Yes, he’s inspiring. Yes, he’s calm under pressure. But even he doesn’t want his picture hanging on your wall
Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the president of Ukraine and also, I regret to inform you, the internet’s latest heart-throb. TikTok is awash with “fancams” lusting over the man, and the always classy New York Post has published headlines such as: “Women go wild for ‘thirst trap’ Ukrainian President.” A recent viral tweet similarly declared: “BREAKING: every woman in your life now has at least a small crush on Volodymyr Zelenskiy and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.”
It is natural to admire Zelenskiy’s poise and bravery amid the invasion of Ukraine. But there is a difference between respecting a politician and sexualising or worshipping them. Idolising politicians is questionable during the best of times but doing it in the midst of a bloody war is highly problematic. Idolising wartime leaders can help glamorise conflict and perpetuate dangerously simplistic narratives of good versus evil. Treating a head of state like he’s a member of a boyband also risks trivialising what is happening in Ukraine. Not to mention, it’s just embarrassing.
