One man is the victim of the internet’s newest trend as his new girlfriend won’t stop calling him a ‘Hot Rodent Man’. 

The boyfriend told So You Think You’re an Adult he met his girlfriend on Tinder, and has recently been introduced to her friends. 

“However, there is one thing that I am struggling with,” he told Moncrieff. “She and her friends keep calling me a Hot Rodent Man. 

“At first, I was baffled by all this, but then I realised it was part of a much larger trend online - but the trouble is, I find it really offensive being compared to a rat. 

“I have been struggling with it so much that I have even asked my mam about it and she has been assuring me that I don’t look like a rat. 

“I am reluctant to bring it up with my new girlfriend because, to be honest, she’s really hot and I don’t want to mess it up.” 

The Hot Rodent Man phenomenom

Men across the internet are being compared to rodents recently, including Ireland’s own Barry Keoghan, The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White and Challengers co-stars Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor. 

Writer Barbara Scully pointed out the boyfriend is in good company to be compared to these Hollywood stars and told him to “take the compliment”. 

Broadcaster Declan Buckley, however, pointed out it is a bit of a “backhanded compliment”. 

“Basically, what you're saying is, I don't know why we find this person attractive, but they are attractive,” he said. 

“They’re attractive in a sexy rat way – that should be a clash of ideas.” 

Barbara argued that people’s perception of rats is incorrect in the first place, as they are quite “cute and intelligent”. 

Josh O'Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist in Challengers. Image: Collection Christophel / Alamy Stock Photo

Declan said the best thing the boyfriend can do is “relax” and not react in a way that could make the Hot Rodent Man label a bigger deal than it needs to be. 

“I don't think that that the girlfriend is going out with him because he is an internet meme,” he said. 

“I think what's happened is, is that you know, they've met, they're going out together, and she and her girlfriends are talking about whatever the latest thing online is [and they said], ‘Isn't this funny? That's like your boyfriend’,” he said. 

“He's been called Hot Rodent Man because it's topical - but once the topical part of it disappears, he'll still be there with his rodent-like features.” 

Barbara agreed and reemphasised he should take the compliment and not take the joke too seriously. 

Main image: Actors Josh O'Connor, Barry Keoghan and Mike Faist, all who have recent been given the label 'Hot Rodent Man' by the internet. Images via Alamy