Patrick Dempsey Named ‘PEOPLE’s’ 2023 Sexiest Man Alive, Leaving Fans Divided
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Patrick Dempsey a.k.a. Dr. McDreamy is PEOPLE’s 2023 Sexiest Man Alive and some fans would like to have a word with those behind the decision.
One person tweeted, “Maybe 40 years ago…” as another questioned, “What is even the criteria for this?” Meanwhile, one fan called this “the Age of the Daddy,” especially considering the ratings for ABC’s The Golden Bachelor.
Baby Tate concerningly tweeted, “I just think it’s kinda crazy that Kofi Siriboe has not been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive when… he literally… is?”
Yet, Journalist Daric Cottingham offered alternative suggestions in her series of tweets. “Usher would’ve been a cool marketing choice for 2023 People Sexiest Man Alive leading up to the Super Bowl but they def probably didn’t even consider him,” she wrote and later noted, “No matter how much sense Jalen Hurts being named People’s Sexiest man alive for 2023 makes, it just was never happening. I think he would’ve been the youngest named if that happened but realistically they would’ve gave it to Travis Kelce if they did an NFL player.”
Aside from Usher, Hurts, and one of the Kelce brothers, other suggestions included Method Man, Ludacris, and Henry Cavill.
Since first launching in 1985, there have only been five Black men named PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive — three of which occurred consecutively. Denzel Washington was the first to be named in 1996 with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (2016), Idris Elba (2018), John Legend (2019), and Michael B. Jordan (2020) following in more recent years.
In terms of how the outlet selects the “Sexiest Man Alive,” PEOPLE Editor-in-Chief Dan Wakeford told CNN in 2019, “PEOPLE is really trying to inspire people to make a difference in the world and do good through our content [so] the Sexiest Man is someone who is hot, who is doing really well, and who actually is sexy… and creates buzz.”
Previous cover stars included Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, George Clooney (twice), Bradley Cooper, Adam Levine, Paul Rudd, and David Beckham.
For Dempsey, he’s thrilled about receiving this honor at 57. The former Grey’s Anatomy heartthrob expressed, “I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life. It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”
The Made Of Honor actor referenced his 2008 film when he joked, “I’ve always been the bridesmaid!,” upon receiving the surprising albeit long-awaited news. “I’d completely forgotten about it and never even contemplated being in this position. So my ego is good.”
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