Why Benson Boone Says He Can't Be the 'Sex Icon of the Century'

Mar. 15, 2025

Benson Boone for Rolling Stone.Photo:Kanya Iwana

Kanya Iwana

Benson Booneis opening up about his body image issues.In aRolling Stonecover storypublished on Tuesday, March 11, the “Beautiful Things” hitmaker discussed his relationship with his “physical form” and taking off his clothes during his concerts.“I definitely remember there was a time where I would take my shirt off because I didn’t know what else to do,” Boone, 22, told the publication. “After doing a lot of shows, you start to pick up on what people like and don’t like, what girls like and don’t like. There is an art to making anybody go crazy.“However, the “In the Stars” artist noted that he didn’t want people to attend one of his concerts “expecting me to just take my shirt off and it to be like a gun show.“Benson Boone in March 2025.Kanya Iwana"One, I don’t have the guns for that. Two, that’s just not what I’m about.… I don’t want to rely on my physical form to be the primary driver of my shows,” said Boone.Though he’s been working out over the past few months, it’s been challenging for him to “focus” on his body “all the time."“Because I’m so incredibly hard on myself, and when I start to think about my appearance too much, it just kills me because there’s always something more I could do,” said Boone. “There’s always a hairstyle or, like, my arms could be bigger. My shoulders could be bigger. It’s never-ending. I can’t afford to think that way because I will never be happy if I do think that way.“The “Sugar Sweet” musician then admitted how much scrutiny he has over his body.“Dude, it affects me so much,” he said. “Obviously, like, I enjoy working out and I want to keep my physical shape because I need to. But I can’t be the sex icon of the ­century, just because that’s not who I am.”Benson Boone for Rolling Stone.Kanya IwanaIn February, Boone — who was nominated for best new artist at the 2025Grammy Awards—spoke with PEOPLEabout his excitement around performing during the big night.“There’s a lot of energy flowing through my body right now,” he said, adding: “This is very crazy for me. There’s a lot of cool people here. I’m really excited to perform. I’m kind of like… crapping my pants right now.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Benson Boone for ‘Rolling Stone’ in March 2025.Kanya IwanaBoone also recalled how he arrived at the awards show.“In between four-and-a-half and five years ago I discovered I could sing,” he said. “Ever since then I do it every day.“For the rising pop star, music is “my greatest passion.““I’m just happy that I could make a living out of it,” Boone concluded.

Benson Booneis opening up about his body image issues.

In aRolling Stonecover storypublished on Tuesday, March 11, the “Beautiful Things” hitmaker discussed his relationship with his “physical form” and taking off his clothes during his concerts.

“I definitely remember there was a time where I would take my shirt off because I didn’t know what else to do,” Boone, 22, told the publication. “After doing a lot of shows, you start to pick up on what people like and don’t like, what girls like and don’t like. There is an art to making anybody go crazy.”

However, the “In the Stars” artist noted that he didn’t want people to attend one of his concerts “expecting me to just take my shirt off and it to be like a gun show.”

Benson Boone in March 2025.Kanya Iwana

“One, I don’t have the guns for that. Two, that’s just not what I’m about.… I don’t want to rely on my physical form to be the primary driver of my shows,” said Boone.

Though he’s been working out over the past few months, it’s been challenging for him to “focus” on his body “all the time.”

“Because I’m so incredibly hard on myself, and when I start to think about my appearance too much, it just kills me because there’s always something more I could do,” said Boone. “There’s always a hairstyle or, like, my arms could be bigger. My shoulders could be bigger. It’s never-ending. I can’t afford to think that way because I will never be happy if I do think that way.”

The “Sugar Sweet” musician then admitted how much scrutiny he has over his body.

“Dude, it affects me so much,” he said. “Obviously, like, I enjoy working out and I want to keep my physical shape because I need to. But I can’t be the sex icon of the ­century, just because that’s not who I am.”

Benson Boone for Rolling Stone.Kanya Iwana

In February, Boone — who was nominated for best new artist at the 2025Grammy Awards—spoke with PEOPLEabout his excitement around performing during the big night.

“There’s a lot of energy flowing through my body right now,” he said, adding: “This is very crazy for me. There’s a lot of cool people here. I’m really excited to perform. I’m kind of like… crapping my pants right now.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Benson Boone for ‘Rolling Stone’ in March 2025.Kanya Iwana

Boone also recalled how he arrived at the awards show.

“In between four-and-a-half and five years ago I discovered I could sing,” he said. “Ever since then I do it every day.”

For the rising pop star, music is “my greatest passion.”

“I’m just happy that I could make a living out of it,” Boone concluded.

source: people.com