--- title: "Jason Momoa So Furious About Environment That He Shaved His Head" description: "Actor Jason Mamoa has taken to Instagram to ferociously protest single-use plastics by shaving his hair off. Is that effective activism?" date: "2022-09-08" modified: "2022-09-08" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/jason-momoa-environment-shaved-head" categories: - "Environment" - "Science & Energy" tags: - "celebrities" - "climate change" - "ocean" - "the digest" --- # Jason Momoa So Furious About Environment That He Shaved His Head ![Actor Jason Mamoa has taken to Instagram to ferociously protest single-use plastics by shaving his hair off. Is that effective activism?]() *\Image: Jason Momoa\* ## New Look Jason Momoa, of "Baywatch," "Game of Thrones," and, um, [cruel pranks]() fame, has taken to Instagram to ferociously protest single-use plastics by... shaving his hair off? "Aloha everyone," Momoa said in the now-viral video. "I'm shaving off the hair. Doing it for single-use plastics. I'm tired of these plastic bottles, we gotta stop, plastic forks, all that shit, it just goes into our land, goes into our ocean." To his credit, the mega-star's formerly long hair was definitely part of His Whole Thing, and shaving it off certainly made headlines. He also has a strong history of very real activism efforts regarding [single-use plastics](), [climate change](), and the [protection of his native Hawaiian lands](). But that being said, the shaving-the-hair thing falls into a whole other category of celebrity activism — one that, well, we're not entirely convinced is really all that effective. ## Celebrity Activism Again, Momoa has backed up the buzz cut with offline activism work. The cut, however, seems like more of an awareness campaign — kind of like that controversial [ice bucket challenge]() for ALS — than tangible, offline action steps. Indeed, this type of awareness effort is pretty common among celebrity ranks. Remember when the celebrities — [thank you, Gal]() — sang to us to cure pandemic ills? Or when the celebs, at it again, [made that video]() during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests? It's a particular brand of "[clicktivism]()," one that can certainly generate likes and shares — but likes and shares [don't necessarily translate]() to real-world change. It's performative. We can all just say stuff, ya know? ## Gray Area Of course, it's a double-edged sword. We want people to use their platforms, especially if they have a large one. Social media, however, also runs the risk of turning movements into trends, which can take a bit of "oomph" out of very real issues. Can Momoa's haircut change the world? Remains to be seen. But if you find yourself applauding the bravery and commitment, remember: follow up by donating to an ocean-forward nonprofit, stop using plastic water bottles and utensils and whatever else. Otherwise, you're just watching a famous guy shave his head. **READ MORE:** [*Jason Momoa Shares Video of His Hair Being Shaved to Protest Single-Use Plastics*]() \[*Complex*\] **More on celebrities:** *[Celebrities Smacked down over Shilling NFTs Without Legal Disclosures ]()* ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()