Star of The Voice, Blake Shelton gave his costar John Legend a pair of bedazzled booty shorts as a present for being voted People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive. From one sexy man to another, as Shelton was named Sexiest Man Alive in 2017.
The shorts are the gift given to the man who has everything. Legend is in rarefied air, as one of only 15 EGOT winners (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), and is the second-youngest recipient of the distinction. Shelton, who is known for his bawdy sense of humor, addressed the audience during a recent episode of The Voice. Holding up the sparkly present, he explained that the acronym on the back of the shorts was in honor of Legend's win on their reality series, the EGOT, and finally, the Sexiest Man Alive distinction: VEGOTSMA.
Not to be shown up by his costar, Legend expressed his gratitude in a truly hilarious way. Legend joked, "I don’t know what to say. I want to thank, of course, People magazine, but mostly I want to thank Blake Shelton, because I sat next to him for the last few months and I learned his sexy ways." Legend continued his mock speech, "I observed every move he made, every utterance that came from his mouth and I think some of it rubbed off on me. I think that has everything to do with why we’re here today." Below is a clip from People, showing the moment Legend received his gift:
Although Legend seems appreciative of the honor, there has been a fair amount of backlash surrounding his appointment. Some readers took to social media and complained that the singer isn't hot enough to be named the Sexiest Man Alive. However, just as many supporters have taken up Legend's cause, explaining that his kindness, talent, and devotion to family makes him very attractive. Then there are the supporters who agree outright that Legend is physically sexy enough to hold the title. Coincidentally, Shelton received complaints about gaining the honor back in 2017. Some social media users dubbed The Voice coach too "goofy" to be considered sexy.
There may always be a bit of controversy surrounding the Sexist Man Alive. In the '80s and '90s, readers balked when actors Gene Hackman and Nick Nolte were chosen. In the 2000s, there was a lot of frustration over the lack of diversity among the men given the distinction. However, a person like Legend proves that sexiness isn't only about abs and arms, and a stellar jawline; it's about being a devoted husband, a good father, a feminist, an artist, a mentor, and a pillar of one's community. His holding of the title will hopefully usher in new standards of attractiveness throughout the media.
The Voice airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8PM EST on NBC.