In the second half of 2024, a trend emerged on TikTok in which users created “hear me out” cakes. Participants took turns placing sticks with pictures of fictional characters, animated and live-action versions, celebrities and even their friends’ parents that they found attractive on their desserts.
The phrase “hear me out” connects to the idea that the person’s pick is wild, mildly outrageous and must be explained to be understood.
In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, The Scout staff has assembled a list of its very own picks that make up its hear me out cake.
Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins — Rome Tews
Is he undead? Yes. Does he have the manners of an 18th-century gentleman? Also yes. And you know what? That’s hot. Something about awkward, pale Easterners with immaculate wardrobes sets off my love chemicals. His desire to find and reunite with Josette, while procuring some fresh blood in the process, is visceral and downright aspirational. Also, Johnny Depp is just that attractive, regardless of what he’s playing. Maybe in another 100 years, this sultry vampire will come suck on my neck.
Sofina from “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” — Paul Swartz
Sofina is a textbook villain, and her character functions perfectly for the fantasy world this movie is set in. She is so obviously evil from the beginning that it seems odd the characters would ever trust her, but I honestly get it. There are plenty of moments where she’s supposed to look creepy, but the entire time, I just think, “Wow, her eyes are really pretty.” I don’t know why, but in a movie with no shortage of attractive people — Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and Regé-Jean Page, to name a few — Sofina stands out the most. Plus, it gives me a chance to plug the “Dungeons & Dragons” movie.
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor — Madalyn Mirallegro
Now normally I am not into bald people, but for some reason, Nicholas Hoult pulls it off. When the first look of him as Lex Luthor hit the internet, lives were changed, mine most importantly. As he exited the plane with the shades and the popped-collar coat, I knew that I would be hooked long after the new “Superman” movie comes out this July.
Ghostface — Emmily Scumaci
I don’t mean Billy Loomis, Stu Macher or any of the subsequent characters who dared don the mask. I mean Ghostface. I never considered the killer physically appealing until the Halloween trend emerged when couples started buying the mask. My whole thought process changed. I still can’t explain what it is about him, and I know I would be terrified if he were real. But since he’s not, I can continue to find him attractive.
Max Goof from “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas” — Scarlett Rose Binder
Listen, if I could rationalize choosing Flynn Rider, I would. But that’s “not a real hear me out,” or so I’ve been told. So here we are. No offense to Max, because I really do love this guy. “Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas” is a classic in my home. I could blame this on my many younger siblings, but honestly, I love it, and that’s largely because I get to see a college-age Max Goof on my screen. Despite technically being an animated dog with no more than two teeth, he walks, talks and has all the angst of your average teenage boy. Well . . . above average, if you ask me. Hear me out: there’s something so adorable about the way he wears that turtleneck.
William from “Don’t Starve Together” — Cassie Maxwell
I put six options before my friends and asked them to choose the character they would find hardest to “hear me out” about. Between literal monsters, robots and demons, they chose this perfectly normal man. Now look, I know this guy sucks — I mean, he pretty much puts a bunch of people in hell for the fun of it — but that doesn’t deter me. He has style and power. Do you see his dapper little suit and his smug grin? His voice is a harmonium, and he experiments in dark magic. What else could you want in a man, if not someone that sends you to a culmination of all your worst nightmares?
