Dr. Anthony Fauci: Petition to name doctor ‘sexiest man alive’ gains steam

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Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci, seen here during a White House briefing on March 27, has said he’s trying “not to pay attention” to the petition. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

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As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci became a household name as the global coronavirus pandemic was declared a national emergency, appearing at daily White House briefings as part of the Coronavirus Task Force. If selected, the 79-year-old would join Hollywood heartthrobs like Idris Elba, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, David Beckham, Chris Hemsworth and Channing Tatum in receiving the honor.

On Friday morning, a Change.org appeal calling for Fauci to be named the “sexiest man alive” had won over 4,400 signatures.

“His comforting and intelligent demeanor has helped to lessen our national anxiety. He speaks truth to power, a strength few have at this time,” the pitch pushes. “His kind face and manner of speaking bring calm during the storm.”

“His comforting and intelligent demeanor has helped to lessen our national anxiety,” the petition argues. (Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images)

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As for his own take, the leading infectious disease expert in the U.S. and White House Coronavirus Task Force member is keeping his focus on ending the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19.

“It’s really kind of crazy,” Fauci told Gayle King in an April 2 interview on CBS This Morning, when asked about his family’s thoughts on the now-viral crusade to crown him “sexiest man alive.”

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“We try not to pay attention to that and just focus on the responsibility of the job that we have,” the doctor explained. “That’s the most important thing, not that other stuff.”