Ryan Seacrest stuns fans with ‘quite different’ look in ‘American Idol’ promo
A hairy situation.
Ryan Seacrest shocked fans after “American Idol” posted a promo video on Instagram showing the TV host rocking a look that is “quite different” from how he usually presents himself.
In the clip shared on Instagram Jan. 8, the perennially clean-shaven Seacrest sports a well-manicured beard along with a wavy hairstyle that is longer and looser than his typical coiffure.
His wardrobe contrasts with his usual “Idol” image as well. Rather than a suit and tie, Seacrest wears beige suede Chelsea boots, light-wash jeans and a pale olive green short-sleeved floral button down-shirt (worn with the top buttons undone).
Dressed in his more casual ensemble, Seacrest stands in front of a large screen in the clip as he’s about to record a promotional spot for “Idol” when his mother Constance appears on the screen to give him a “sweet surprise!”
An off-guard Seacrest turns around as his mom says, “Surprise! It’s your biggest fan.” Laughing, the “Wheel of Fortune” host then asks, “Mom, what show is this?”
Borrowing Seacrest’s signature intro line and dramatic pause, Constance responds, “This … is ‘American Idol.’”
A smiling Seacrest closes out the clip saying, “Can’t beat it.”
Fans of the series jumped to the comments section to weigh in on the TV mogul’s look.
“Bearded @ryanseacrest wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card,” one fan wrote.
“Looking quite different there Ryan @ryanseacrest but still charming as always,” another chimed in.
Someone else commented, “Ryan with the facial hair😮!! But how sweet was that?!! ~ ❤️,” prompting the “American Idol” account to reply, “The cutest and scruffiest moment! 🩵”
Still others effused about Ryan’s new look, writing, “Love the beard and longer hair,” “So adorable,” “Looking awesome,” and “I like the beard! Very handsome!”
However, one wary commenter doubted the clip was recorded recently.
“This must be old, he doesn’t have a beard now,” the person said. Confirming the person’s suspicions, the “Idol” account replied, “It’s a throwback!”
It’s not clear when exactly the clip was recorded or if it was even recorded specifically for the show’s upcoming 23rd season, which debuts March 9 on ABC.
Seacrest has had a beard in the past. In November 2020, the multi-hyphenate shared a scruffy long-haired selfie on Instagram, captioning the snap, “Post workout. Am I doing this long hair thing right @shawnmendes?”
One month earlier, the radio host talked about his facial hair with Kelly Ripa on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (he left the show in April 2023).
“Do you notice anything different?” Seacrest asked Ripa, 54, on the daytime talkshow.
“You mean your beard?” Ripa asked back. “I noticed it last week. You’ve decided to color your beard. I don’t mind a dark beard. I don’t mind it at all.”
She then quipped, “But it takes on a sort of a, like, well-groomed pirate look.”
After Seacrest laughed at the remark, Ripa continued insisting that she “didn’t mind it.”
“’I don’t mind’ is not necessarily the compliment one goes for,” he retorted.
It appears some fans had the same reaction to Ryan’s beard in the recent “American Idol” Instagram post.
Summing up the opinions of many of the beard’s detractors, one person wrote, “That beard has got to go Ryan.”
