Jonathan Bailey made history last night by becoming the first out gay man to hold the title of People’s Sexiest Man Alive.
The actor is best known for his roles in Bridgerton, Wicked, and the upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good. According to Out, the news was revealed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the actor was revealed in front of a giant cover of the magazine.
“It’s the honor of a lifetime,” Bailey expressed to Fallon. He now shares this title with many high class names in show business: Paul Rudd, Michael B. Jordan, Idris Elba, Chris Evans, and George Clooney to name a few.
This decision makes a lot of sense; it’s been a busy year for Bailey, being in huge blockbusters like the aforementioned Wicked, as well as Jurassic World Rebirth.
Besides being a now undeniably sexy man, Bailey is also a vocal advocate for his community. He announced recently that after the Wicked: For Good press tour that he plans on taking a break from acting to focus on his nonprofit, the Shameless Fund, an organization that financially supports several LGBTQ+ charities.
These charity partners include the Say it Loud Club, Sage: Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders, and mosaic LGBT+ young persons’ trust. All organizations that provide social, emotional, educational, and overall support to the LGBTQ+ community.
It is a monumental deal that such a highly discussed pop culture award was given to a gay man (again, for the first time ever!) who advocates so deeply for our community. In these dark times, where every day we have to question if our rights are going to be protected, this is an uplifting win for us queer folk.
“You get to a point where you look back and you go, ‘Wow,’ but you never for a second think that’s where you’re headed,” Bailey says. “I feel incredibly lucky. Life is a ride for everyone no matter who you are, where you come from. It’s just making sure that when you’re in the ride, you’re looking left and right and making sure everyone’s all right. And give them a high-five along the way if they need it.”
Photo courtesy of social media
