- Heartthrob Paul Mescal sat down for an interview with GQ magazine this week
- The actor discussed the new Gladiator movie – and addressed rumors that he runs away from his dates in the park!
- Fans also went wild for the actor on social media when the cover shoot pictures from the interview emerged
He’s been a heartthrob ever since he rocketed onto our screens in his breakout role four years ago.
And now Paul Mescal is in the midst of his press tour to promote his new movie, Gladiator II.
The Normal People star, 28, sat down with GQ magazine to discuss the film, which hits theaters on November 22.
But among the questions put to the actor, the cheeky interviewer couldn’t help but bring up some funny TikTok rumors they had heard about Mescal.
While he doesn’t have any public social media accounts, whispers began swirling on social medai last winter that Mescal would have one-night stands, take them for walks in the park the next day, point out a bird or a tree, and then take off running in another direction.
And while some may have found the rumors awkward to chat about, Mescal (thankfully!) thought the question was hilarious.
Noting that he “stays there for a while, belly laughing and turning red” when asked about the videos, Mescal then exclaimed, “F***ing hell!”
As the TikToks surfaced around the festive season when he was spending time with his siblings, Mescal explained, “We were looking at the videos and we were pissing ourselves at it. Categorically untrue. And we were laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing.”
However, there was one thing that did cause him to take pause and worry – his mom’s reaction.
“And the one thing that upset me was that I was in the kitchen, I remember my mum looking at the videos and she was getting upset. Isn’t that devastating? I was like, ‘Oh, it’s funny to us – my brother, me, my sister – because we know that this is the way the internet works’. It’s hilarious. If it was true, it’d be f***ing bad, but as a rumor, it’s funny.
“Then I was like, ‘Oh, if you’re a mother, her impulse is to come out and be like, ‘He wouldn’t do this.’”
However, good-humored Mescal continued with the joke later in the interview.
While toying with some of the books on the bar’s bookshelf where the chat was being held, he found himself picking up a set titled London’s Hidden Walks.
“Three volumes,” he said. “I should take these for my running-away dates.”
‘I need a sedative!’
As if Mescal’s comments weren’t enough, his cover shoot for the magazine certainly caused quite a stir on social media.
Dressed in a black pleated skort, dark top and boots, the actor posed on some scaffolding for the photos.
Branding Mescal a “gladi-a-whore”, one commenter wrote on Twitter/X, “I typed about 49 different sentences and deleted them before deciding I should probably stay somewhat casual about this picture. Just wow.”
“Someone needs to come dart me in the neck with a sedative,” said another, whole someone else added, “I said ‘oh wow’ out loud at my desk.”
While others noted that they had “underestimated Mescal’s game”, some couldn’t resist commenting on his legs.
“I’m more acquainted with Paul Mescal’s legs than those of any man I’ve ever dated,” laughed one, while another admitted, “This man and his legs are on a mission to get me to see that Gladiator movie… and unfortunately, it isn’t not working.”
And with Brat autumn in full swing, others couldn’t help but cheekily reference Charli XCX’s latest concerts.
“When you try and dress your straight boyfriend for the Sweat tour,” someone joked.
