Bald man calls for Hollywood to stop portraying the bald as evil
Taking a stand for the follicularly-challenged
![Se7en's John Doe, Batman vs Superman's Lex Luthor and The Matrix's Cypher](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2015/07/27/10/bald.jpg)
Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
![Louise Thomas](https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/support-us/louise-thomas.png)
Louise Thomas
Editor
A man suffering from alopecia has hit out against the "pervasive negative portrayal of bald people" in movies and the idea that they are somehow "damaged".
Superman's Lex Luthor, Daredevil's Bullseye, Se7en's John Doe, The Matrix's Cypher, Star Wars' Darth Maul, The Dark Knight Rises' Bane, Harry Potter's Voldemort… the list of follicularly-challenged antagonists is endless.
"I'm bald, therefore I'm evil or somehow damaged," YouTube user DarkAntics said. "This notion has seeped into every pour of our media and believe me I fully expect you to sit there blind to your hair privilege and not have any understanding of how this pervasive negative portrayal of bald people has affected your bias."
The tongue-in-cheek rant also blasts a bald Obadiah Stane "squaring off against the thick-haired Tony Stark" in Iron Man, and notes the rare win of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, only for it to be undone by the multitude of bald villains in Mad Max: Fury Road.
The trope was most famously lampooned with Mike Myers' Dr. Evil character, and may steam from the ancient belief in hair as a symbol of health and virility, as seen in the Biblical story of Samson.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments