John Krasinski is the “Sexiest Man Alive” in the world. Everything we know about how he was chosen – and why the debate over selection is good for sales.

It’s official – John Krasinski is man’s Sexiest Man Alive.

The title was awarded The office funny guy and If Director on Tuesday The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It started with a funny comment about how Colbert wished he had won, and Krasinski consoled him.

What followed was the typical, somewhat awkward conversation about how surprised Krasinski was that he was chosen, how his wife – Emily Blunt – reacted (with laughter) and how he will never be as sexy as previous titleholders like Matthew McConaughey. He also used the nightly broadcast time to promote his upcoming Jack Ryan film.

When the magazine’s two cover options were revealed on television, the publication dropped its cover story – with another interview (“I think it’ll make me do more housework,” Krasinski joked) and lots of photos of him like him looks sweet.

While people’s choices are always top secret, there were rumors a month ago that Krasinski might be the guy. Krasinski told Colbert that the only person he told other than his wife was Matt Damon, so perhaps the former SMA was the leak.

It’s no surprise that there’s already a heated debate on social media about the sexiness of the outlet’s selection. While it’s not the Blake Shelton situation, there’s more confusion as to why Krasinski is now and not someone who’s really on the rise, like Glen Powell having a year or Adam Brody having a revival experienced. (Pedro Pascal, Jason Momoa, Charles Melton – social media is full of other suggestions.)

How does the magazine determine her husband? Here’s everything we know about the process, including the fact that while “sexy” is in the title, that’s what it’s really about Sales. And when there’s a debate about the winner, which is pretty much every time, sales go up.

Since when has “Sexiest Man Alive” existed?

Since 1985 – almost 40 years – and it all started with Mel Gibson.

The controversial actor/director is technically the first titleholder, but that wasn’t the plan. A People reporter interviewed the then-rising star on the set of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome. The story is no longer on People’s website, but Gibson sounded a little unsettled – he used a derogatory term, called the film he was promoting “a piece of shit” and told the reporter he “didn’t want to do this interview , “Drinking and Smoking,” says a 2014 Slate story about the Sexiest Man Alive story.

Former People employee Michelle Green obtained the interview file and turned it into a compelling story. She ended her post with the line, “And then the sexiest man in the world lounges away alone,” and her kicker became the magazine’s cover line. The issue sold two million copies – and the franchise was born.

Green told Slate that launching the franchise is “something that I kind of hate unleashing on the world.” She called “the very idea of ​​a ‘sexiest man alive’… a false concept.” It’s not about, “Do I want to fuck this guy?” It’s a very calculated feature that involves selling magazines. I can’t believe people are falling for this.”

Who are the other Sexiest Men Alive?

After Gibson, the magazine’s staff chose an SMA almost every year, starting with St. Elsewhere‘s Mark Harmon and then LA Law Star Harry Hamlin. Others from this era were also white heterosexual men: Patrick Swayze, Harrison Ford, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Nick Nolte.

The first person of color was Denzel Washington (1996). The oldest Sexiest Man Alive was Sean Connery (1989) at the age of 59. One year there was a Sexiest Couple Alive: Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford (1993).

In the 2000s, the awarding of the title became a playful competition between pals Pitt and Clooney, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. There were jokes about “campaigns.” During this era, Johnny Depp held the title twice (2003 and 2009) and McConaughey (2005) was so committed (he memorably passed the magazine’s “Sexy Aptitude Test”) that the publication decided that interviews were mandatory or a person would It is not selected. The magazine also got serious and was branded “Sexiest Man Alive.”

The traditional guys persisted into the 2010s: Chris Hemsworth, Channing Tatum, David Beckham, Ryan Reynolds. That changed slightly as box office giant Dwayne Johnson was a rather unconventional choice as the first Samoan SMA – and certainly the most muscular. There was also a lot of backlash: readers had thoughts about Shelton and his The voice Buddy Adam Levine as defending champion. There was also disappointment that Bradley Cooper was chosen in 2011 when people were promoting Ryan Gosling, but Cooper reportedly went a step further and did a lot of publicity for the magazine.

