The first openly gay Sexiest Man Alive too, which is amazing! While many are making note of how big this is for Bailey himself, they're also mentioning just how significant this could be for the next generation. In addition to that, he outlined his belief for why audiences are drawn to in Bailey:
Jonathan Bailey’s recognition as People’s Sexiest Man Alive 2025 is a pop culture milestone that reflects just how far LGBTQ visibility in Hollywood has come.
“And it’s not like I haven’t felt that. “You have to unlearn a lot of narratives about yourself that the industry tells you,” he said. It’s clear that his ability to be open about his identity has made his roles more dynamic, not less. As great as Bailey is on screen (and will hopefully crush it as Fiyero in Wicked: For Good), it's his authenticity as a person that's truly admirable above all else.
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Under the initial Instagram announcement, many are also singing Jonathan Bailey's praises.
The actor has also made history by becoming People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” in 2025, a title that was met with overwhelming applause on social media. Any sort of sense of prejudice against sexuality is something to fight against, and what better way to do that than to go and play any kind of character.”
Last year, Bailey launched The Shameless Fund, a charity that provides financial support to LGBTQ organizations and initiatives.
-halanscott
Not only was IG buzzing with excitement but users on sites like X were too. A frivolous honor, but I think about the queer kids out there. But, if he does stumble, hopefully someone shares John Krasinski's advice, which is to just "take a deep breath" and "stay focused." Until then, I’ll be living it up alongside GLAAD and the other users basking in this major achievement!
Those who'd like to check out Bailey's work before year ahead of See Bailey in Wicked: For Good, which opens in theaters on November 21 as part of the 2025 movie schedule.
❤️🌈 -Frankie Grande
Somewhere, a queer kid is seeing this and realizing for the first time that they too can conquer the odds. The Wicked: For Good star, known for his dynamic performances in Jurassic World Rebirth and Wicked, has achieved a remarkable feat by topping the annual box office chart.
-caitiesreadingnook
YESSSSS!! There’s the weight of history.
Jonathan Bailey Is 2025’s Highest-Grossing Actor
Jonathan Bailey is the highest-grossing actor of the year, according to Variety.
The openly gay actor played key roles in two blockbusters this year — Dr.
Henry Loomis in Jurassic World Rebirth, the fifth-highest-grossing film of the year at more than $869 million worldwide, and Fiyero in Wicked: For Good, which has grossed more than $468.3 million since its November 21 theatrical release.
Bailey first rose to global fame as Lord Anthony Bridgerton on Netflix’s Bridgerton, and has since taken on a string of high-profile projects, including the role of a closeted congressional aide in Showtime’s Fellow Travelers, which earned him an Emmy nomination and a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries.
The movie star also recently made history by becoming the first out gay man to be named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.”
Yet despite Bailey’s recent film success, a studio head told The Hollywood Reporter in June that they were “not sure” the actor “can carry a movie on his own yet.”
In the same article, Bailey, who has been out for much of his career, said that openly gay actors continue to face headwinds in the industry, citing lingering societal prejudices about gay men playing straight characters.
“There’s moments where, yes, you have to be excellent to prove that you can do it,” he said.
As Malkin says, visibility and representation matter whether that pertains to movies or real life. Bailey’s reign isn’t just about his heartthrob status—it’s about what it means for representation in Hollywood.
RELATED: Jonathan Bailey Is Officially The First Openly Gay ‘Sexiest Man Alive’
While his career has often been defined by his performances on TV—Bridgerton and the queer period drama Fellow Travelers—2025 marks the year Bailey fully transitioned into a leading man on the big screen.
Journalist Marc Malkin joined in on praising People’s choice:
Jonathan Bailey is People’s Sexiest Man Alive. Seeing an out gay actor star in some of the most successful movies of recent times and celebrated by People in this way sends a powerful message to the industry that audiences everywhere know that authenticity is attractive.
Bailey’s TV and film work has helped solidify him as a true star.