The internet is rallying behind Smallville heartthrob Tom Welling after an unflattering post about his looks at 48 lit up social media.
The actor - best known for playing a young Clark Kent on the hit 2000s series - found himself at the center of a viral debate after a user on X, formerly Twitter, shared a before-and-after comparison in late December.
The side-by-side image featured a photo of Welling in his early 20s during his Smallville era next to a more recent snapshot, sparking a wave of unsolicited commentary about how he’s aged.
Fans slam cruel comparison photo
The viral post originated from an anonymous 4Chan user who resurfaced the aging comparison and labeled Welling’s current appearance as “below average.” That sparked immediate pushback.
Many fans pointed out that the side-by-side comparison was totally unfair, especially since the original photo was a polished promo shot while the recent image was a low-quality photo taken in poor lighting.
Several commenters accused the post of deliberately choosing an unflattering angle to push a false narrative.
Some also took issue with what they believed to be the use of Welling’s mugshot from his 2025 DUI arrest as part of the comparison. At the time, fans had condemned the use of that image to make jabs about his looks, and it appears the outrage hasn’t faded.
“He's literally so sexy,” one fan tweeted. “Leave him alone fr.”
Another user wasn’t buying the harsh criticism at all and fired back: “Brother lol that's a below average man?”
“Below average and it’s the hottest picture of a man you’ve ever seen,” someone else chimed in.
Social media floods with support for the TV icon
The viral post quickly snowballed, racking up 6.4 million views and nearly 500 replies. The overwhelming tone was a defense of Welling and plenty of disbelief at the insults.
One person tweeted a confused string of question marks alongside a recent selfie of the actor, writing: “The guy still looks amazing lmao.”
Arrest, public comeback and family life
Welling’s recent wave of public attention follows a turbulent moment nearly a year ago. In January 2025, he was arrested for driving under the influence in a fast food parking lot in Yreka, California.
TMZ reported that his blood alcohol level was at or above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Neither Welling nor his family issued a public comment at the time.
Just a few weeks later, he made his return to the spotlight at MegaCon in Orlando, appearing on a Superman panel alongside other actors who’ve played the iconic hero over the years. It was his first public appearance since the arrest.
Beyond the headlines, Welling lives a quieter life off-screen with his wife, equestrian Jessica Rose Lee. The couple shares two sons: seven-year-old Thomson Wylde and four-year-old Rocklin Von.