Aaron Pierre Isn’t Even My Type, But You Guys, I Can’t Stop Obsessing Over Him

‘That’s Mufasaaa’ … is what I find myself thinking 300,000 times a day.

If the video of Aaron Pierre grooving down the Spirit Tunnel at The Jennifer Hudson Show has 2.4 million views, I’m responsible for at least 500,000 of them. I have not been able to peel my eyes away from Aaron Pierre-centric content that has swarmed my algorithms since that video went viral over the Christmas holidays.

This time last year, the now-established Brit was only beginning to break ground with American audiences, playing Malcolm X in National Geographic’s Genius: MLK/X.

His performance garnered widespread acclaim but even then, the actor — who had previously starred in other notable works such as The Underground Railroad and Brother — had barely showed his full powers. I thought, sure, he is talented, but outside of the occasional clip here and there, I really didn’t pay a lot of attention.

That began to change in August, when he starred in Netflix’s Rebel Ridge, where he played Terry Richmond, a former Marine trying to find justice in a small town in Louisiana.

His performance was subtle, yet riveting, and generated a lot of buzz. At that point, I would’ve been happy to have him seek justice on my behalf, but I still wasn’t putting his poster on my wall.

Then came Mufasa: The Lion King in December. I covered the film’s Los Angeles premiere for PEOPLE and to prep, I spent a lot of time watching and reading his interviews.

I was intrigued by this man who’s so handsome, it almost hurt to keep watching. And while I didn’t get to look into those piercing green eyes in person at the premiere, I remember telling a colleague of mine that I couldn’t quite comprehend the reason behind his allure.

“It’s intense beauty,” they explained. And that was the most apt description of his looks. It’s like his face card is meant to stun and captivate you and I am fully under the spell.

While I gravitate towards the Damson Idrises and Idris Elbas of the world — you know, leading men who are handsome but still feel like fellow earthlings — I think my palate is evolving specifically for Aaron Pierre.

The man is literally striking: He is tall — Google says he’s 6’3″ — well-dressed and then of course, there are those aforementioned piercing green eyes. Add in his perfect smile, polished accent and sweet disposition and it’s impossible not to swoon.

Even more attractive, I think, is the fact that he seems determined to bring good vibes and positive energy to each place he goes. He showcased his best roar at the Mufasa premiere in a video posted by Disney studios; he was captured fully embracing his Caribbean roots at the film’s premiere afterparty in London; and one of the best parts about that Spirit Tunnel video is the fact that he took the time to high-five several members of the Jennifer Hudson crew and blew a sweet kiss once he got to the end.