Normal People’s Paul Mescal responds to online obsession with his shorts

Actor’s attire has proved a viral hit in recent months, from his tiny shorts to his ‘Normal People’ chain

Normal People actor Paul Mescal has laughed off paparazzi photographs of him wearing shorts, which have sent social media into overdrive in recent months.

Mescal, who was nominated for an Emmy Award today (28 July) for his role in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s hit novel, has been at the centre of a number of memes related to his attire.

“I’ve been made aware of it,” Mescal told Vulture. “My brother will send me a funny tweet. It’s never really, like, a conversation that goes on for a long time. Because I don’t think it’s very interesting … it’s not something that we talk about for a huge amount of time.”

He continued: “Around the family dinner table, talking about my shorts, it wouldn’t be the most interesting conversation.”

Mescal also shot down claims that his shorts are particularly small in size.

“See, I think to an outsider’s eye, they probably are,” he explained. “But to somebody who’s grown up playing football, they’re unfortunately the standard short length in football.”

In the same interview, Mescal declined to comment on recent reports that he had been spotted eating breakfast with musician Phoebe Bridgers in Dublin.

“Err, I’d rather not talk about that,” Mescal said. “Sorry.”

Mescal’s Emmy nomination was the only nod the blockbuster limited series received at the annual event, which will take place on 20 September.

To read a full list of this year’s nominees, click here.