From 2019 – when it was called John Legend – to the 2020s, the picks are more than just eye candy, as the magazine devotes space to the activism of Michael B. Jordan (2020) and Chris Evans (2022). Nice guy Paul Rudd (2021) also had the title. Patrick Dempsey, the 2023 pick, was a long time coming for the 80s film star.

Has anyone rejected the title?

That would be Gosling, who has reportedly said no multiple times. John F. Kennedy Jr. declined to participate when he was appointed SMA in 1988, and Affleck had his mother interviewed in his place in 2002.

Meanwhile, Evans was reportedly in talks to be selected for 2020 and 2021, but it didn’t work out. His NSFW photo scandal is responsible for one of the setbacks.

What did People editors say about picking the sexy guy?

The franchise has obviously evolved over time – and as the magazine’s editors changed.

It was the late People magazine editor Pat Ryan, a woman, who made it into a franchise and wisely targeted the predominantly female reading audience. former editor Jim Gaines, who later took over from Ryan, told Slate, “Honestly, if it had been a male editor, I’m not sure it would have even happened.”

When the franchise was first launched, there was no set time of year when the installment would be released. Now it’s November – and the magazine is starting its countdown months early to maximize sales.

As for the selection, then-editor Larry Hackett revealed some secrets during ABC News’ 2010 special: 25 Years of Sexy: People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.

“I think ‘Sexy Man’ works so well because it’s fun,” Hackett said. “So the decision we make is based on what we hear from the public. …Whose movie did you see? Whose record did you buy? Whose TV show did you watch? What do you think about these people? ?”

Hackett said they like “a mix of someone hot but well-known. Not too young, not too old and someone who, to be honest, maybe we’ve never thought of before.”

According to Bustle, he added, “Sexy certainly has to do with someone being good-looking, and has to do with a certain kind of romantic, flirtatious physical attraction that may go beyond the mere academic appreciation of their looks.”

Then-editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford told CNN in 2019, “We start thinking about who might be next year’s sexiest man the day after the last article is published.”

He said they would consider “everyone” from the start. Research is conducted, including focus groups. The magazine editors hold top secret meetings. When a subject is selected, only about ten employees in total know who it is, and they keep the story secret on a “secret server.”

Wakeford said it was important to pick someone who was “kind,” “good” and “nice” this year when it came to Legend. He also said that cover subjects “never get paid.” However, the cover guy gets as many copies of the issue as he wants.

He also said that publicists recruit their clients to appear on the cover – because it helps increase the star’s fame (“This title will follow them,” Wakeford said) – and therefore their bottom line. That’s why the SMA agrees to promote the magazine – it’s a financial win-win situation for everyone.

A source told Slate, “Unlike Person of the Year, which is awarded by Time magazine, Sexiest Man has to be accepted. “Whoever it is does a photo shoot, participates in an interview and does a lot of press work.”

“Whenever everyone wonders why he didn’t make the obvious choice … it’s because this guy didn’t want to do it,” the former employee said.

Controversy is good for the bottom line

Here too, the purpose is sales. So the whole online argument about whether People made a good choice or not only helps the magazine’s bottom line.

“When there is a debate, we usually get big title sales,” Wakeford said.

He added: “There will always be a bit of controversy.”

Is there only one sexy man per year?

No. The concept evolved from a single cover story about a man to an issue full of sexy guys of various types. Krasinski’s cover advertises that this year will feature “125 Men We Love.”

The magazine now often publishes some of the selected articles in advance to create a buzz. For example, earlier this week, Selena Gomez shared that her boyfriend Benny Blanco had been named Sexy Gentleman.

Isn’t this concept outdated?

It sure is – and there is no shortage of people pointing it out. They have also criticized the lack of diversity, including the absence of LGBTQ Hollywood stars.

It’s similar to beauty pageants and Victoria’s Secret fashion shows – where people keep wondering why they keep doing this… and yet they do.

Others see it as a nice, light change from serious news.