We will start with a disclaimer. Silly season is upon us, and what follows has nothing to do with me — it’s the Internet’s fault. The Internet, you see, and all the lovely people on social media, and Gen Z in particular, have decreed that this summer there’s a new type of handsome man in town, so don’t blame me. Brad Pitt: you can stand down. George Clooney: as you were. You will not for the time being be required, or at least not by Gen Z, the fools.
Why? Because the look of the summer is rat-like. Sample headlines include “All anyone wants is a hot rodent boyfriend”; “Gen Z has spoken and the hot rodent man is in” and “Rise of the hot rodent”. It may blunt your outrage if I tell you that this is, apparently, not an insult but a compliment because it isn’t just about your looks, it’s about your “vibe”.
