When Hunter Metts took the stage at American Idol to sing the Academy award-winning song “Falling Slowly” from the film Once, I knew it would be spectacular. Metts has a soothing, unique tone that is the perfect fit for the track originally written, composed and performed by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. What I didn’t predict however, is that Metts would forget the lyrics at the end and in doing so, show the world what it looks like when a man is vulnerable.
Katy Perry received praise for her attempt to console him while he was mid-tears, but I’d like to instead praise Metts for using his huge platform to chip away at toxic masculinity. It is not often that we see men cry and when we do, we should embrace it.
It is brave to be vulnerable — and we need to remember that.