Everyone needs to stop exploiting Terrence Howard

It is very not cool.

Terrence Howard being exploited by Joe Rogan

As you may know, this Substack is a personal side gig for me — it has no connection to Skeptoid, my day job. This is where I can let my hair down a bit more, use foul language as the spirit moves me, and so on. But I still adhere to limits — and today’s installment is about limits.

One of those is to never make fun of (or otherwise exploit) people with mental illness, drug addiction, or some other debilitating disorder.

Actor Terrence Howard has come under massive Internet ridicule for his incredibly wacky ideas about space, math, and just about everything else (examples: 1 × 1 = 2, gravity is fake). Rogan has been loving having him on his show — train wreck personalities drive massive clicks and views. Other people make videos mocking the guy.

Stop. Now.

Howard has openly stated that he’s had bipolar disorder. Does bipolar disorder present as wild theories of the universe? Well, it can — but before going any further, I give the important disclaimer that I’m not a mental health professional, but I spoke with some before writing this; and I also give the disclaimer on their behalf that they have not examined him and cannot diagnose him. However, the way that Howard presents is perfectly consistent with a number of possibilities:

• Drug use. Many people with ADHD and/or bipolar disorder will have unusual reactions to drugs such as cocaine and heroin. When he’s done these interviews giving his ideas, Howard does present consistently with that.

• Low IQ. Such people simply don’t have room in their brain for the study of complex and abstract fields like mathematics. So they often create simplified versions that are adequate for their needs.

• Pathological narcissism. Such people can just say things, and whatever they say becomes their reality. This is consistent with Howard’s espousal of proven wrong ideas: He has said them, therefore they are correct; and he feels no pressure to change his mind or entertain criticism.

I’ve seen a lot of people online speculate that he may have schizophrenia, however this was not raised by the professionals I consulted.

Let me repeat that I make no representation that any of the above are correct. But it does appear likely that Howard is in the ballpark of one or more such conditions, and that’s enough right there for me to consider him off limits for public criticism. Would you make a video mocking someone who’s wheelchair bound? Then you shouldn’t do it for someone who may be mentally ill.

I’ve been dismayed by the number of online creators whom I know and respect take advantage of Howard’s notoriety right now, and put out videos tearing him down (some mocking, some not).

There are people out there consciously spreading misinformation, ripping people off, and simply saying or doing whatever it takes to get clicks and mindshare. There’s no indication Howard is one of them. Leave the guy alone.

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