Although the 2021 winner of People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” title has yet to be announced, rumors are swirling that “Captain America” actor Chris Evans is set to appear on the magazine’s annual cover.
Although he was rumored to be one of the top contenders for the title last year, he might have lost his chance when he accidentally shared an NSFW photo on his Instagram story. However, now that the controversy has died down, Evans might be ready to accept the title after all.
If Dwayne Johnson will let him have it, that is.
Dwayne Johnson: ‘I Concede Nothing’
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Although The Rock was announced to be the “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2016, he doesn’t seem to have any plans to give up that title anytime soon.
When he was first announced as 2016’s winner, Johnson said, “I thought, ‘Wow, we’ve pretty much reached the pinnacle.’ I’m not quite too sure where we go from here. I’ve done it all, this is it.”
However, just days before Blake Shelton was announced to be the 2017 winner, Johnson tweeted, “Let’s all just take a moment to recognize @people’s Sexiest Man Alive will always be the 6’5 260lbs of tattooed brown eyed soul.”
Although the title went to Idris Elba in 2018, Johnson declared, “I made a pact with People magazine a few years ago that I will never give up the title. So everyone, doesn’t matter who it is, they can continue to be Sexiest Man Alive, but I am … forever. Forever.”
The pattern continued for John Legend in 2019 and Michael B. Jordan in 2020, with Johnson taking to Instagram to write, “Congrats to my brother @michaelbjordan on the new sexy crown. I CONCEDE NOTHING.”
And just days before the 2021 announcement, Johnson assured his fans that he was not going down without a fight. “Whoever you put on the cover, it doesn’t matter because I’m always going to be the Sexiest Man Alive,” Johnson said. “I don’t give it up.”
Dwayne Johnson Opens Up About Body Image Insecurities
In a recent YouTube interview with Vanity Fair, Johnson revealed that he initially had to overcome insecurities about his appearance when he made the transition from wrestling in the WWE to acting in Hollywood.
“When I first started as a professional wrestler, I was told back then that you can’t smile enough, you’ve got to be happy every time you go out there, you have to be so joyous at the opportunity that you have,” he explained.
“I wasn’t reacting authentically, and I was being a very buttoned-down, saccharine version of who I actually was at that time in the world of professional wrestling.”
Explaining that although he faced criticism over his weight, gym time, and eating patterns, he decided to stay true to his values and lead his life as authentically as he could.
He explained, “And I think in that authenticity moment, that moment of clarity, a funny thing happened in the world of professional wrestling and a funny thing happened in the world of Hollywood, both industries conformed to my authenticity and allowed me to be me, and that’s when things changed.”
Considering his plethora of recent roles, it seems Johnson was right to stay the course.
He stars with Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot in “Red Notice” which debuts Friday, November 5, 2021.
He is also set to appear as the legendary comic book superhero “Black Adam,” which has a current release date of July 29, 2022.
