Not all heroes wear capes but some apparently need a paid villain to help them shine. A man in Malaysia has gone viral after revealing he works as a “villain for hire”.
We’ve seen people do all sorts of things for cash - renting a date for Valentine’s Day, hiring a professional cuddler or even paying someone to send fake texts to make their ex jealous.
But 28-year-old Shazali Sulaiman has taken things to a whole new level and perhaps even encouraged a new career path for some.
Sulaiman is capitalising on his so-called “bad boy” looks by offering himself as a staged troublemaker.
His job is to pretend to harass a client’s girlfriend in a public setting, just so her partner can swoop in and save the day. Talk about commitment to the bro code.
Advertising his services on Facebook, according to “Unliad”, he posted: "Hit me up for a wonderful show on ya girl. Are you guys tired because your girlfriends think you're soft and treat you indifferently?"
For a “reasonable” fee of $22 (around R400 on weekdays) or $34 (around R600 on weekends), Sulaiman is available to provide the ultimate staged confrontation.
Clients just need to arrange a public setting and a specific time, and he’ll take care of the rest.
And in case the heroics need a little extra punch, Sulaiman is even open to a bit of light scuffling.
He added: "I will come to disturb your girlfriend, and you become [the] hero by hitting me." Now that’s dedication.
Sulaiman claims he has already had one “successful” gig.
In his first performance, he pretended to bother a woman while her boyfriend had stepped away to the bathroom. Right on cue, the boyfriend returned, confronted him, and emerged as the fearless protector.
“When he returned, he confronted me like a hero,” Sulaiman recalled, apparently proud of his work.
But we’re going to need a lot more than one successful gig.
While some have laughed at the absurdity of it all, others have raised serious concerns. Could this actually count as harassment? More importantly, could Sulaiman land himself in a Malaysian jail?
Under Malaysian law, those convicted of sexual harassment could face up to three months in prison, a hefty fine, or both. There’s also the risk of being sued for emotional distress.
However, Sulaiman, insists that it’s all in good fun. He compares his service to WWE wrestling, “It’s all just an act. No one gets hurt. I’m the only loser.”
Well, WWE stars get paid a lot more than R400 a gig but, hey, at least the man’s got a side hustle.
At first glance, the “villain for hire” concept might seem like just another quirky side hustle. However, experts suggest it highlights deeper issues in modern dating dynamics.
Relationship psychologist Dr Randi Gunther explains that this kind of behaviour taps into outdated gender roles, which remain pervasive despite cultural shifts.
According to Gunther in “Psychology Today”: "Living within traditional male and female roles in committed relationships is currently coming under scrutiny."
She added: "What was once the established status quo of the male role as dominant and protective, and the female role as supportive and adaptive, is rapidly transitioning."
Yet, for some, these old-school roles are still very much alive, and this "villain for hire" business plays directly into that notion.
Gunther added that many still define "manly" males as those who "take the lead, make the majority of major decisions, and provide perspective and protection."
Here, we see how the "hero" image is integral to modern relationships, albeit in a rather performative and exaggerated way.
The trend might seem comical, but it underscores the pressure some men feel to meet traditional expectations of masculinity and protection.
And with social media perpetuating unrealistic "relationship goals," it seems that grand gestures - be they real or fake - have become the norm.
Instead of focusing on respect, trust and communication, the emphasis is placed on theatrical displays of heroism.