‘Today’s Jenna Bush Hager Makes Fun Of “Hot Rodent Boyfriend” Trend Inspired By ‘Challengers’: “This Means You Should Want To Date Stuart Little”

Luca Guadagnino‘s latest feature Challengers has sparked a new dating trend according to the ladies of Today With Hoda & Jenna, and it isn’t polyamory.

As Jenna Bush Hager put it during Thursday’s broadcast, “The internet is always telling us what type of men are hot right now.” She explained that a new article from Dazed decrees, “All anyone wants is a hot rodent boyfriend… Golden retriever boyfriends are over – sexy rat men are in.”

She and Hoda Kotb explained that the “hot rodent boyfriend” is someone who is “not necessarily conventionally handsome, which makes them hotter,” and someone who “publicly love[s] on their partners, but in a slightly weird but sexy way.”

That didn’t appear to resonate with Kotb, who dryly commented, “I don’t know what that means.”

Bush Hager explained that the trend has been inspired by Challengers stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist. “People are saying they look like cartoon mice. I mean we’re not, by the way,” she said, as Kotb added, “This is not a slam at all, it’s the opposite.”

Bush Hager joked, “No, this means you should want to date Stuart Little. Stuart Little is actually quite attractive, right? He’s handsome.”

As Kotb began to laugh, she continued, “Here’s the only thing, I have friends who love the hot rodent boyfriends, they’re always looking for that kind of sexy mouse. If you’re of a certain size, and I am — tall, broad — the problem with the hot rodent boyfriend is they can fit into your jeans.”

Her co-host appeared to agree. “There’s nothing worse than putting your arm around someone who’s a lot skinnier,” Kotb groaned.

“No, I know, so I think, yes, the hot rodent boyfriend can be good for some, it’s just not for me,” Bush Hager declared.  

Bush Hager, who mentioned during the broadcast that she will soon be celebrating her 20-year anniversary with her husband, has been clear about her type in men. The Today host once backtracked a problematic joke she made on the air about having an affair.

She told Kotb that if she saw a man “reading something I respect, that could be grounds for an affair,” which she immediately pedaled back in defense of her husband, adding, “I’m just kidding, I would never do that. I would never. Henry and I are very happy. And he reads.”

Today with Hoda & Jenna airs on weekdays at 10/9c on NBC.