It’s that time again: People magazine has crowned the sexiest man alive of 2024, and the choice has divided the internet. This year, the celeb-friendly glossy has crowned American actor and director John Krasinski.
Since 1985, People has been awarding this title, and a hunky cover shoot, to a famous face with X and Y chromosomes.
The inaugural winner was Mel Gibson, who apparently inspired the whole thing when a magazine staffer declared him to be “the sexiest man alive” in a meeting. Others were irregularly awarded the title until 1997, when it became an annual, hotly anticipated event.
Subsequent sexiest men alive have included George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Richard Gere and Johnny Depp (all four have won twice each!), David Beckham, Idris Elba, Bradley Cooper, Adam Levine, Michael B. Jordan, Chris Evans, John Legend and last year’s honoree, Patrick Dempsey.
Here’s everything you need to know about the heated reactions to Krasinski taking this year’s title.
How does People choose the Sexiest Man Alive?
What makes someone sexy — let alone sexiest of them all? That’s obviously deeply subjective, and the selection process is certainly more art than science, according to People editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford in a 2019 interview with CNN. While the magazine runs polls and focus groups and looks at reader engagement with various data points, it mostly seems to come down to the team asking themselves: What is sexy at the moment? There’s apparently a “secret server” where the material is stored preannouncement, with only 10 staffers privy before it goes live.
However, naming someone the sexiest man alive is a two-way street. The recipient needs to co-operate — accept the title, do an interview, sit for a photo shoot — which almost certainly entails endless negotiations with publicists and management teams. It’s possible People’s first picks have been turned down, or a celebrity only agrees to do it as part of a media tour for a project they’re promoting. For example, rumour has it that Ryan Gosling has turned down the honour more than once.
Why was John Krasinski named sexiest man alive 2024?
Krasinski told the magazine he thought he was “being punked” when he got the call. According to People, the actor is being recognized for his long career and stints as “a crush-worthy, prank-loving paper salesman” in “The Office,” getting “ripped” for “13 Hours” and “staying in fighting shape” for the “Jack Ryan” series, most recently pivoting to directing the kids movie “If.”
He’s also getting flowers for his home life: Krasinki “prefers just being a husband and father, who binges Netflix documentaries and relishes bedtime stories with his kids.”
What is the reaction to John Krasinski being named Sexiest Man Alive 2024?
As with anything so subjective, the response is mixed. In the comments under People’s Instagram cover reveal posts, which were co-posted with Krasinski’s account, there are plenty applauding: “Good guys finished first this time,” wrote one person. “Finally an election result I’m happy with,” said another.
On the flip side, many questioned the choice. “Cute, not sexy,” assessed one. “They got it wrong again,” said someone else. “It’s not that he’s not hot, it’s just that it’s 2024,” opined another, echoing a common thread that Krasinski is past his leading man prime.
In a Reddit thread about this year’s choice, one user pointed to a blind item shared by DeuxMoi, a gossip account that posts unverified information, about how a fading A-list actor was willing to pay millions of dollars for the title, as an investment in his career.
Who was snubbed for sexiest man alive this year?
Glen Powell, star of “Twisters” and 2024’s most ubiquitous leading man, also trended on social media today thanks to fans who believe he should have won this title. “What do you mean Glen Powell wasn’t sexiest man alive??” lamented one fan on X.
Pedro Pascal, Jonathan Bailey and Dev Patel are also frequently being cited as snubs.
What does Benny Blanco have to do with it?
Benny Blanco’s name is a popular comments section and social media subject too because the music producer and boyfriend of Selena Gomez was featured in the current issue, giving his tips for “being a sexy gentleman.”
Gomez celebrated his inclusion by sharing an image from Blanco’s People shoot with the caption: “Not only do you love me unconditionally, you always get me my Taco Bell Mexican pizza.”
Correction: A reference to People not yet naming a Latino sexiest man alive, in reference to Benny Blanco, has been removed.
