People made their choice, and the USC community is reluctantly accepting the results.
It’s fair to say that Trojans are divided on the man who won — and we’re not talking about the presidential race.
Filmmaker and actor John Krasinksi, best known for roles in “The Office” and “A Quiet Place,” was crowned People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive 2024″ Wednesday, earning mixed reactions from the USC community.
Krasinski directed two movies in 2024, “IF” and “A Quiet Place: Day One.” Both films did well at the box office, grossing tens of millions at their respective debuts. Regardless, USC community members said Krasinski may not be relevant enough to be this year’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” with his biggest hit “The Office” going off-the-air in 2016.
“His peak was, like, 10 years ago,” said William Higby, a USC alum.
Staff member Aaron Abunu asked, “when was the last time [Krasinski] even had a major movie?”
For People, the choice appears to be more about charm than relevance. The magazine called Krasinksi “smart” and “funny,” supposedly adding to his overall sexiness. Many USC community members agreed that personality is what makes someone sexy, on top of their looks.
Grace Nwankwo, a senior studying health and human sciences, said “humor and intelligence definitely make you sexier than you appear to be.”
Parker Boutellu, a senior studying philosophy, politics and law, said, “Charisma is something that’s very sexy.”
Students said personality does not outweigh everything, though.
“You have to actually find them sexually attractive,” USC alum Emma Hunter said.
Students said Krasinski may not be the most sexually attractive pick. Students named other celebrities, including Regé-Jean Page (“Bridgerton”), Mike Faist (“Challengers”) and Dev Patel (“Monkey Man”), who deserved the title more. Two students said their own boyfriends deserved the title. Boutellu said he was the sexiest man alive.
Trojans’ choices were very diverse, and many wished People’s pick was the same. Krasinski is the 16th white “Sexiest Man Alive” of the past 20 issues. In the past 20 years, only four of the men were not white.
The last non-white “Sexiest Man Alive” was Michael B. Jordan in the 2020 issue. Other non-white celebrities have won subcategories, such as “Sexiest International Man” or “Gen SeXiest,” but a non-white man is rarely given the official title.
“I think there are sexier men who are not white,” Nwankwo said.
But sophomore Olivia Bynum, who is studying theater, said she was not surprised because “America is very white-centered in its media.”
Wallis Schriver, a sophomore studying popular music performance, added: “Let’s get some diversity in there!”
The award was announced exactly a week from Election Day, and some students said the award was a fitting distraction from the presidential election.
“I feel like there could’ve been a better time,” Hunter said, “But it’s a nice distraction from all of the election noise.”
Boutellu said, “You have to find joy in certain things.”