as men having new “power” in the dating market. Examples of comments:
- “You’re telling me the last 15 years of women saying men aren’t good enough isn’t working out for them? LMFAO.” (06:44)
- “Men with good looks and game are having a field day… a golden age for the top 20%.” (07:00)
- “FOID’s paying cash to meet men. Men still don’t care to show up. Truly the dark ages. And it’s all women’s fault.” (07:56)
- Brett challenges whether this is truly new, noting “the top 20% of men… have always done well,” and that accusations of “female desperation” are nothing new, referencing Jane Austen. (08:27)
5. Extremes & Avoidance: The "Men Going Their Own Way" Trend
- Myron Gaines of the "Fresh and Fit" podcast gets quoted:
- “Female desperation is rising and I’m here for it.” (08:56)
- Claims the “red pill explosion woke millions of men to modern women’s games… now they’re done. They’d rather grind video games, stack cash, hit the gym, or just live free than blow thousands chasing entitled, unappreciative women.” (10:32)
- Brett strongly critiques this “gloaty” attitude:
- “Are we really seeing this as a victory?” (11:25)
- She highlights responses that call out the hollowness of “retreat and resentment:”
- “If your grand solution to modern dating is retreat and resentment, that is not power, that is avoidance with branding.” (12:01)
- “A retreat masquerading as true independence… do not mistake a comfortable cage for a kingdom.” (12:14)
6. On the Negativity Cycle & What Actually Helps
- Brett draws parallels: Both red pill men and liberal feminist women have retreated into their own spaces of resentment, avoiding engagement with the opposite sex. Neither path, she argues, is healthy or fulfilling. (18:30)
- “You offer no solutions except retreating into a resentful, lonely isolation where men and women continue to hate each other more every single day.” (21:46)
7. Real-World Experiences & Nuance
- Brett references TikToks and personal anecdotes:
- A TikTok suggests NYC is tough for successful women to date because men have so many options and little incentive to commit, but comments reveal some women are thriving and are not struggling as claimed. (16:43–17:26)
- The dating landscape is nuanced: “It’s not a black and white issue. Some men and women in different dating markets are still thriving, but it is a hard market regardless. It’s just like the real estate market in 2026.” (17:49)
8. The Evie Magazine Controversy: Sex Positivity for Married Women
- Brett spotlights a new Evie Magazine issue aimed at teaching married women about sex, threading the needle between the “sex-positive” left and the “purity” right. (19:06)
- She praises this as “a good and healthy thing,” emphasizing how young women lack practical, respectful advice on intimacy after years of polarized messages. (20:11)
- Takes aim at critics from all sides, especially red pill commentators like Pearl, who dismiss the effort as “trad e girls fighting to be more naked,” showing “you just want to be mad about everything.” (20:37; 22:12)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
The Gendered Nature of Dating Events
- “Dating events are naturally a bit more up women’s alleys. Women… travel in groups. It becomes a social event. I highly doubt their male counterparts are doing the same thing.”
— Brett Cooper (07:24)
On the Manosphere’s Reaction
-
“Are we really seeing this as a victory? That this is a good thing? It seems totally backwards and completely unhealthy to claim that the consequence is actually the positive way forward.”
— Brett Cooper (11:25) -
“If your grand solution to modern dating is retreat and resentment, that is not power, that is avoidance with branding.”
— YouTube commenter, read by Brett (12:03) -
“A true king doesn’t surrender to the chaos or hide in digital comfort… do not mistake a comfortable cage for a kingdom.”
— Reddit comment, read by Brett (12:15)
On Avoidance & Growth
- “As humans, it is much easier to just shut down and walk away and avoid things when they are hard or painful… but we only grow and get stronger when we push through and overcome things.”
— Brett Cooper (14:08)
Cultural Cycles of Resentment
- “What you are claiming is this victory is helping normal people. Normal people who want love and a good partner and normal things. This outrage man vs. woman world is not a world I want to be part of. So I am opting out of that.”
— Brett Cooper (23:18)
Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments
- 00:52 – Introduction to the X post and viral NYC dating event discussion.
- 04:08 – Clip from NYT podcast: attendee discusses $100-for-women, free-for-men event.
- 05:46 – Reddit comment on event demographics (“90% women, 10% men”).
- 08:56 – Myron Gaines (“Fresh and Fit") red pill reaction segment.
- 12:01–12:15 – Brett reads and discusses major critical comments pushing back on the manosphere’s “victory.”
- 14:08 – Brett’s personal philosophy on resilience and growth versus avoidance.
- 16:43–17:26 – TikTok on the NYC “dating market” and reactions showcasing the complexity, not uniform despair.
- 19:06 – The Evie Magazine sex advice controversy: intention, polarization, and backlash.
- 20:37; 22:12 – Red pill and online criticism of conservative sex education.
Takeaways
- Brett’s Core Message: The division and mutual resentment between men and women, fueled by online echo chambers, is not a victory for anyone. Rebuilding healthy, resilient relationships—and society—means moving past blame, opting into self-improvement, and avoiding the “man vs. woman” outrage machine.
- On NYC Dating: The challenges faced in urban dating markets are real yet heavily oversimplified by both red pill commentators and feminist critics. There are thriving men and women, but also many frustrated by the current landscape.
- On Solutions: True change and fulfillment require engagement, growth, and vulnerability—not bitter withdrawal or endless blaming of the opposite sex.