Petition to name Dr. Anthony Fauci 'Sexiest Man Alive' gathers steam

Take heed, Brad Pitt. Be warned, Bradley Cooper. There is a new contender for this year's title of People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive": Dr. Anthony Fauci.

A petition has been launched to crown the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases as 2020's most attractive man on the planet.

What are the details?

Fauci, 79, has become a household name thanks to his high-profile position on the White House's Coronavirus Task Force, and now, his adoring fans want to see him recognized for his sex appeal in a contest typically reserved for the Hollywood elite.

"Dr. Anthony Fauci is America's top expert on infectious diseases," the petition on Change.org begins. "His tireless work to educate and support Americans has affected all of us."

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

"For sapiophiles and many others," the petition argues, "he is the definitive Sexiest Man Alive in 2020."

As of Thursday evening, the petition had more than 1,600 signatories, with a goal of reaching 2,500.

People editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford, who ultimately decides who becomes the magazine's annual "Sexiest Man Alive," did not rule out the possibility that Fauci could be in the running for the 2020 title.

"April Fools' prank or not, Dr. Anthony Fauci is indeed the latest unexpected 'star' to emerge from the COVID-19 task force daily press briefings," Wakeford told Women's Wear Daily in an interview earlier this week. "He has helped bring back 'must-see TV' to the masses, who are hungry for wisdom about how to best care for their family's health and safety in this time of uncertainty. Smart is sexy, no doubt."

Anything else?

The New York Post reported that since Fauci's rise to fame as "an unlikely celebrity and hero during the coronavirus outbreak," the likeness of the expert on infectious diseases has been featured on T-shirts, candles, fan art, and as a model in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.