TL;DR
- Orville Peck shared a shirtless martial arts training video on Instagram
- The queer country star is preparing for his role as Vega in the upcoming Street Fighter reboot
- Fans lost their minds over his kicks, muscles, and cowboy-meets-villain energy
- Peck’s transformation shows his range: outlaw crooner, queer icon, and now, cinematic fighter
The Cowboy Who Kicks Back
Orville Peck has always been more than a country crooner in a fringed mask. The South African-born, Canadian-raised singer built his brand on mystery, masculinity, and a deep, unapologetically queer twist on outlaw country. But now, Peck is trading the microphone for martial arts — and his Instagram followers are still gasping for breath.
Earlier this year, the masked cowboy was cast as Vega in the highly anticipated Street Fighter reboot. It seemed like a stylish match: a performer who blends camp and grit stepping into the shoes (and claws) of one of gaming’s most flamboyant villains. But if fans expected a pretty-boy vibe, Peck just proved he’s bringing the muscle too.
His latest Instagram carousel gave the gays everything they wanted and more. There was the cowboy fit — mask, tank top, and biceps practically begging to pop the seams. There was the gym selfie, all tattoos, thighs, and sweat. But the knockout came at the end: a shirtless roundhouse kick that showed serious power and precision. Peck wasn’t just playing Vega — he was Vega.
The Internet Gasps in Unison
The comments section erupted like a Pride parade on steroids. “Round house kick my head pls,” wrote one fan. Another chimed in: “Your boyfriend is so lucky.” And plenty just staked their claim, declaring Peck their “future husband.”
Even his less action-heavy shots — the cowboy tank top look, the flexed gym selfies — had gay Twitter zooming in and begging him to never wear sleeves again. Peck managed to serve country heartthrob, gym thirst trap, and cinematic villain all in one post. As one stunned fan confessed, “Why did that kick make me gasp?”
Queer Visibility With a Kick
For the LGBTQ community, Peck’s rise isn’t just about pecs and kicks. It’s proof that queer artists can command roles that combine toughness, sex appeal, and villainous charisma without toning down their identities. Peck’s unapologetic queerness has been central to his music — and now it’s front and center in his move to Hollywood.
Representation in blockbuster films like Street Fighter matters. Seeing a queer cowboy-turned-action-star disrupts stereotypes about who gets to play the fighter, the villain, or the object of desire. Peck’s abs and thighs aren’t just thirst traps — they’re cultural symbols, signaling that LGBTQ performers can hold their own in macho cinematic spaces.
The reboot isn’t slated until 2026, but Peck’s already delivering finishing moves to expectations. He doesn’t need Vega’s trademark claw to slice through the screen — his unapologetically queer presence is sharp enough.