Is John Krasinski really the sexiest man alive?

After days and days of anticipation, false alarms (for a second, someone believed that People’s Sexiest Man Alive was Benny Blanco, the American songwriter and Selena Gomez’s boyfriend), audience-voted rankings, controversies, and countdowns, we finally have the answer: the sexiest man alive for 2024, according to the American publication, is John Krasinski. If last year, with the nomination of Patrick Dempsey, we questioned the relevance and usefulness of this award, this year the discussion is slightly different.

John Krasinski Then and Now: From The Office to (More or Less) Corruption

John Krasinski is best known as Jim Halpert from The Office. His charm as the simple yet cool guy, madly in love with his Pam, ironic and laid-back, capable of big and small romantic gestures, is still admired today. In fact, guys looking for a date on Tinder often crack jokes about it. Then came his marriage to Emily Blunt and his pivot to action films and directing, starting with A Quiet Place in 2018. Now, it seems he’s in a bit of a lull, even if his career has never truly stalled. Will this title help give his career a boost? Social media users are convinced it will, so much so that a conspiracy theory has already started. According to an anonymous tip sent to Deuxmoi, it seems the actor paid a hefty sum to secure this coveted title, hoping to revive his image. Whether it's true or not doesn’t matter, and we wouldn't be surprised. The question is: would it work?

A Ranking That No Longer Reflects the Times

People’s ranking is entertaining and sparks discussion, but for years now, it has no longer reflected young people's ideas of beauty and masculinity. It actually appeals to fully grown adults, to men and women who find comfort in seeing a fit bearded man on the cover. For a while now, modern-day idols have moved past certain ideas and aesthetic standards, embracing men who are less overtly macho. Think of Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet, Josh O'Connor, Mahmood, Tom Holland, Elliot Page, and let's broaden the definition to include non-binary people, like Sam Smith and Emma D'Arcy. In the comments on Instagram and Twitter, users share their suggestions, and the range is extremely wide, challenging any strict definition of what it means to be a man.

Sexiness According to Gen Z

What do we gather from these reactions? That being a man, and a sexy and attractive man at that, today means everything and nothing at the same time. Boundaries are blurred, widened, and erased, and there’s a playful spirit around it. Celebrities do it, and so do their fans. Just think of Kristen Stewart’s Rolling Stones cover, which horrified some but made others reconsider ideas of masculinity and femininity, blending them together. If we add to this the trend of the hot rodent boyfriend, just to name one example, then the picture is clear: sexy is whoever attracts us, whoever piques our curiosity, whoever stimulates us, plays, doesn’t take themselves too seriously, and who takes care.