Paul Mescal Adorably Blushes When 5-Year-Old Asks Him Why His Shorts Are So Short: ‘They’re Not Custom Made’

Paul Mescal is a fashion icon for all ages. 

In a clip shared to TikTok on Thursday, Nov. 14, the Irish actor, 28, paid a visit to BBC Radio 1, where he took a question from a caller — and despite the fan’s age, she asked what we’ve all been dying to know!

“Hi, my name is Lily,” the child said while introducing herself over the phone. “I’m 5 years old. Hi, Paul.”

After getting a greeting back from Mescal, who was recently nominated for PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive, Lily got down to business. 

“Why are your shorts so short?” she asked.

Her inquiry received laughs from the All of Us Strangers star, as well as the radio show’s two co-hosts. 

“It’s a good question, Lily,” Mescal admitted, before taking a moment to let out a few more laughs. According to the actor, “Lily’s mum definitely asked her that.” 

The BBC Radio 1 hosts agreed that the 5-year-old may have had a bit of help from a nearby adult when it came to the question.

Still, the Aftersun actor was happy to provide an answer. 

“They’re short — Lily, they’re sports shorts,” he began, trying to find the right way to explain his response to the child. “They’re not custom made for me to be short, they’re just very practical for exercise, and they’re great for running in.”

After a bit of back and forth with the radio hosts, Mescal joked that he may take his short shorts look to the next level in the coming months.  

“I might next summer just like, have my bum [hanging out],” he said while laughing, adding that he would “go for the hot pants next summer.”

Mescal’s short shorts have been a thing since at least 2022.

That year, he spoke with Interview Magazine about his viral look, telling his Lost Daughter costar Dakota Johnson that he didn’t need to keep any of the photoshoot looks because “I’ve got a pretty extensive short shorts wardrobe.”

Though Mescal’s legs have long been the center of attention, in his upcoming role as Lucius in Gladiator II, his upper body sees some major screen time. 

During a visit to The Graham Norton Show on Oct. 25 to promote the upcoming film, Mescal said he had “fun” getting ripped to star in the role. 

"I ate a lot of chicken and lifted heavy things," Mescal said, noting that his trainer “circled me like a shark.”

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And Mescal did what was expected of him, while also staying true to himself. 

"I did everything he asked, but I like to drink, and I like to smoke, so I drew a line in the sand where those were concerned,” the actor said.

The upcoming action film is the sequel to Russell Crowe’s 2000 Gladiator — which won Best Picture at the Academy Awards — and stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn and Djimon Hounsou.

Gladiator II is in theaters on Nov. 22.