Harry Styles has, once again, been named People’s “Sexiest Musician Alive” ― but not everyone is thrilled about it.
On Wednesday, People published the results of this year’s readers’ choice poll. It was “the most fiercely contested” of its kind, drawing more than 350,000 votes, the magazine claimed.
Noting that Styles had “won in this category multiple times before,” the outlet wrote that the former One Direction member’s victory this year was “even more delicious” given a “hard fought” TikTok campaign by singer Role Model, who was the runner-up.
Shortly after People’s winners were announced, Role Model ― whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury ― aired his frustrations in a seemingly tongue-in-cheek video posted to his Instagram stories.
“I heard about the counts — a lot of you voted for me. But I want to speak to those who voted for Harry Styles,” he said in the clip. “I hope you’re happy. I hope your day is made from this, because guess what? His publicist isn’t even going to mention this to him. He won’t know about this. That boy is in Fiji somewhere. That’s how insignificant this is to him.”
He then took aim at People specifically, saying: “You had an opportunity to really do something for the culture. To create this beautiful ending to an underdog story, and you didn’t.”
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A Maine native, Role Model released his second album, “Kansas Anymore,” in July. In September, he joined Gracie Abrams’ Secret of Us Tour as an opening act. The tour wrapped its U.S. leg earlier this month and is set to resume next February in Spain.
His campaign for “Sexiest Musician Alive” began in earnest Sept. 24 with a short TikTok video shared on People’s account in which he urged fans to vote for him.
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“The three artists I’m going up against ― Mr. Harry Styles, Zach Bryan and Shaboozey ― I love them, right? But they have everything,” he explained. “Some have radio hits, some have Grammys. Some have clothing brands. And all of them have money, OK? I have nothing.”
His victory, he added, would be “a beautiful moment.”
“I am the underdog that needs a happy ending,” he said. “Put yourself in my shoes. … Vote for me, I beg.”
As Role Model predicted, Styles has yet to comment publicly on his win. Despite rumors of a new album, the three-time Grammy winner has maintained a low profile for much of 2024.
Still, Role Model needn’t fret too much about his “Sexiest Musician” loss. Since its release, “Kansas Anymore” has garnered the singer-songwriter some of the best reviews of his career to date, with one critic calling it a “fun, emotive showcase of classically pop-rock songwriting.”