Channing Tatum unleashes ‘the little girl in me’ while throwing down the gauntlet for dads to ditch toxic masculinity
Channing Tatum is battling toxic masculinity one fairy wing at a time. (Getty/Twitter)
Channing Tatum donned fairy wings and a crown to announce his new children’s book, written by “the little girl in me” for fathers and daughters everywhere.
The Magic Mike star posed with his seven-year-old, Everly, to announce The One and Only Sparkella.
“I don’t know about you but things got a little weird for me in quarantine,” he shared on Twitter.
“I locked myself in my daughter’s room and found my inner child. So this is what I created for my little girl. From what is, I guess, the little girl in me.”
I don’t know about you but things got a little weird for me in quarantine. I locked myself in my daughter’s room & found my inner child. So this is what I created for my little girl. From what is, I guess, the little girl in me. Thx for reading. #Sparkella https://t.co/QbxlZU2CXl pic.twitter.com/W0PUb822Q3
— Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) August 31, 2020
The reaction to Tatum’s heartwarming post was a mixture of emotional adoration and good, old-fashioned internet thirst. Because, come on.
There is nothing more handsome than a man that loves his daughter so much that he would do things like this. This is a huge reason why I love you so much. It’s very hard to find good daddy’s like this. ?❤️
— Mel Red (@MissyRed1111) August 31, 2020
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— The Richmond Nuff (@Hockeyjosh92) September 1, 2020
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— Justice for Breonna Taylor (@justkelly_ok) August 31, 2020
Channing Tatum’s new book urges dads ‘be as magical as you can’.
The picture book, published May 4, 2021, looks set to tackle both schoolyard bullying and toxic masculinity.
It tells the story of a young girl named Ella, who is bullied on her first day of school for her love of all disco-ball shoes, glittery ribbons and all things sparkly – until her father steps in and encourages her to embrace her individuality.
Channing Tatum’s dedication to Everly – who he co-parents with Step Up co-star Jenna Dewan – calls the seven-year-old his “greatest teacher”, and lays down the gauntlet to fathers of girls around the world to embrace all facets of their identity.
“Wear whatever, dance however, and be as magical as you can. Because I promise they will return the love,” he writes, according to People.
These aren’t just words for Tatum – the actor has previously shown no qualms about playing with gender and sending up his image as a butch leading man.
In 2017 he let Pink put him in drag, appearing in the video for her single “Beautiful Trauma”.
It came two years after he gave an unnerving turn as Beyoncé on Lip Sync Battle.
