Why are hot rodent men taking over the internet? 

Not long ago, the internet was buzzing with adoration for short kings (read: Tom Holland and Joe Jonas), and more recently babygirls like Pedro Pascal and Jacob Elordi. However, like many trends that come and go, a new and rather unusual archetype has captured the internet’s fascination: hot rodent men.

From Timothée Chalamet to Jeremy Allen White, many women have taken a liking to men who bear striking resemblance to rodents. Yes, you read that right. Gone are the days when women would fall for the stereotypical prince charming. And not to mention, it does seem pretty ironic that people are now gravitating towards men with rat-like features despite most of us being afraid of actual rodents.

Now you might be wondering: what constitutes a hot rodent man?

What is a hot rodent man? 

For starters, a hot rodent man is a term used to describe someone who is not only attractive but is also subtly reminiscent of a rodent. Often, they usually possess distinctive, angular facial features, small beady eyes, and slightly unkempt hair. 

The trend first gained traction when the movie ‘Challengers’ was released earlier this year, in which Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor played the male leads in a love triangle, alongside their co-star, Zendaya. Soon after, memes started circulating online as users humorously noted the actors’ resemblance to mice. 

Some of the other celebs that inspired the trend include Timothée Chalamet, Barry Keoghan, Matty Healy, Glen Powell, and Jeremy Allen White.

Is it always about looks? 

While the trend was mostly focused on the looks of these men, a hot rodent man is also defined as someone who is considered reliable and less intimidating. It’s somewhat similar to the golden retriever boyfriend trend which is basically a guy who is loyal and very affectionate.

Even though you might that this is an insult to men, many Gen Zs who use the term see it as a compliment. Of course, for lack of a better word, we agree that the term could definitely be phrased better. And hopefully, like the elusive “babygirl” term of endearment we all know about, this new dating craze for Gen Zs shall pass and it won’t be long till the next obsession comes along. On the bright side, this shift towards unconventional archetypes shows that society is expanding its idea of what we can find attractive.