Content creator and Maneater podcast host MJ Gray, who describes herself on her profile as a “supermodel billionaire,” has found herself at the center of a social media storm after announcing her engagement to a man she has known for just nine months. The news surprised nearly 500,000 TikTok followers, many of whom had tuned in specifically for her outspoken stance against marriage.
Gray had been vocal and consistent in her views, stating clearly in past videos, “I personally disagree with the entire construct of marriage. I believe that marriage signifies the ownership of women and I disagree with it as a concept as a whole.” She also told her audience, “As a woman, you should avoid getting married. You should avoid having children.”
When the engagement became public, Gray released a video she herself titled “Yes, I’m Engaged. Yes, This Is Awkward.” By her own account, she acknowledged the contradiction head-on: “Yes, I am engaged. Yes, I am the same person who made several videos saying that I never had any plans to get married. I did not want to get married and I did not agree with the institution of marriage. The gag is I still don’t agree with the institution of marriage.”
Her attempt to walk back the tension by pointing to past caveats, such as exceptions for couples planning children, buying property, or living together, did little to calm the reaction online.
Commenters were quick to call out the inconsistency. One wrote, “You can’t speak in absolutes, build a platform on it, then retreat into nuance when your life changes.”
Another said simply, “Engaged after 9 months, by the way.”
Gray responded to some of the criticism, telling followers, “All I’ve ever done online was share exactly how I feel at that specific point of time. I can’t promise you that I’m never going to change my mind. I can’t promise you that I’m not going to get more information and make a different decision in the future. I can’t promise you that because I’m a human being.”
She also pointed to the need for discernment when consuming social media content, a message that her commenters found ironic given that she had not applied the same principle when delivering relationship advice to others.
Gray has since stated she will be keeping her relationship private going forward, citing her partner’s wish to stay out of the public eye entirely.
