Lead: Jonathan Bailey was named People magazine’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive on November 3, 2025, earning the annual accolade that typically spotlights high-profile actors. The Bridgerton and Wicked star accepted the designation during an appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show, calling it an extraordinary honor. People published two covers for the issue, including one featuring Bailey’s dog, Benson. The announcement arrives amid corporate shifts at People Inc., owned by IAC, which cut about 6% of staff last month.
Key Takeaways
- Jonathan Bailey, known for Bridgerton and Wicked, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive on November 3, 2025.
- People ran two covers for the issue; one shot includes Bailey with his dog, Benson.
- Bailey described the recognition to Jimmy Fallon as “the honor of a lifetime.”
- People Inc., parented by IAC, announced roughly a 6% workforce reduction in October 2025.
- People’s selection pattern skews toward Hollywood actors rather than public-service professions like firefighters or veterinarians.
- People’s editors say looks are not the sole criterion; prior honorees like Michael B. Jordan have been cited for activism as well.
- Andrea Lavinthal, People’s executive director of special integrated projects, confirmed the magazine does not pay honorees and said honorees do not pay the magazine.
Background
People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive franchise began as an annual cultural touchpoint, frequently amplifying the public profiles of selected entertainers. Over decades the title has typically favored bankable screen stars, a pattern that reinforces the industry’s promotional cycle: magazine covers boost visibility and, in turn, drive attention to studio projects. The award’s cultural weight derives as much from media amplification as from the editors’ selection criteria, which have intermittently referenced philanthropic or political activities alongside appearance.
Ownership and business context shape the publication’s operations. People Inc. is part of IAC, a corporate owner that in late 2025 implemented workforce reductions of about 6%, a move that sparked internal and industry discussion about cost-cutting in legacy entertainment brands. That commercial pressure coincides with editorial decisions that tend to privilege actors with broad audience recognition and promotional value, which critics say sidelines other visible but non-Hollywood forms of public service.
Main Event
On November 3, 2025, People revealed Jonathan Bailey as that year’s Sexiest Man Alive in its annual feature. The announcement included two distinct covers; one portrait pairs Bailey with his dog Benson, a personal touch intended to humanize the star and expand the story beyond red-carpet imagery. Bailey appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon following the reveal and called the recognition “the honor of a lifetime,” a line widely quoted by entertainment outlets.
People’s editorial note reiterated that looks are not the sole determinant of the title and pointed to honorees who have been recognized for off-screen activity as part of the selection calculus. The magazine also framed the pick within its tradition of selecting actors, a pattern that once again excluded many public-facing professionals outside Hollywood. The piece contextualized Bailey’s career milestones, including his high-profile roles in Bridgerton and Wicked, as contributing factors to his visibility.
The announcement prompted immediate industry reactions and social-media commentary, both celebratory and skeptical. Some commentators hailed the recognition as a meaningful milestone for an openly gay leading actor reaching mainstream tabloid prominence, while others criticized the title’s continued focus on celebrity optics. Behind the scenes, People’s stated commercial posture—no payment to honorees—was reiterated by editorial staff.
Analysis & Implications
The selection of Jonathan Bailey reinforces People’s long-running editorial preference for established screen actors as recipients of broad cultural honors. That pattern has commercial logic: actors commonly promote films and series, and covers starring them can drive news cycles and subscription interest. For Bailey, the accolade magnifies his marketability and may increase audience attention to projects already underway or forthcoming.
Symbolically, the recognition carries significance for representation in mainstream entertainment media. If confirmed as the first openly out gay recipient in the magazine’s history, the choice would mark a notable shift in visibility, reflecting broader industry changes around LGBT+ representation. However, symbolic gains coexist with structural limits: selections remain shaped by publicity ecosystems and corporate priorities rather than purely social-progress metrics.
Economically, the announcement arrives amid People Inc.’s cost-cutting measures, highlighting tension between editorial ambitions and corporate budgets. While People states it does not pay honorees, the magazine still invests in shoots, production, and distribution that confer substantial visibility. For brands and studios, the feature is effectively free publicity; for readers, it reinforces celebrity-based hierarchies of cultural attention.
Comparison & Data
| Year | Winner | Notable context |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Brad Pitt | Early high-profile tabloid era; first widely cited Sexiest Man Alive winner |
| 2024 | John Krasinski | Previous year’s honoree; noted for broad mainstream TV/film roles and cited shoe size (US 12) |
| 2025 | Jonathan Bailey | Bridgerton/Wicked star; People published two covers including one with his dog |
The simple table above highlights continuity—People’s tendency to favor actors—and occasional trivia reported alongside those picks. It does not represent a comprehensive list of winners but underlines how single-year selections fit larger editorial patterns. Metrics such as circulation bump, streaming viewership after a cover, or social engagement spikes would give a fuller quantitative picture, but those proprietary figures were not disclosed by People at the time of publication.
Reactions & Quotes
“It’s the honor of a lifetime.”
Jonathan Bailey, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (talk-show interview)
Bailey’s remark framed the accolade as a personal milestone and was the centerpiece of immediate celebratory coverage following the magazine’s release.
“We do not pay the honoree, and the honoree does not pay the magazine.”
Andrea Lavinthal, People Executive Director of Special Integrated Projects (magazine official)
Lavinthal’s statement was offered to clarify commercial arrangements, underscoring People’s claim that the title is unpaid and editorially conferred.
“The selection continues to reflect the industry’s reliance on high-profile actors to drive attention to legacy outlets.”
Independent media analyst (industry commentary)
Analysts framed the pick within broader commercial dynamics that link celebrity culture and legacy media survival strategies.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Bailey is definitively the first publicly out gay Sexiest Man Alive; the magazine’s historical disclosures on prior honorees’ private lives are incomplete.
- Any behind-the-scenes commercial arrangements or ancillary benefits tied to the honor beyond editorial coverage, beyond People’s public statements.
- Exact circulation or streaming metrics showing the commercial impact of the 2025 feature were not released by People at the time of this report.
Bottom Line
People magazine’s naming of Jonathan Bailey as the 2025 Sexiest Man Alive follows a familiar editorial pattern that privileges actors with high public visibility. For Bailey, the honor raises his profile further and places him more centrally in mainstream entertainment culture; for the magazine, it remains a dependable headline generator amid corporate restructuring. The choice also prompts conversations about representation if Bailey is, as reported, the first openly gay recipient—though that point requires clearer historical verification.
Readers should view the announcement as both a personal milestone for Bailey and a window into how legacy outlets balance editorial decisions, commercial incentives, and cultural signaling. Future coverage will show whether the accolade materially affects Bailey’s projects or People’s audience metrics; proprietary data and further confirmation on historical firsts will clarify the item’s longer-term significance.
Sources
- CNN (news media) — original report summarizing the People announcement and related context.
- People (magazine/official outlet) — People magazine’s site and the home of the Sexiest Man Alive feature and covers.
- IAC (corporate) — parent company of People Inc.; referenced for corporate context on workforce changes.