Is Louis Theroux Jewish? What he’s said about religion and his terrifying encounter with neo-Nazis

Is Louis Theroux Jewish? What he’s said about religion and his terrifying encounter with neo-Nazis







Inside the Manosphere is on Netflix now

Cameron Frew

Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is a troubling documentary, notably when it tackles influencers’ use of anti-Semitic language. You could also be questioning if Theroux is Jewish, and that is what he’s said.

The new Netflix documentary tackles the ‘manosphere’: the net tradition of misogyny, poisonous masculinity, and dialogue about males’s points and rights that always promotes unhealthy behaviours.

Towards the tip of the movie, Theroux discusses the clear present of anti-Semitism (performative or in any other case) in his topics’ content material. For instance, one influencer – HStikkytokky – could be heard and seen shouting, “[Bleep] the Jews” on the streets of Marbella.

While Theroux by no means says outright within the documentary if he’s Jewish, he’s spoken about religion a number of occasions.

Louis Theroux in a headlock
Inside the Manosphere is out there to stream now (Credit: Netflix)

Is Louis Theroux Jewish?

No, Louis Theroux isn’t Jewish. He has confirmed this on three events.

Firstly, he says he’s an atheist in his Ultra Zionists BBC particular.

Secondly, in response to a tweet in 2012 (which has since been deleted), Theroux wrote: “Not Jewish. As far as I know.”

Thirdly, in a YouTube video uploaded to BBC Brit’s channel in 2015, Theroux as soon as once more reiterated that he isn’t Jewish.

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“I can disclose this now… I’m not actually Jewish. I have no problem with being identified as Jewish, but it’s just not a factual statement,” he said, talking about his notorious encounter with neo-Nazis (extra on this shortly).

If you Google “is Louis Theroux Jewish”, its AI overview will let you know he was born to a Jewish mom. However, this isn’t true.

Speaking to America Magazine, he defined how his dad and mom had been “both lapsed in their faiths”.

“My dad was raised Catholic and my mum was Church of England, but we never went to church growing up,” Theroux said. “If anything I do feel I missed out on it a bit. Because I think [faith] gives you a mental furniture and almost something to push back on.”

When Louis Theroux refused to inform a Nazi if he was Jewish

Longtime followers of Louis Theroux will bear in mind one in all his most unforgettable documentaries: Louis and the Nazis.

It’s precisely what its title says: a movie following Theroux as he meets racists and skinheads in America.

The most well-known scene of the doc sees Theroux visiting Skip, a neo-Nazi in California. After some pleasant dialog, he asks Skip’s associates if contemplate themselves white racists. He suggests they could have been on the fence with their response, which they take as an insult.

Theroux then asks Skip if it’d create an issue if he was Jewish. “Because you’ve got the camera right now, I’d allow you to stay. If not, I’d probably kick your ass and put you in the street somewhere,” he says.

When Skip asks if Theroux is Jewish, he asks if it’s okay if he doesn’t verify or deny it. “By saying if I’m Jewish or not, I’m kind of in a way acknowledging the premise that it matters when I think it shouldn’t and doesn’t,” he defined to Skip.

This turns the interview bitter, particularly after Skip has a number of drinks. They ultimately demand to know, and Theroux refuses to reply.

Why Theroux wouldn’t say if he’s Jewish or not

While Theroux successfully defined why he felt it wasn’t applicable to reveal or deny being Jewish, he mentioned it additional in a BAFTA interview in 2011.

“We decided that I was not going to say if I was Jewish or not. Partly as a principle, and – to be honest – partly because I knew it would wind up the skinheads,” he said.

“If they thought I was Jewish, there was likely to be a tension there. At the minute I said, “I’m not Jewish”, the stress would go, and the drama would exit of the movie.”

Read extra: New documentaries and true crime to watch in March 2026

Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere is out there to stream on Netflix now.

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