Jonathan Bailey just added another feather to his cap, but not everyone agrees.
The Bridgerton Heartthrob has officially joined the People‘s Sexiest Man Alive club, joining Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Chris Evans and Michael B. Jordan.
On Monday, November 3, the magazine announced that the 37-year-old will hold the 2025 title, sparking a wave of reaction online.
While many fans celebrated the choice, calling it “the right one” after a few controversial selections in recent years, including The devil wears Pradastar Emily Blunt’s husband and The office alum John Krasinski, others were less convinced.
Love it or hate it, Bailey’s new title certainly got everyone talking. Some users argued that “better looking men exist,” while others applauded the stunningly handsome actor’s charm and talent.
Bailey, known for his role in Bad and as Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s hit series, he is also the first openly gay man to earn the title of Sexiest Man Alive, which sparked a separate discussion that had some social media users questioning whether the title should even include gay men.
While that sentiment was quickly criticized by others as outdated and discriminatory, the backlash persisted with one person writing, “Hey, just let someone in,” someone commented under the Instagram post.
“He doesn’t deserve the title.” Another added: “He’s not even in the top 50 [crying and peace sign gesture emoji].” A third wrote: “Jonathan Bailey? Sexiest man in the world? Be serious. You all really looked at Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans and a whole planet of fine men and said, ‘No, give it to that Bridgerton guy.’ This isn’t ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ – it’s ‘Most Likely to Stare Broodingly into a Teacup.’”
Despite the criticism, Bailey’s supporters came out in full force, celebrating yet another impressive milestone in his growing list of achievements.
Fellow Bad stars, including Cynthia Erivo and other celebrities like Matt Bomer, took to social media to congratulate him on the honor.
