Jason Bateman once delivered an emotional acceptance speech about finally being named the Sexiest Man Alive. There was just one rather inconvenient detail: he hadn't actually won anything.

The hilarious moment dates back to November 18, 2014, when the actor appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the same night that Chris Hemsworth was unveiled as PEOPLE magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

Rather than congratulate the winner and move on, Bateman decided to act as though the entire evening had been a terrible misunderstanding. He claimed he had expected to receive the honour himself and had even prepared an acceptance speech.

After some encouragement from Kimmel, the actor produced his crumpled speech and launched into an absurdly heartfelt account of the difficulties of being exceptionally attractive from childhood.

Bateman joked that growing up sexy had made him feel different from everyone else, before thanking his parents for passing on the extraordinary genetics that had supposedly earned him the title.

His deliberately serious delivery, complete with mock emotion and perfectly timed pauses, made the imaginary victory even funnier.

The truth behind Jason Bateman's Sexiest Man Alive speech

Despite how convincing the performance might appear without context, the entire exchange was a comedy routine rather than a genuine awards announcement.

ABC's original account of the November 2014 appearance confirms that Bateman was reacting to not receiving the honour and performing the speech he would have delivered if he had won.

The original clip, published by the official Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel on November 19, 2014, also makes the joke's premise unmistakable.

Hemsworth was the actual 2014 winner, while Jonathan Bailey received PEOPLE's title in 2025.

So although Bateman's spectacularly self-important acceptance speech remains entertaining more than a decade later, it isn't evidence of a new award or a recent announcement.

It is simply a reminder that Bateman can turn losing a completely fictional competition into a genuinely memorable television moment.