In the haze of Singapore’s nightlife, there’s a growing trend that’s got people whispering — and some even shouting — about “boyfriends for hire.” At venues like the Gentleman Club, sharply-dressed young men strut onto stage, pour drinks, and offer what the club bills as a “boyfriend-girlfriend experience.” It isn’t about sex — the hosts insist on strict boundaries — but for many patrons, what they pay for is companionship, emotional connection, and a break from the loneliness of modern urban life.
Walk into Gentleman Club after office hours and you’re instantly in a different world. On the sixth floor of a nondescript building in the CBD, hosts — mostly Singaporean, but also some from China — perform karaoke, play drinking games and roam the crowd, charming mostly women (though sometimes men too). The club isn’t shy about promoting itself: its Instagram boasts over 11,000 followers, with curated content and collaborations with influencers. That social-media push is what gives the club a public face — a bold contrast to the hush-hush reputation usually associated with “host clubs.”
According to the hosts themselves, this is a job with real earning potential. One emcee said he brings in a cool S$10,000 to S$20,000 a month. Another — moonlighting from real-estate by day — claims he makes as much as S$80,000 to S$100,000 a month from his after-hours work as a host. It’s a tempting draw, especially if you know how to play the social game.
Regulars come for more than just alcohol. Some clients are newly divorced women seeking emotional balm; others are wealthy foreign students longing for comfort and connection. For many, the appeal isn’t physical intimacy but simple human warmth — a dinner, a laugh, someone to notice them for a night. Hosts say they’re there to deliver that “boyfriend-girlfriend” vibe — handwritten messages, laughter, conversation, even escorted rides home — but on strictly non-sexual terms.
Yet despite its glitzy veneer, the trend walks a tightrope between societal acceptance and stigma. Some of the hosts concede that when they first told friends and family about what they do, reactions were harsh: “Gigolo,” “prostitute,” “bad karma,” they heard. Even though they insist there’s no sex involved, many still view the job as morally grey. As one host put it, “It’s not dirty — I accompany customers, talk to them, make them happy, drink with them, sing songs with them.” But push for intimacy beyond friendship and even the hosts draw a firm line.
A sociologist from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) argues that if these clubs are thriving, they’re simply meeting a demand. Singapore — like many urban hubs in East Asia — is already “used to nightclubs, KTVs and beer-ladies in kopitiams,” and so the rise of male-host clubs might just be the next evolution of nightlife. The fact that the club operates openly on social media also shows that public perception may be shifting, slowly but steadily.
So what does a “boyfriend for hire” mean in 2025 Singapore? It means someone willing to listen to your woes, laugh at your jokes, pour you drinks, buy you dinner, and maybe even send you home safe — all for a price. It’s not about sex, but about human connection in a city where loneliness often hides behind polished façades and busy schedules. Some might raise an eyebrow — “Haiyah, sibeh susah to find real connection meh?” — but for others, this kind of companionship fills a void that no swipe or dating-app chat could.
In a world where relationships are often only a click away but emotional warmth feels scarce, paying for a few hours of care — no strings, no expectations, just presence — can feel like a guilty luxury. “Boyfriend for hire” might sound tacky at first, but for some, it offers a kind of solace that’s otherwise hard to come by. Whether it’s something to judge, or something that simply works, only time — and more open minds — will tell.
Aiyo, Singapore, always so serious until someone mentions “boyfriends for hire,” then suddenly everybody becomes moral police. Why? Why you all so kaypoh? Let Auntie say it loud and clear: as long as no one gets hurt, no one’s coerced, and everyone is consenting and adult — why judge? This city so lonely already, people stressed until hair falling, dating apps full of ghosters, and everyone pretending they “doing fine lah” when actually heart quite empty. So if someone wants to pay for companionship, attention, maybe even just a listening ear over overpriced cocktails — Auntie says: why not?
Some folks clutch pearls until they crack, muttering that these host clubs “spoil society.” Please lor. Society already spoiled by skyrocketing rents, toxic bosses, and ministers telling people to marry early and have babies while work stress saps their souls. Compared to all that, a little hired affection is nothing. At least this one honest transaction — you give money, you get company — no false promises, no cheating, no pretending. Better than some of the so-called “real relationships” out there.
And hor, can we stop calling these men gigolos when they specifically say no sex? Auntie sees a lot of insecurity lah — some men scared that women might enjoy attention that doesn’t revolve around them; some women judge because they think “good girls” shouldn’t need this. But deep down, it’s all societal shame talking. If a woman books a male host, suddenly she “desperate.” But if a man books KTV girls, suddenly that one “bro culture.” Double standards until Auntie want to flip table.
The truth is simple: human beings crave connection. Sometimes romance, sometimes fun, sometimes just someone who actually listens instead of scrolling TikTok while you talk. Hosts provide presence, confidence, emotional labour — and yes, they get paid for it. Isn’t that what therapists, counsellors, life coaches do also? Just packaged differently with good hair gel and dim lighting.
So to all my sisters (and brothers too!) who want to explore this world — go ahead lah. Don’t need to malu. Don’t let society shame you into loneliness. You want companionship? Get it. You want someone to make you feel seen and appreciated for a night? Can. Your money, your rules.
Auntie’s final verdict: No judgement. Only joy. If it makes your heart lighter and harms nobody, then go enjoy, okay? Life already so hard — take your sweetness where you can find it.