Pedro Pascal is usually the internet’s collective crush. The memes, the fan cams, the “daddy” discourse—it’s all been adoring. But lately? The vibe has shifted. And it’s not over a bad movie or some offhand comment. It’s his anxiety. Or rather, what TikTok and Twitter (sorry, X) are now calling his “selective anxiety.”
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Why Pedro Pascal’s Getting Side-Eyed Right Now
The backlash started while Pedro was on the promo circuit for Fantastic Four, where he’s playing Reed Richards. Most fans were excited to see him and co-star Vanessa Kirby together—but some clips from press events triggered a very different kind of reaction.
In the videos, Pascal is constantly touching Vanessa—grabbing her hand, brushing her arm, even pulling her closer at one point when she seemed to step away. Meanwhile, the other male co-stars? Keeping it professional. No unnecessary touching. No lingering eye contact. Just vibes and promo.
Cue the internet:
“Funny how Pedro Pascal never gets anxious around male co-stars.”
“He’s never all over them, is he?”
“She literally tried to step back and he pulled her in. Look at her face. She’s uncomfortable.”
He never gets the anxiety gropes around men, does he?! https://t.co/HdOq6WaHJP
— Kellie-Jay Keen (@ThePosieParker) July 23, 2025
But isn’t Vanessa also affectionate?
Yes—and that’s what makes this more complicated than a cut-and-dry cancellation. There are also videos of her stroking his head, holding his hand, even leaning in like she might kiss him. Fans have pointed out that it seems mutual… sort of.
Still, people are asking: Why does Pedro only show this “anxious” body language around women? Why doesn’t he ever do it with his male colleagues?
See also: Pedro Pascal Has a Very Heartbroken and Dark History With His Mother: A Farewell He Couldn’t Have
This isn’t the first time
The Vanessa Kirby clips reignited a long-simmering debate. Back when he was doing press with Dakota Johnson—or even in casual moments with Ana de la Reguera, one of his longtime friends—people clocked similar behavior. Lots of closeness. Lots of touching. Slightly off vibes.
Some defenders say it’s just his anxiety and how he self-soothes. Others argue that he has touched men—like Oscar Isaac—but only in personal settings, never during work appearances. And definitely not with the same energy.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Fernando Eslava in Cultura Colectiva.
