YouTuber and beauty influencer Bretman Rock has made LGBTQ history, becoming the first out gay man to grace the cover of Playboy magazine.
Rock announced the news on his Twitter and Instagram alongside photographs of him wearing the iconic bunny outfit.
I’m a @playboy bunny 🐰 DUHHHHHH https://t.co/qMw5u5hbzy— BretmanRock’s Year (@BretmanRock’s Year) 1633115104.0
So how does it feel to be making history? For Rock, pretty swell. He issued the following statement:
""For Playboy to have a male on the cover is a huge deal for the LGBT community, for my brown people community and it's all so surreal."
"A total 'is this even f****** happening right now?' type of vibe. And I'm so pretty."
Playboy commemorated the event by announcing on Instagram that it has restocked its Bretman Rock T-shirt collaboration for a limited time.
Playboy also released the following statement:
""Playboy has always been game-changing, forward-thinking, and progressive, and is positioning the bunny costume open to all genders and body-types, having Bretman as the forefront."
Rock's fans were ecstatic, taking to social media to congratulate the young star.
Many also agreed that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner would have approved of the decision to feature Rock on the cover.
Playboy breaks new ground with first gay male cover star Bretman Rock: ‘I’m a Playboy bunny, duh’ Hugh Hefner woul… https://t.co/LbH4M8jiGs— Dane B. McFadhen (@Dane B. McFadhen) 1633373285.0
I just got chilllllsssss. History has been made https://t.co/kbskmcgIRX— Jodylove🧊 (@Jodylove🧊) 1633393411.0
Bretman is always serving 😍 https://t.co/ySWcjUq3mf— Manaka (@Manaka) 1633222416.0
i aspire to be a bad bitch like bretman rock https://t.co/t0CEobEGgp— dylan (@dylan) 1633225900.0
I'm late to the party but his is about as cool as it gets. H/T to @Playboy I'm sure Hef would approve and is up the… https://t.co/AZ8HgUl3YZ— Martin Rogue (@Martin Rogue) 1633394555.0
When is Bretman winning sexiest man alive bc ? I’m obsessed w him https://t.co/0qTggNWWqB— 💚 (@💚) 1633290241.0
The girls could never!!! 💅🏽💅🏽💅🏽 https://t.co/IDNMYcPL5p— Randy Astengo (@Randy Astengo) 1633311145.0
this really is a serve. https://t.co/x5bV44O4Bb— Reigna🖤 (@Reigna🖤) 1633323772.0
This is GREAT!!!!! https://t.co/FkIFKYPRpZ— Everyone is Fred (@Everyone is Fred) 1633358894.0
Rock began his career as just a regular creator on YouTube and Vine before one of his contouring videos catapulted him to fame after going viral in 2015.
He has also previously appeared on the covers of Teen Vogue and Gay Times, as well as NYLON Manila, King Kong, and Perfect.
He was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Honolulu, Hawaii with his family when he was seven years old.
Now 23, he is the recipient of several awards, including "Breakthrough Social Star" at the 2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards. He previously starred in his own reality show, MTV's Following: Bretman Rock.
Last year, Rock was included on Variety's 2020 Power of Young Hollywood list.