In the bustling city, Chris Elliott is bringing roses to life.
This horticulturist at the New York Botanical Garden is basking in attention, attracting a throng of plant enthusiasts who can’t help but admire him. Yet, some believe this kind of admiration crosses into inappropriate territory and stirs up social media frenzy.
There’s been a significant response to his growing online fame. Allegations surfaced that NYBG had to disable comments due to harassment toward Elliott whenever he appeared on their social media. One whistleblower shared evidence online, highlighting the restrictions on TikTok.
Recently, videos featuring Elliott highlighting cherry blossoms and other blooms gathered impressive view counts, with one video hitting over 101,000 views. Another post related to guardrails and blooming flowers attracted nearly 99,000 views.
Representatives from the New York Botanical Garden and Elliott did not reply to inquiries from the media.
Before the decision to limit online comments, various unsavory remarks and compliments reflected a troubling fascination. One admirer joked, “There’s no way he’s single,” while another declared, “Well, hello, Chris,” showcasing their affection through emojis. Someone even called him “one of my favorite orchids.”
Amidst all this, many on social media labeled the flattery as “sexual harassment,” commending the Botanical Garden for taking steps to protect Elliott by shutting down the comment sections.
A concerned user recognized that while the comments were “mostly polite,” they seldom discussed the actual flowers. They expressed relief at the decision to safeguard Elliott, emphasizing he’s just attempting to fulfill his role.
This phenomenon of attraction and objectification isn’t solely directed at women; it’s a broader issue.
While some argue that physical beauty carries “considerable privilege,” many in attractive positions, like Leah Hulton, who was recently deemed “the most beautiful girl in the world,” have pointed out the difficulties that come along with it.
Numerous attractive individuals have noted that their looks can act as a barrier to genuine connections with others.
In a related trend, men have also faced objectification, particularly with the controversial “catch print” craze—which involves judging a man’s size by their appearance. One man shared a humorous yet frustrating experience about being appraised, feeling reduced to nothing more than an object.
“My profile was like a magazine article,” he said, reflecting on how women would often overlook his face in favor of other attributes.
“I told one woman, ‘Hey, my eyes are up here,’” he recounted, illustrating his discomfort with how he felt objectified and sexualized in that moment.
