When Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) debuted his new beard, the initial reactions were almost as rough as his scruff. But ask some of those critics now, and theyll tell you certain things get better with time.
Lets rewind a bit.
It all started last month when Cruz made a public appearance with some stubble, igniting a firestorm of controversy.
Ted Cruz grew a beard over Thanksgiving! Business Insiders Joe Perticone tweeted in astonishment.
Ted Cruz grew a beard over Thanksgiving! pic.twitter.com/g8I58uPn9o
Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) November 26, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Joe Perticone","author_url":"https://twitter.com/JoePerticone","cache_age":86400,"description":"Ted Cruz grew a beard over Thanksgiving! pic.twitter.com/g8I58uPn9o Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) November 26, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1536,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ds9rul1XQAE3gJs.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":2048,"title":"Joe Perticone on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/JoePerticone/status/1067190089120391168","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5c12bb34e4b0539b32131a1a","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/ted-cruz-beard_n_5c12bb34e4b0539b32131a1a","entryTagsList":"ted-cruz,beard,facial-hair,esquire-magazine,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"weird-news,style","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5c12bb34e4b0539b32131a1a","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Ted Cruz","slug":"ted-cruz","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/ted-cruz","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/ted-cruz","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/ted-cruz"},"relegenceId":5438639,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Ted Cruz","slug":"ted-cruz","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/ted-cruz"},{"name":" beard","slug":"beard","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/beard","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/beard","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/beard"},"section":{"title":"Weird News","slug":"weird-news"},"topic":{"title":"Beards and Mustaches","slug":"beard","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/topic/beard"},{"name":"facial hair","slug":"facial-hair","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/facial-hair","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/facial-hair","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/facial-hair"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/facial-hair"},{"name":"Esquire magazine","slug":"esquire-magazine","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/esquire-magazine","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/esquire-magazine","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/esquire-magazine"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Esquire","slug":"esquire","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/esquire"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">Ted Cruz grew a beard over Thanksgiving! pic.twitter.com/g8I58uPn9o
Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) November 26, 2018
Vanity Fair promptly published a review of the new look, calling it a genuine 2:30 P.M. shadow and praising the senator as a cool Ted now.
But not everyone approved . The Twitter trolls soon emerged in full force, armed with memes, insults and extreme close-ups of the senators face.
Jessica Roy, deputy editor at Elle magazine, bashed the beard, saying it proved wrong her theory that facial hair automatically improves a mans looks.
I cant believe it took Ted Cruz to disprove my theory that a beard can make any man passably hot
Jessica Roy (@JessicaKRoy) November 27, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Jessica Roy","author_url":"https://twitter.com/JessicaKRoy","cache_age":86400,"description":"I cant believe it took Ted Cruz to disprove my theory that a beard can make any man passably hot Jessica Roy (@JessicaKRoy) November 27, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Jessica Roy on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/JessicaKRoy/status/1067256976432873473","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5c12bb34e4b0539b32131a1a","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/ted-cruz-beard_n_5c12bb34e4b0539b32131a1a","entryTagsList":"ted-cruz,beard,facial-hair,esquire-magazine,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"weird-news,style","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5c12bb34e4b0539b32131a1a","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Ted Cruz","slug":"ted-cruz","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/ted-cruz","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/ted-cruz","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/ted-cruz"},"relegenceId":5438639,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Ted Cruz","slug":"ted-cruz","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/ted-cruz"},{"name":" beard","slug":"beard","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/beard","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/beard","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/beard"},"section":{"title":"Weird News","slug":"weird-news"},"topic":{"title":"Beards and Mustaches","slug":"beard","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/topic/beard"},{"name":"facial hair","slug":"facial-hair","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/facial-hair","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/facial-hair","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/facial-hair"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/facial-hair"},{"name":"Esquire magazine","slug":"esquire-magazine","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/esquire-magazine","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/esquire-magazine","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/esquire-magazine"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Media","slug":"media"},"topic":{"title":"Esquire","slug":"esquire","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/esquire"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n","\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">I cant believe it took Ted Cruz to disprove my theory that a beard can make any man passably hot
Jessica Roy (@JessicaKRoy) November 27, 2018
But then something changed: The beard grew, as beards will.
It appears the public is now fascinated by Cruzs fuzzy face, with some declaring it has a certain appeal.
His latest endorsement came from Esquire , which ran a headline Wednesday that read, Damnit, Ted Cruzs Beard Looks Tolerable Now.
Even Chrissy Teigen agrees.
MAN I fuckin agree Ill be damned
— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) December 12, 2018
A few days before Cruz received Esquires approval, Slate published a story titled, Im So Sorry to Report that Ted Cruzs New Beard Looks Great.
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
While the politicos facial hair was once a target of mockery, it seems that now the skeptics arent bristling too much.
Support Free Journalism
Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.
Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
_(720p).jpg)
 OFFICIAL HD MUSIC VIDEO.jpg)
.jpg)
