Golden retriever men are the new heartthrobs: Women are obsessing over soft, excitable and friendly men like Sam Thompson and Tom Holland after Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce

The latest global dating trend has singles seeking out a golden retriever boyfriend – fun-loving, doting, and eager to please. The reign of bad boys and alpha males is apparently over. Instead, women long for a warm and affectionate partner that’s emotionally available and loving- otherwise known as a golden retriever boyfriend.

Brits only have to turn on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here to see golden retriever energy radiating out of Sam Thompson, 31, who bounces around the camp, and presumably continues to do so back home with girlfriend Zara McDermott, 26. Across the pond, pop sensation Taylor Swift, 33, ditched small-breed type Matty Healy for the softer golden retriever, Travis Kelce, 34.

With a passion for home comforts while still loving their mums, the Golden Retriever boyfriend is on the rise among non-celebrities too. A golden retriever boyfriend is defined as ‘a significant other that is easy going and makes it fairly simple to maintain a happy and fulfilling relationship,’ according to Gen Z language bible, Urban Dictionary. Though the dating trend has recently taken over pop culture, it’s nothing new.

Tom Holland’s longstanding relationship with Zendaya, 27, prove just that. American actress Zendaya has been in a relationship with the British sweetheart for some three years. Tom isn’t alone though, there’s a whole raft of gentler, sweeter souls capturing hearts. And in more recent times, Sam Thompson, who originally found fame on Channel 4’s Made in Chelsea, has propelled the trend into the spotlight.

Social media users have flocked to X, formerly called Twitter, to associate Sam with the trend- and use it to block out any hate directed his way. One said: ‘Sam Thompson is such a golden retriever, I swear. #ImACeleb.’ A second added: ‘How are people disliking Sam Thompson? He’s such a fun golden retriever energy. #ImACelebrity’ A third wrote: ‘Sam Thompson is just a golden retriever puppy isn’t he…#ImACeleb’ A fourth said: ‘Is that Sam Thompson really like that? He’s like a Golden Retriever in human form.’

Another wrote: ‘Sam Thompson resembles a giddy golden retriever #somuchlovetogive’ London-based dating coach Hayley Quinn said the traits associated with ‘bad boys’ wear off quickly. Speaking to HuffPost, she explained: ‘It’s not difficult to see the appeal of a golden retriever boyfriend,’ she told HuffPost, describing the type as ‘caring, reliable and emotionally available.’ ‘The truth is that whilst certain traits we’d associate with ‘bad boys’ such as confidence and assertiveness can be viewed as attractive, long-run good partnership qualities of being caring and considerate win out,’

‘There’s often a gap between what makes us attracted to someone enough to go on a first date with them, to what makes us choose them as a long-term partner,’ she added. Elsewhere, Travis Kelce’s public adoration for his mother, Donna, made social media fans liken him to a golden retriever. Over the past 30 years she has been an avid follower of both Travis and his brother, Jason’s football careers, with the former revealing she has made it to each of their games in the same day on a regular basis.

And after she sat alongside his new beau Taylor Swift for his recent games at Arrowhead and MetLife Stadium, Travis heaped praise on mom Donna for her unwavering commitment. ‘I know mom enjoyed it,’ he told Jason on their ‘New Heights’ podcast after she watched the Chiefs’ win over the Jets in New Jersey on Sunday.

‘I didn’t get a chance to see her so I shot her a text right after the game on the bus ride to the airport and I was like ‘hey mum, sorry I didn’t get to catch you before I left but I hope you enjoyed the game, I appreciate you always trying to make it to both of our games.’ ‘It’s crazy, she’s been making it to both of our sporting events since I was five and started actually playing sports. So she’s going on 30 years of making it to both of our events in one day. m’That’s f****ng commitment ladies and gentleman. That’s what we’re talking about when we say we have the best mother in the world, because even all the way to the NFL when she could just sit there and watch the game on TV, she’s still finding a way to make it to the suite man.’

Social media users quickly took to X, formerly called Twitter, to share their thoughts on Travis and his statements. One said: ‘Travis Kelce might be the ultimate golden retriever boyfriend. Like the prototype for golden retriever boyfriends.’ A second wrote: ‘Travis is such a golden retriever boyfriend and I want one.’ A third added: ‘Travis Kelce might be the ultimate golden retriever boyfriend. Like the prototype for golden retriever boyfriends.’