The Vulnerability of MGK
Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) is an American rapper, singer, musician, and actor.
He used to be a rapper but he has reinvented himself as a ‘rocker’ and is now generally disliked by rock fans and rap fans alike.
I’m a similar age to MGK and there’s a high level of cringe surrounding pretty much everything he does.
But… I think he’s an instructive example of what vulnerability looks like.
Vulnerability. There’s lots of definitions out there, but the one I’m working with, and the one you’d probably read in a self-help book might sound something like “putting yourself in a position that allows yourself to get hurt, for the goal of gaining something better.”
The extreme opposite might be a shut-in or bureaucrat, who never discloses anything of his inner life.
With help of his TikTok to illustrate my point, introducing the new face of male vulnerability.
MGK always expresses his “true feelings”: He tells critics to “shut the fuck up”
Smashing guitars and breaking champagne flutes on his head: MGK shows us his attractive “rough edges”.
MGK shares himself “unabashedly”, from a bad tattoo to the moment he asked Megan Fox to marry him.
MGK “communicate(s) with honest appreciation”: not only has fallen in love “but he can’t get enough of it.”
MGK has “complete willingness to be rejected”, by journalists, emo fans or literally anyone who listens to him.
Is he being vulnerable or a raging narcissist? I don’t know! Love him or hate him, MGK is usually putting his nuts on the chopping block. He’s sharing how he feels and thinks and it’s okay if he’s rejected for it.
It’s easy to go through life worried about what others think. We have a desperate need to be liked and say the right thing. We water ourselves down. We like tacos, beaches and clean sheets. Don’t you too? We’re never rejected but never connected.
Instead, we should own our opinions, likes, goals and weird stuff. Or just be a bit more MGK.