According to Gen Z, the hottest dating trend this summer is the “hot rat guy” or “sexy rat boyfriend.”
Dazed magazine gives a rough definition: “Rodent-handsome men are usually slender rather than muscular, with firmer, more angular features. They’re often not typically handsome, but that just makes them all the more appealing.”
“Women are craving boyfriends who are loyal, unconventional charm, piercing eyes and angular features – the so-called hot rat,” the Daily Mail also noted, adding that personality is also a key factor.
“Not only do they need to be funny, but they also need to be sensitive and have the ability to build meaningful relationships with the people around them,” the media outlet explained.
Matty Healy, Timothée Chalamet and Barry Keoghan are among the stars Gen Z describes as resembling “hot rat men” and “sexy rat boyfriends”. (Getty Images)
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Matchmaker Patti Stanger told Fox News Digital that the trend is generally a good thing.
“I think it’s great that women are moving away from the traditional classic look and discovering more diversity in men’s features. I hope this spreads to women as well,” Stanger said.
A prime example of a “handsome guy” is Taylor Swift’s ex-boyfriend, Matty Healy.
In 2019, someone posted on X, “Matty Healy is sexy but kind of ratty,” coining the original version of the phrase before it went viral this year.
Matty Healy was described as “sexy but mousy” in 2019, before the trend took off this year. (Scott Legato/WireImage)
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The 1975 frontman and Swift were reportedly briefly dating in 2023 after Swift split from her boyfriend of six years, Joe Alwyn.
The pair never officially confirmed their relationship and apparently broke up soon after they began dating, but many fans believe that several songs on her recent album, Tortured Poets Department, hint at a relationship, including the singles “Fortnight” and “Down Bad,” both featuring Post Malone.
Taylor Swift and Healy dated briefly in 2023 before Healy began dating Travis Kelce. (Getty Images)
Swift is currently dating Travis Kelsey, and Healy recently got engaged to model Gabriette Bechtel, whose mother confirmed the news on ITV talk show Loose Women.
Many other male celebrities have also been called “handsome” online.
Healy’s mother recently confirmed his engagement to model Gabriette Bechtel. (AP Photo)
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When the film “The Challengers” premiered in April, its stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Feist did a lot to jumpstart this trend.
Josh O’Connor and Mike Feist starred in The Challengers, and fans have been obsessed with their “hot rat” looks ever since. (Mark Piasecki/WireImage)
One of X’s fans said: [director Luca] Guadagnino says that Mike Feist and Josh O’Connor look like cartoon mice, but they’re the hottest men alive in the movie.”
Another person noted that looks have little to do with attractiveness, noting the sexual energy they exude together with co-star Zendaya on screen.
“It’s because of sex, stupid,” user X wrote.
“The Challengers” is known for some exciting scenes featuring O’Connor, Feist and Zendaya. (Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Another person noted that looks have little to do with attractiveness, noting the sexual energy they exude together with co-star Zendaya on screen. (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Productions)
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Another asserted, “The public (including me) demanded actors with funnier faces and their wish was granted, provided they were known as ‘hot rat men.'”
Some people admit that this isn’t the kindest way to compliment someone.
User X wrote, “I know I’m not as attractive as Jeremy Allen White or Josh O’Connor, so this is [something] I have to worry, but if someone were to say to me, ‘Yeah, you’ve got a really hot rat thing,’ I’m not going to be like, ‘Oh, thank you!'”
“I don’t like the term ‘rodent,'” Stanger said. “They do have similar characteristics, but I think we can come up with a better name.”
One fan pointed out that calling “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White and O’Connor was not the kindest of compliments. (Getty Images)
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Traditional or not, many of these “sexy rat boyfriends” enjoy fulfilling dating lives.
Travis Barker may be on the older side of “handsome” standards, but he has long been considered attractive by fans, not just for his looks, but for his tattoos as well.
Baker has been married twice, first to Shanna Moakler and then to Kourtney Kardashian.
Barker and Kardashian were longtime friends before marrying in Italy in 2022. The pair have one child together and three each with previous partners.
Travis Barker, an elder statesman of the “handsome man” trend, married Kourtney Kardashian in 2022. (Getty Images)
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Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet, a perennial Gen Z favorite known for his talent and alternative looks, have been rumored to be a couple since April 2023. They were photographed together at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. Neither has publicly confirmed their relationship.
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner have not officially confirmed their relationship, but they have been spotted together on several occasions, including at this year’s Golden Globe Awards. (Christopher Polk/Golden Globe Awards 2024/Golden Globe Awards 2024 via Getty Images)
Irish actor Barry Keoghan has become a sex symbol thanks to roles in films such as “Eternals” and his Oscar-nominated performance in “Saltburn,” and he recently confirmed he’s dating singer Sabrina Carpenter.
Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter made their red carpet debut at this year’s Vanity Fair Academy Awards Party. (Dave Bennett/VF24/WireImage, courtesy of Vanity Fair)
The pair made their red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscars party and appeared together at the Met Gala. Corgan recently released a preview of Carpenter’s latest single, ” “Please, please, please.” They’re playing a modern-day version of Bonnie and Clyde.
“Sorry to everyone I made fun of but Barry Keoghan winking at Sabrina Carpenter and showing off a bit of his arm made me fall for him. This officially confirms the Summer of Ratboy,” a fan wrote to X.
Corgan’s appearance in Carpenter’s new music video has led one X fan to firmly establish him as part of “Ratboy Summer.” (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
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Stanger sees this trend, and possibly others, continuing into the future.
“I think this trend will continue as more and more people are becoming famous for their talent rather than their looks.”
“The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White is already the subject of debate as to whether he truly fits the description of a “handsome rat” or whether he falls into an entirely different category: a “handsome bird.”
In addition to his nickname “Sexy Rat,” White has also been called “Bird Man.” (Amy Sussman/WireImage)
“Sorry but I just have to say it, Jeremy Allen White is not a sexy rat, he’s my beautiful pet cockatiel,” one fan wrote to X about the Emmy winner.
“I don’t know how to tell you this but Jeremy Allen White is not a rat man!!! He’s a bird man!!! They are different!!!!” asserted another.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
