Tyriq Withers Responds to 'Internet Boyfriend' Status

The actor discusses his rising fame and role in the new film 'Reminders of Him'.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Actor Tyriq Withers, who stars in the new movie 'Reminders of Him', has responded to the notion that he is an 'internet boyfriend' and potential future 'Sexiest Man Alive' contender. Withers, 27, says he never signed up for that status, but is grateful that people resonate with his personality. The actor has been on a hot streak, with roles in the 2025 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' sequel and the football-themed horror film 'Him'. In 'Reminders of Him', an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's 2022 novel, Withers plays the dead man's friend who falls in love with the main character, played by Maika Monroe.

Why it matters

Withers' rising fame and potential 'internet boyfriend' status highlight the power of social media and online fandom in shaping celebrity culture. His humble response to the attention also speaks to his grounded approach to his burgeoning career.

The details

In the new movie 'Reminders of Him', Withers plays the role of the dead man's friend who falls in love with the main character, Kenna, played by Maika Monroe. Kenna is a woman attempting to reconnect with her young daughter after serving a seven-year prison sentence. Withers' character helps care for Kenna's daughter during her incarceration, and as their secret romance develops, so do the dangers for both of them.

  • Withers broke out in Hollywood in 2025 with roles in the 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' sequel and the football-themed horror movie 'Him'.
  • Reminders of Him is set to be released in theaters on March 13, 2026.

The players

Tyriq Withers

A 27-year-old actor who has been on a hot streak in Hollywood, with roles in the 2025 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' sequel and the football-themed horror film 'Him'.

Maika Monroe

The 32-year-old actress who stars alongside Withers in 'Reminders of Him', playing the role of Kenna, a woman attempting to reconnect with her young daughter after serving a seven-year prison sentence.

Colleen Hoover

The author of the 2022 novel 'Reminders of Him', which the new film is adapted from.

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What they’re saying

“Oh my gosh - what? I hear crickets in my head. I'm like, 'Really?' I mean, if y'all have me, I'll be grateful and thankful. I don't know why you'd pick me, but I'm here. I'm here.”

— Tyriq Withers, Actor (PEOPLE)

“Those are your words. I never signed up for that. I think the beautiful thing about it is I just show up to these interviews and just bring myself, and I'm just glad people resonate with that. It is validating that you don't have to be anybody else but yourself.”

— Tyriq Withers, Actor (PEOPLE)

What’s next

Withers will next star in a movie titled 'Family Secrets', which was first reported on by Deadline in 2023.

The takeaway

Tyriq Withers' humble response to his rising fame and potential 'internet boyfriend' status shows his grounded approach to his burgeoning career, focusing on bringing his authentic self to his roles and interviews rather than chasing fame or attention.