Golden retriever men are the new heartthrobs: Women are obsessing over soft, excitable and friendly men like Sam Thompson and Tom Holland after Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce

 

The latest global dating trend has singles seeking out a golden retriever boyfriend – fun-loving, doting, and eager to please.

 

Golden retriever men are the new heartthrobs: Women are obsessing over soft, excitable and friendly men like Sam Thompson and Tom Holland after Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce

The reign of bad boys and alpha males is apparently over. Instead, women long for a warm and affectionate partner that’s emotionally available and loving- otherwise known as a golden retriever boyfriend.

Brits only have to turn on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here to see golden retriever energy radiating out of Sam Thompson, 31, who bounces around the camp, and presumably continues to do so back home with girlfriend Zara McDermott, 26.

Across the pond, pop sensation Taylor Swift, 33, ditched small-breed type Matty Healy for the softer golden retriever, Travis Kelce, 34.

With a passion for home comforts while still loving their mums, the Golden Retriever boyfriend is on the rise among non-celebrities too.

A golden retriever boyfriend is defined as ‘a significant other that is easy going and makes it fairly simple to maintain a happy and fulfilling relationship,’ according to Gen Z language bible, Urban Dictionary.

Though the dating trend has recently taken over pop culture, it’s nothing new.

Tom Holland’s longstanding relationship with Zendaya, 27, prove just that.

American actress Zendaya has been in a relationship with the British sweetheart for some three years.

Tom isn’t alone though, there’s a whole raft of gentler, sweeter souls capturing hearts.

And in more recent times, Sam Thompson, who originally found fame on Channel 4’s Made in Chelsea, has propelled the trend into the spotlight.

Social media users have flocked to X, formerly called Twitter, to associate Sam with the trend- and use it to block out any hate directed his way.

One said: ‘Sam Thompson is such a golden retriever, I swear. #ImACeleb.’