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This week, the New York Times’ Style editors tried to do a trend-watch piece and it’s getting mixed reviews. The trend? “Rodent Men.” Actors or celebrity men who are some being designated as “rodent men.” Not to be confused by “rat-faces,” which really confused me. When I say someone looks like a rat or has a rat-face, I do not mean it as a compliment. It means that someone’s eyes are too close together and their features are too rat-like. The NYT seemingly explands the idea that Rodent Men are distinguished by not just their physical qualities but by their vibe and aura. Which… is very strange. The NYT says that some of the notable Rodent Men are: Jeremy Allen White, Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, Barry Keoghan, Rami Malek, and Matty Healy. Josh O’Connor is NOT rat-faced, but he does have the look of a very sweet-faced cartoon mouse. Mike Faist, I will grant you, sort of has rat-like features. As does Matt Healy. But Rami Malek? Barry Keoghan? This whole concept doesn’t make much sense.
“Rodent Men”: What are they? Tiny men? Men who eat garbage? Some kind of furry science experiment gone wrong?
According to the tabloids, they’re actually the most physically desirable thing a man can be at this particularly disorienting moment in American history. Exemplified by the faces of actors like “The Bear”’s Jeremy Allen White and “Challengers” leads Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor; as well as the 1975 band member Matty Healy and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, hot “Rodent Men” are a loose category that seems mostly to refer to men who look a bit like mice or rats.
Rodent Man: An unconventional mousy man with a toothy smile, and instead of a chiseled face like Brad Pitt or Chris Hemsworth, it’s more pointy. It’s important for their faces to be angular, that’s the dead giveaway. That and big ears. They come off as edgy and elusive.
My confusion is “a bit like mice or rats.” There’s a huge difference between someone who has mouse energy versus someone who has rat energy. As I said, Josh O’Connor looks like a sweet mouse and I’m appalled that someone would call him a Rodent Man. But Matt Healy? Everything he does and everything about him is so rat-like, so he IS a Rodent Man. I feel like we should talk about Glen Powell here too – his eyes are too close together and the man has a ratty vibe.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.
Glen Powell attends the “Anyone But You” World Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theatre in New York, New York, USA on December 11, 2023.,Image: 828713312, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Glen Powell, Credit line: Robin Platzer / Twin Images / Avalon
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 24: Jeremy Allen White wearing Saint Laurent with a Tiffany’s pin and watch arrives at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 850578411, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jeremy Allen White, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 24: Jeremy Allen White, winner of the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series awards for ‘The Bear’ poses in the press room at the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 850613771, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jeremy Allen White, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
WESTWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – APRIL 16: Mike Faist arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ held at Westwood Village Theater on April 16, 2024 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 865619242, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Mike Faist, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
Los Angeles, CA – Celebrities attend the Los Angeles Premiere of FX’s “The Bear” at Goya Studios in Los Angeles.

Pictured: Jeremy Allen White

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Leeds, UNITED KINGDOM – Matty Healy and the 1975 headline Leeds festival with a hip flask and cigarette.

Pictured: Matty Healy, 1975

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Sydney, AUSTRALIA – Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor attend the Australian premiere of “Challengers” at the State Theatre in Sydney, Australia.

Pictured: Josh O’Connor

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Paris, FRANCE – The cast and guests attend the “Challengers” Paris Photocall at Maison De L’Amerique Latine in Paris, France.

Pictured: Mike Faist, Zendaya, Josh O’Connor

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London, UNITED KINGDOM – Cast crew and guests attend the premiere of “Challengers” at Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square in London.
Pictured: Josh O’Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist
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New York, NY – The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy checks out of The Bowery Hotel with his fiancee Gabbriette Bechtel in NYC.
Pictured: Matty Healy
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BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Camperdown Park.
Featuring: Matty Healey, The 1975
Where: Dundee, United Kingdom
When: 27 May 2023
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages
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