Is ‘Toxic Masculinity’ To Blame For The Fatal Stabbing Of 15-Year-Old Elianne Andam?

The 17-year-old accused of stabbing the friend of his ex-girlfriend in South London on Sept. 27 made his first court appearance, BBC reports. The unidentified teenager is being charged with murder for fatally stabbing 15-year-old Elianne Anda and possessing a kitchen knife in a public place without reason. According to the New York Post, Andam was protecting a friend from the teenager, her ex-boyfriend. The victim had just got off a double-decker bus on her way to school when the suspect approached them with flowers.

The victim reportedly stepped in between the former couple to break up the situation when the scorned lover allegedly pulled out a black, thin knife, putting it through Andam’s neck. The bus driver and witnesses attempted to save her while medical officials were called. Almost 40 minutes later, Andam died. As for the suspect, he fled the scene but was detained nearly an hour later.

When news of the tragic crime hit social media, an outpouring of support came from people who recognized the devastation. Popular TikTok personalities gave their take on the situation, and one thinks toxic masculinity is to blame for the attacks on young Black women.

“The radicalization and incelification of young teen boys is making them lose their innocence,” the influencer said. “And as proxy we are going to be able to see their innocence and adolescence cause they are going to be a danger to society.”

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“We are failing our boys.”

Comments went both in support of her statement and against it.

“She didn’t lie one time,” one comment read. “But the way this patriarchal society is set up.. she might as well talk to the walls about this subject.”

Another said, “Stop saying OUR or BLACK BOYS & It goes BOTH ways.”

Family members gathered at the crime scene on Sept. 28, placing flowers in honor of their loved one.

In a statement, Andam’s family said they are struggling with this. “We, as a family, are struggling to comprehend this painful tragedy that has happened to our beautiful daughter and beloved sister Elianne,” it read. “Elianne was a beautiful person inside and out who loved Jesus. She was intelligent, thoughtful, kind, and had a bright future ahead.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “shocked” by the tragic news and spoke out about tougher sentencing for knife-related crimes.

“Everyone will be looking at that and be shocked as I am, appalled by what’s happened and, quite frankly, angry. It just illustrates the importance of clamping down on knife crime,” he said.