RooshV

RooshV is the online name of Daryush Valizadeh, an American writer and online commentator who rose to prominence in the late 2000s as a leading figure in the pickup artist (PUA) community. He gained attention for his self-help dating manuals, most notably Bang: The Pickup Bible That Helps You Get More Girls, originally published in 2007, and for building a brand around dating advice and male-focused cultural commentary. He later launched the website Return of Kings in 2012, a platform that featured articles on masculinity, politics, and culture and drew discussions that extended beyond traditional pickup artistry.

Valizadeh's work and rhetoric have been widely criticized for misogynistic and anti-feminist views. Critics include journalists, feminists, and advocacy groups, who argued that his writings encouraged coercive behavior and dehumanized women. The site's content and associated campaigns led to backlash and, in some cases, bans or sanctions by hosting providers, payment processors, and venues.

In 2015–2016, facing growing public scrutiny and safety concerns, he announced plans to leave the United States for travel abroad, continuing to publish and maintain his RooshV persona from various countries. Over the subsequent years, he has described his output as broader cultural commentary while maintaining a persistent but divisive presence in online debates about dating, masculinity, and politics. His career illustrates the trajectory from a niche dating-advice author to a controversial public figure whose work has provoked ongoing debate about gender, consent, and online extremism.