Jeremy Allen White has become the subject of fresh online scrutiny after photographs of the actor enjoying an afternoon with The Bear co-star Ayo Edebiri left fans questioning his health.
The 35-year-old actor was photographed embracing Edebiri in Los Angeles last Thursday (November 5) before the pair headed out for a walk with their dogs.
However, while some viewers immediately began speculating about a possible romance, others focused on the unusually prominent veins running along White’s forearms.
The sight of a cigarette in his hand also led to questions about his smoking habits, with some suggesting nicotine could be responsible for the appearance of his arms.
“Why are his arm veins bulging so hard?” one viewer asked.
Jeremy Allen White’s appearance left fans questioning whether he was smoking too much
The photographs, shared by the celebrity account 21 on November 5, showed White wearing a navy shirt, loose beige trousers and a white baseball cap.
Edebiri, meanwhile, wore sunglasses, a white T-shirt and pale green trousers, carrying a coffee as the pair walked together.
In one photograph, the actors shared an embrace outside a building. Another showed them strolling down the street with their dogs, with White appearing to hold a cigarette in one hand.
The otherwise ordinary outing quickly attracted attention, particularly after fans began examining the actor’s physique.
Some X users questioned whether his prominent arm veins could be connected to substance use, but most focused on the apparent cigarette.
“I wonder why they love cigarettes so much,” one wrote.
Beyond the gossip surrounding the pair’s romantic situation, the discussion soon veered into the effects of nicotine on one’s appearance, with many arguing that the ingredient was responsible for the look of White’s arms.
Smoking affects blood circulation, but nicotine doesn’t necessarily make veins more prominent
colinoleesky/Star Max/GC Images
Nicotine affects the cardiovascular system by stimulating the release of adrenaline and other chemicals that influence blood circulation.
One of its immediate effects is vasoconstriction, a process in which blood vessels narrow.
According to the National Institutes of Health, nicotine can increase heart rate and blood pressure while constricting blood vessels, particularly those supplying the skin.
That means smoking does not ordinarily cause the veins in someone’s arms to become larger or more visible in the way some commenters appeared to suggest.
In fact, the explanation may be much simpler.
Prominent veins are commonly associated with a combination of low body fat and developed muscles.
According to the medically reviewed publication Medical News Today, people with greater muscle mass and less fat beneath their skin are more likely to have visibly pronounced veins.
Exercise can also temporarily increase their prominence, as increased blood flow and expanding muscles push veins closer to the skin’s surface.
Body temperature, genetics and ordinary differences in circulation can further affect how visible they appear.
This is particularly relevant to White, whose muscular physique has attracted considerable attention in recent years.
The actor famously displayed his physique in a Calvin Klein underwear campaign in January 2024, while his preparation for the wrestling drama The Iron Claw also involved significant physical training.
The outing also reignited rumors about White and Ayo Edebiri’s relationship
The affectionate photographs quickly revived years of speculation about whether the two Bear stars might be romantically involved.
“Hottest couple of the year goes to…” a fan joked.
Others simply enjoyed seeing the actors spending time together after the conclusion of their award-winning television series.
“I would happily run into them during a casual day out,” a second added.
White and Edebiri have never publicly confirmed a romantic relationship, although their friendship has attracted attention ever since The Bear premiered in 2022.
The actors first met while attending culinary training in preparation for their roles.
“The first time we met was in school,” he explained during an interview with Cherry Bombe, referring to their training at the Institute of Culinary Education in Pasadena.
In the series, White portrays Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a talented but troubled chef, while Edebiri plays Sydney Adamu, his ambitious culinary partner.
Their on-screen relationship became central to the show’s success.
Created by Christopher Storer, The Bear earned widespread critical acclaim and ultimately collected 22 Emmy Awards across its five-season run. Its fifth and final season premiered on June 25, 2026, bringing the acclaimed kitchen drama to an end.
White and Edebiri have previously spoken about their close relationship
In a May 2024 interview with Vanity Fair, White described the connection he had developed with Edebiri while filming the series.
“We really enjoy each other in life, on camera and off camera,” he explained.
He also praised Edebiri’s instincts as an actress and her ability to challenge him creatively. Edebiri was equally complimentary, even making a playful remark about her co-star’s appearance.
“Also, boy’s got some beautiful blue eyes,” she said. “Those are eyes you want to project onto.”
The actors continued demonstrating their friendship throughout the following years, with a recent appearance (July 2026) on GQ‘s Friendship Quiz, competing to see how well they knew each other.
White and Edebiri also reflected on their characters’ relationship in a June 26 interview with the Los Angeles Times, following the show’s finale.
“The most beautiful thing about their relationship is their true unconditional belief in one another,” White said.
White is also rumored to be in consideration for the next Wolverine
The renewed scrutiny comes during an eventful period for White’s career.
Just one day before the photographs appeared, reports emerged suggesting Marvel Studios had expressed interest in the actor as a possible successor to Hugh Jackman in the role of Wolverine.
The speculation originated with entertainment insider Jeff Sneider, who reported hearing that White had met with Marvel about a potential appearance in its upcoming X-Men reboot.
The rumored role would reportedly begin as a relatively small appearance before expanding into something more substantial in future films.
Some fans considered White a promising candidate because his comparatively short stature and muscular build more closely resemble the comic-book version of Wolverine than Jackman’s portrayal.
Comic Wolverine’s canonical height has been reported to be between 5’3’’ and 5’5’’ depending on the source material.
However, Sneider subsequently clarified that the reports had been overstated.
“Woke up this morning to a story that said Jeremy is in talks to play Wolverine. Uh, no,” he wrote.
The insider explained that a possible meeting with Marvel did not mean White was negotiating a contract or had been offered the role.
“Hottest couple of the year,” a fan wrote
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