Steven Bartlett, the millionaire entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den investor, is facing increasing criticism from celebrities and content creators after comments on his podcast Diary Of A CEO sparked accusations that he was reinforcing misogynistic narratives under the guise of lengthy discussions.
At the center of the backlash is a recent episode in which 33-year-old Bartlett meets psychologist Dr. Alok Kanojia spoke about the so-called “male loneliness epidemic”. During the conversation, Bartlett questioned whether society should “intervene” to ensure that so-called incel men, defined as involuntary celibates, enter into partnerships with women to prevent resentment and social alienation.
“Should society step in to correct this and put systems in place to ensure these men meet partners?” Bartlett asked during the episode, which has since been shared widely on social media.
The comments sparked a strong reaction from content creator Shabaz Ali, whose criticism of the podcast has since been shared and supported by a number of high-profile figures.
Ali argued that while men’s mental health and loneliness were legitimate topics, the podcast was increasingly giving “a light in the face and an embrace” to Manosphere ideas, and accused Bartlett of failing to challenge guests’ controversial claims.
“This podcast used to be about business, mindset and responsible healing,” Ali said. “Now it feels like it’s about blaming women for men’s problems – without argument, without evidence.”
He added that the format gives guests the opportunity to make sweeping statements about feminism, dating and birth rates without scrutiny, and described the show as a “Trojan horse” for ideas that would be more obviously challenged if presented in a different tone or frame.
The criticism was met with vocal support from celebrities and media representatives. Sara Cox, Vicky Pattison and Ulrika Jonsson all publicly supported Ali’s comments, while dancer Oti Mabuse said she was “disappointed” having previously been a fan of the podcast.
Radio 1 presenter Greg James was particularly harsh, criticizing previous episodes in which guests made claims about autism, Covid-19 and nutrition-based health interventions that were not challenged in interviews.
Bartlett’s team has firmly defended itself against the criticism. A spokesperson for Diary Of A CEO said the podcast was designed as a long-form interview format intended to explore, rather than endorse, guests’ perspectives.
“Inviting a guest is an act of inquiry, not an endorsement,” the spokesperson said. “Steven Bartlett does not adopt the opinions of his guests, nor is the format intended to pass judgment on personal viewpoints.”
They also dismissed claims that the podcast was aligned with right-wing or manosphere ideologies, pointing to guests from across the political spectrum, including Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom.
However, this isn’t the first time Bartlett has faced scrutiny over the content of his podcast. In 2024, he was criticized by medical professionals after guests made unchallenged claims about cancer treatments and vaccines. A BBC World Service investigation later examined 23 health-related episodes of the podcast and found that 15 contained multiple claims that contradicted established scientific evidence, often with “little or no objection” from the presenter.
Critics argue that the scale of the podcast, which reportedly reaches millions of listeners and viewers daily, brings with it an added responsibility to question claims more rigorously, particularly when it comes to health, gender and social policy.
Bartlett, who became known as the youngest dragon ever in Dragon’s Den in 2022, has previously positioned Diary Of A CEO as a space for “open, honest conversations.” However, the latest controversy raises again the question of where the line lies between exploration and amplification – and whether neutrality is possible when a platform wields such influence.
