Bowen Yang reflects on Jonathan Bailey’s huge connotation

Bowen Yang is giving Jonathan Bailey his flowers,  and honestly, he’s not wrong.

As Bailey continues winning over audiences with his charismatic turn as Fiyero in the Wicked film adaptations, his co-stars say his real-life charm is just as powerful as his on-screen presence. 

The Bridgerton actor recently landed the cover of PEOPLE’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive issue, and the Wicked cast is fully backing the choice.

Matt Rogers, who appears alongside Bailey and co-hosts the Las Culturistas podcast with Yang, told PEOPLE that Bailey “truly embodies Fiyero,” adding that even the fictional heartthrob would be thrilled with the title. 

“It’s tough to argue with PEOPLE Magazine on this one,” Rogers said.

Yang, who plays Pfannee in Wicked and its sequel Wicked: For Good, resonated the sentiment with his trademark humour. “You kind of crushed it,” he said of the magazine’s pick. “See what happens when you guys get it right?”

For Yang, Bailey’s Sexiest Man Alive shoot sealed the deal, from shirtless moments to posing with his dog Benson to plunging into icy waters in East Sussex. 

“Johnny is perfect,” he said, calling his co-star someone who “gets to peacock and we’re all happy about it.”

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