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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2015/jun/29/shabani-gorilla-internet-heart-throb-japanese-women-higashiyama-zoo

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Meet Shabani the gorilla, the internet’s latest unlikely crush Meet Shabani the gorilla, the internet’s latest unlikely crush
(about 3 hours later)
Age: 18.Age: 18.
Appearance: Dreamy.Appearance: Dreamy.
Shabani? Who’s this then? A new young popstrel? A Bieber-alike? Another of those vlogging foetuses that keep landing book deals and intruding on my aged cultural horizons? Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest nutritionist? What? He’s the internet’s latest heart-throb.Shabani? Who’s this then? A new young popstrel? A Bieber-alike? Another of those vlogging foetuses that keep landing book deals and intruding on my aged cultural horizons? Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest nutritionist? What? He’s the internet’s latest heart-throb.
Ooh, let’s just look him up … Hang on, I must have spelled his name wrong. Are you looking at pictures of a gorilla?Ooh, let’s just look him up … Hang on, I must have spelled his name wrong. Are you looking at pictures of a gorilla?
Yes. Handsome, isn’t he?Yes. Handsome, isn’t he?
As gorillas go, I suppose he’s… Wait. This resident of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the heart-throb? Young Japanese women discovered him recently and have big love for the Western Lowland silverback they customarily hashtag #Ikemen or #ikumen.As gorillas go, I suppose he’s… Wait. This resident of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens is the heart-throb? Young Japanese women discovered him recently and have big love for the Western Lowland silverback they customarily hashtag #Ikemen or #ikumen.
Meaning? “Hot young guy” and “hands-on dad”.Meaning? “Hot young guy” and “hands-on dad”.
Did I miss a memo? Is this what we’re doing now? Falling in love with apes? Was Scalia right? Is this where it all ends? Do you not see where the laydeez are coming from? He’s a loving father of two, whom he had with an older woman.Did I miss a memo? Is this what we’re doing now? Falling in love with apes? Was Scalia right? Is this where it all ends? Do you not see where the laydeez are coming from? He’s a loving father of two, whom he had with an older woman.
Can I just check – you do mean female gorilla, don’t you? Yes.Can I just check – you do mean female gorilla, don’t you? Yes.
OK, continue. He’s got brooding good looks, a fantastic body – you can watch him flex those pecs in photos and videos on Instagram any time you fancy – and a highly intelligent, thoughtful mien. His keepers say he comes from very stable parents. And if hairy men are your thing – ker-ching!OK, continue. He’s got brooding good looks, a fantastic body – you can watch him flex those pecs in photos and videos on Instagram any time you fancy – and a highly intelligent, thoughtful mien. His keepers say he comes from very stable parents. And if hairy men are your thing – ker-ching!
Yes, but – he is still … how can I put this … he is still A GORILLA. As female Twitterer @ljrhw put it: “He kinda does it for me.”Yes, but – he is still … how can I put this … he is still A GORILLA. As female Twitterer @ljrhw put it: “He kinda does it for me.”
This is terrifying. Nonsense. You’re being very closed-minded. He’s a catch. A non-human, essentially incarcerated catch, but a catch nevertheless.This is terrifying. Nonsense. You’re being very closed-minded. He’s a catch. A non-human, essentially incarcerated catch, but a catch nevertheless.
What is modern life, what are modern men, not providing for women that they have to start looking outside their own species for emotional and physical succour? Shabani’s former keeper Allan Schmidt reckons “most people would consider him fairly dashing”. Maybe women are just more open about their feelings.What is modern life, what are modern men, not providing for women that they have to start looking outside their own species for emotional and physical succour? Shabani’s former keeper Allan Schmidt reckons “most people would consider him fairly dashing”. Maybe women are just more open about their feelings.
Maybe the world’s gone insane. Maybe. But try picturing him in a wet shirt climbing out of a Regency lake, or in a tux and Nespresso commercial. You see it now, dontcha? You see it now? Maybe the world’s gone insane. Maybe. But try picturing him in a wet shirt climbing out of a Regency lake, or in a tux and a Nespresso commercial. You see it now, dontcha? You see it now?
Do say: “WOULD #ikemen”Do say: “WOULD #ikemen”
Don’t say: “What about Godzilla? You guys are so fickle :(“ Don’t say: “What about Godzilla? You guys are so fickle :( ”