Benny Blanco defends his hygiene after viral dirty feet backlash, insists it’s not his fault

Benny Blanco, the 37-year-old music producer and songwriter, tackled the viral controversy over his hygiene head-on during his latest appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on February 26.

The internet had erupted after fans spotted Blanco lounging with bare, visibly dirty feet on the couch during the premiere of his new podcast, ‘Friends Keep Secrets,’ co-hosted with Lil Dicky and Kristin Batalucco.

Kimmel didn’t shy away from the topic. “Dave and Benny are here, and I neglected something important because there is something that turned up as people were watching your multimedia experience. People seem to be fascinated with the idea that Benny’s feet are very dirty,” he said, prompting a photo of the infamous feet to appear on screen.

Blanco met the criticism with humor and proof. “First of all, it’s the facility’s fault. It’s not mine,” he quipped, referring to the floors at Lil Dicky’s house.

© Getty Images for GQ

Then, to settle the matter once and for all, Blanco removed his shoe and sock on live television. “I have great feet. Look at that clean foot. Are you kidding me?” Lil Dicky, whose real name is Dave Burd, added context, explaining the floors were “probably a little bit” dirty due to the filming crew, clarifying that Blanco’s feet were not inherently unhygienic.

Blanco’s wife, Selena Gomez, also subtly weighed in, showing support amid the backlash. On her Instagram Stories, she posted a brief video of herself kissing Blanco with the caption. “I fall more and more in love with you every day my love.”

© Friends Keep Secrets

The episode highlighted Blanco’s knack for blending humor with reality, turning a viral controversy into a lighthearted, personal defense. Fans who criticized his hygiene online were met with both a live demonstration and playful banter, proving that Blanco knows how to handle attention, even when it’s focused squarely on his soles.

He previously shared why he wanted to start a podcast. “We have such an eclectic group of friends, so sometimes the person that we’re talking to is going to be my mother and sometimes it’s going to be Selena Gomez,” he teased. “Or we might be talking to a guy that’s at the forefront of A.I. and then talking to a man who created the fart machine.”

© Monica Schipper