Patrick Dempsey named 2023’s Sexiest Man Alive - but Gen Z say they don’t know who he is

An iconic TV star has been named the Sexiest Man Alive for 2023, but the win has prompted a rather brutal reaction.

Sexiest man alive that Gen Zers don’t recognise.

Actor Patrick Dempsey has been named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2023, and the youngsters are claiming they’ve never even heard of him.

Dempsey, 57, snagged the title that Marvel heart-throb Chris Evans, 42, secured last year, and the internet has been left scratching its head.

The choice is surprising because, yeah, sure, Dempsey is an incredibly famous working actor, but there’s no denying that he reached the peak of his fame in 2005.

This was back when he played a dreamy doctor on Grey’s Anatomy and millions of people were tuning in to swoon.

To put that into cultural perspective, this was the year when Kate DeAraugo won Australian Idol.

Patrick Dempsey has won the Sexiest Man Alive title. Picture: Instagram/PatrickDempsey

He was most famous in 2005. Picture: Grey's Anatomy.

Since Dempsey left the long-running show in 2021, he has gone on to secure roles in Disney’s Enchanted sequel and star in a television series you may have never heard of titled Devils.

When People announced that Dempsey had taken out the title and had the honour of being the sexist man of the year, it was met with a fair share of confusion.

The most unsettling reception has been young people taking to social media to ask who he is.

Yes, Gen Zers don’t know this man.

“Who is Patrick Dempsey?” someone asked.

“Who the hell is Patrick Dempsey?” another demanded.

“You all are making up new people every day; who is Patrick Dempsey?” one accused.

Gen Zers don’t recognise him. Picture: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

The fact Gen Zers appear not to know who Dempsey is and can’t recognise his famous face has caused Millennials to feel old.

“People ... not knowing who Patrick Dempsey is making me feel like a grandma. What do you mean you didn’t grow up watching Grey’s Anatomy, and you weren’t obsessed with Derek Sheppard since you were 10,” one person said.

Another claimed people not knowing the actor made her realise there was a vast cultural gap between the ages of 23-26.

“There is an is actual difference in being 26 vs. being 23! Because I am seeing 23 yr olds not know who Patrick Dempsey is,” she tweeted.

He has been a working actor for years. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Patrick is living his best life. Picture: Instagram/PatrickDempsey

Besides the fact that young people were claiming they’d never even heard of him, there were people that recognised him that were also baffled by the choice.

Sure, Dempsey is undeniably gorgeous, but was 2023 his year?

“Is it 2005?” someone commented.

“Um, he is so 2007,” another claimed.

Someone shared they were surprised Dempsey won the title because usually the magazine picks someone still “relevant”, but they added the actor was still a great choice.

Another complained that he should have won the title twenty years ago because he was now almost “geriatric”; one said a decade ago would have made more sense.

Ouch.

It wasn’t all grim news for the actor; plenty of people were cheering in the comment section and claiming it was about time.

“Finally!” someone raved.

“Look at him,” another said.

“That is the right choice,” one wrote.

Being the sexiest man alive doesn’t make you the most recognisable man alive.