John Krasinski has admitted he thought he was being “punked” when he discovered he had been mentioned People magazine’s sexiest man alive for 2024.

The publication honors a celebrity who sets pulses racing every year, with heartthrobs like Brad Pitt, George Clooney and John Legend among the previous winners. And this year The office star Krasinski took the title, taking over from 2023 winner Patrick Dempsey.

Reacting to his win in a video interview with PeopleKrasinski admitted that it was a bit unexpected.

“Just an instant blackout, so the brain basically just shuts down,” said the Jack Ryan star. ‘No thoughts. Except maybe I’m being pranked.

“After that, it was just a false reality. Like, I don’t usually wake up and think, ‘Is this the day I’m asked to be the sexiest man alive?’ And yet it was the day you did it. You really raised the bar for me.”

Krasinski, 45, said his actress wife Emily Blunt was “very excited” that he had been chosen for the honor.

“There was a lot of joy involved,” he said. “But I do think it will mean I have to do more house chores, but to be honest I’m willing to accept the downsides of the pros. I think after the cover comes out she’ll say, ‘Okay, that means you will really deserve it here at home.'”

He also joked that the decision would confuse his brothers and would likely be a big topic of conversation at Thanksgiving. He joked that they would probably “wonder how this is possible” for years.

Newsweek has emailed representatives for Krasinski and Blunt for comment.

There have been mixed reactions from fans afterward People announced the 2024 winner.

After the publication shared the news on Instagram, some fans posted in the comments section saying Krasinski was a good choice. “Yasssssssss,” said one, dropping a series of fire emojis.

“Sexiness!” another commented. “Funny is very sexy,” another fan agreed. Someone else commented: “John Krasinski is very sexy. Good choice People!!”

But others mentioned the names of the stars they would have liked to win with Top Gun: Maverick actor Glen Powell comes up a lot. “How can Glen Powell not…” one person posted, while another person asked: “WHEN GLEN POWELL EXISTS?!”

Krasinski is known for his role as Jim Halpert The office from 2005 to 2013 and played as Jack Ryan in the Amazon Prime series. He and Blunt have been married since 2010 and share two daughters: Hazel, 10, and eight-year-old Violet.