I Like Jacob Elordi’s New Beard

Photo: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Jacob Elordi debuted a new beard. He arrived at the Marrakech International Film Festival on Friday with a sudden outcrop of ginger-y facial hair covering the lower half of his face. The sheer volume of the thing nearly obscured his beloved little earring and appeared to startle his fellow (also bearded) jury member Andrew Garfield.

As is often the case with new and jarring celebrity hair choices, Elordi’s beard has elicited shock and, for many, disgust. Some deemed it proof certain men look worse with facial hair, and others went so far as to call it “ugly.” Many of my co-workers think Elordi looks bad, with one deeming his eyes “too twinkly” for this look.

I’m no Jacob Elordi stan — I think he’s too tall — but something about this beard is speaking to me. For one thing, it’s kind of impressive that Elordi can even produce something so robust, considering he was recently seen strutting around Milan with a distressingly skimpy mustache. But the beard also gives him a kind, wizened vibe that I enjoy. He could be a third Safdie brother, a relative of Father John Misty, or a beatnik from Down Unda’. If those things are not attractive to you, that’s fine. Perhaps, even, it’s part of the appeal: For once, Elordi does not look objectively attractive.

Or maybe it’s not that deep, and I am just craving something soft and fuzzy for winter?