John Krasinski was named as People magazine’s 2024 Sexiest Man Alive on the Late Show with Steven Colbert on Tuesday evening.
The heartthrob, 45, dethroned the 2023 winner, Grey’s Anatomy hunk Patrick Dempsey, 58, for the coveted title.
Krasinski told People he thought he was ‘being punked’ when he was told he won the title this year.
The actor also revealed his wife, Emily Blunt, 41, was ‘very excited’ to learn he was named Sexiest Man Alive, adding, ‘There was a lot of joy involved in me telling her.’
After Krasinski was announced as this year’s winner, fans had a divided reaction on social media.
‘John Krasinski 𝓈ℯ𝓍iest man alive? Hmmmm I’m not sure,’ one wrote.
‘John Krasinski People’s 𝓈ℯ𝓍iest man alive? I must be missing something.’
‘I’m so disappointed it’s not even funny. I stayed up till midnight for this bulls**t.’
‘John Krasinski???? not ryan gosling!!????’
Another commentator shared a photo of John’s wife Emily crying in a still from the film The Devil Wears Prada, and wrote, ‘only his wife thinks that.’
‘This is worse than benny blanco to me, like giving it to a slice of bread,’ someone else wrote.
‘We really are in the worst timeline possible.’
However, others had more positive reactions. ‘Oh come be nice, I think he’s 𝓈ℯ𝓍y.. maybe not 𝓈ℯ𝓍iest.. but he is smart and funny.’
‘This is worse than benny blanco to me, like giving it to a slice of bread,’ someone else added
‘John Krasinski???? not ryan gosling!!????’
However, others had more positive reactions, with one fan writing, ‘I think he’s 𝓈ℯ𝓍y.. maybe not 𝓈ℯ𝓍iest.. but he is smart and funny’
‘Well I’m not mad about it to be honest,’ someone else added.
‘Been rooting for him since the office.’
The comments continued, with one Twitter user adding: ‘I can totally get on board with this pick.’
‘Wait I can’t handle seeing the internet be mean to John Krasinski this is so sad he’s 𝓈ℯ𝓍y I guess leave him alone.’
After he was revealed as this year’s winner on the show, John told Colbert that the only people that knew he won were his wife Emily and Matt Damon.
‘The only person I slipped and told, when we did the shoot I went to Matt Damon’s birthday party.’ After Damon asked him why he was late, John spilled the good news.
John and Colbert also taped a humorous 80s themed video meant to instruct the talk show host of how to go from ‘goofy, lovable, boy-nextdoor to big, dumb 𝓈ℯ𝓍 hunk.’
John then described the six steps, which included eliminating bad snacks, eating raw eggs, as well as getting a DNA swab from prior Sexiest Man Alive winner Chris Evans.
Evans hilariously made a cameo in the clip, with Colbert surprising him with a cheek swab
Evans hilariously made a cameo in the clip, with Colbert surprising him with a cheek swab.
In his cover story for People, John shared his surprise at earning the title: ‘That’s not how I wake up, thinking, “Is this the day that I’ll be asked to be Sexiest Man Alive?” And yet it was the day you guys did it. You guys have really raised the bar for me.’
He also gushed about his wife, saying: ‘It’s that beautiful thing where when you’re married to someone, you’re constantly learning and changing and evolving. And I’m so lucky to go through all that with her.’
The actor went on to joke that his new title won’t help him at home, and will make him do ‘more household chores’: ‘She’ll be like, “All right, that means you’re going to really earn it here at home.”‘
Krasinski is best known for his role as Jim Halpert in the popular TV series The Office, which ran from 2005-2013.
He also famously starred in Michael Bay’s 13 Hours (2016) and Prime Video series Jack Ryan (2018-2023).
Recently he’s been making a name for himself as a director with the horror films A Quiet Place (2018) and A Quiet Place Part II (2020) as well as IF (2024).
He’s been married to Blunt since 2010. The couple share two daughters: Hazel, 10 and Violet, seven.
Colbert has previously bestowed the title — chosen based on physical attractiveness, charisma, and cultural impact — on Paul Rudd in 2021, after subjecting him to a number of hilarious 𝓈ℯ𝓍y man tests.
The crown was then handed off to Captain America star Chris Evans, 43.
Another hunk featured in this year’s issue was Selena Gomez‘s boyfriend Benny Blanco.
The Grammy-nominated producer, 36, happily discussed his secrets to success in life and love, and dished on his romantic mornings with the actress, 32, in the article.
After it was revealed that he would be part of the issue, fans had a mixed response.
Some applauded the decision, writing, ‘YES! He’s redefining “𝓈ℯ𝓍y” with that humor and style!’
However, not everyone agreed with the decision – though many seemed to think Blanco was actually the cover star, and not just featured in the issue.
‘Selena paid for this,’ one fan wrote with three crying emojis.
‘Benny blanco and 𝓈ℯ𝓍iest man alive should never be in the same sentence,’ someone else chimed in.
Earlier this month soccer star David Beckham, 49, who previously earned the honor in 2015, shared some advice for the winner.
‘Don’t get carried away! Keep your feet on the ground because you only get it once,’ he told People.
Beckham then jokingly asked: ‘I think you only get it once. Can you get it more than once?’
The answer is yes, though it’s a rare occurrence.
Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Richard Gere have all been crowned Sexiest Man Alive twice.
Other past winners include Michael B. Jordan (2020), John Legend (2019), Idris Elba (2018), Blake Shelton (2017), Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (2016), David Beckham (2015), Chris Hemsworth (2014), Adam Levine (2013), Channing Tatum (2012), Bradley Cooper (2011) and Ryan Reynolds (2010).
The earlier decade in the 2000s brought forward wins by Johnny Depp (2009), Hugh Jackman (2008), Matt Damon (2007), George Clooney (2006), Matthew McConaughey (2005), Jude Law (2004), Johnny Depp (2003), Ben Affleck (2002), Pierce Brosnan (2001) and Brad Pitt (2000).
The 1990s brought covers for Richard Gere (1999), Harrison Ford (1998), George Clooney (1997), Denzel Washington (1996), Brad Pitt (1995), Nick Nolte (1992), the late Patrick Swayze (1991) and Tom Cruise (1990). There was no winner named in 1994 and then-couple Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford was named the Sexiest Couple Alive in 1993.
The first decade of the annual honor, the 1980s, saw the Sexiest Man Alive named as the late Sean Connery in 1989, the late John F. Kennedy, Jr. in 1988, Harry Hamlin in 1987, and Mark Harmon in 1986.
People magazine named its first Sexiest Man Alive in February 1985 when it picked then 29-year-old Mel Gibson for the honor.