Paul Mescal covers the new issue of GQ and I’m not even going to pretend that I’ve read the article. Reading is for later and I won’t apologise. I also don’t think I need to apologise because both he and the magazine know exactly what they’re doing here with the cover photo and the images inside.

 

 Paul is leading with pelvis… the brain came come later. 

 

To whomever styled this shoot? Bravo. You get it. Get what? That Gladiator and now its sequel, starring Paul, is homoerotic, not unlike how Top Gun, the original, was homoerotic. These photos are leaning into that appeal. Paul’s outfit in the cover image, sure, it’s giving Roman but it’s also giving fetish. Paul in a tight tee with the sleeves rolled up over a kilt? Kinky baby girl. 

 

I know the internet has been thirsting over Paul since COVID started and I too watched Normal People and loved it but this might be my Mescal awakening because I appreciate that he’s here to play, to give the people what they want: Are You Not Entertained?! That’s basically what he’s trying to say with this quote: 

“This is a film made by a massive amount of people for a massive amount of people. That is the target of this film. You can call a spade a spade. That’s what I want. That’s what the studio wants. We want to make something great that lots of people go to.”

 

GOOD. Tell that to Jacob Elordi who keeps trying to run from the “massive amount of people” or those nauseatingly pretentious actors who can’t hide their blockbuster embarrassment when they signed on to do blockbusters – but not Paul Mescal who’s out here calling a spade a spade, “That’s what I want”. He wants this movie to be enormous. He wants everyone to go see it. He’s clearly, in the pages of GQ, in his short shorts and ripped thighs, doing whatever he can to attract everyone to go see it. Everyone means everyone but Paul is playing to two of the most engaged target groups: horny women, gay men. I’m Lainey Lui, a gossip blogger and a horny bitch, and I approve this message. 

 

More on Paul’s interview with GQ tomorrow, once I’ve read it. The assignment today is to appreciate his thirst and I’ve completed it!