A major star of 2000s TV has been left left red-faced after accidentally sharing a nude picture on social media.
In the since-deleted snap, the actor had meant to show off the New York City skyline, to coincide with an appearance at this year’s Comic Con.
Instead, he showed off an entirely different kind of morning glory.
Fans were quick to note that, in the glass, Smallville star Tom Welling had inadvertently shared the reflection of his own naked body.
‘Hello NYCC,’ read the caption to the post, which reportedly stayed up on his Instagram Stories for 10 hours after posting.
As the actor joined his Smallville castmates at NYCC for the show’s 25th anniversary panel, fans continued to register a sense of shock and awe on social media.
Those sharing their surprise included X user cloisville, who wrote: ‘NO WAY TOM WELLING ACCIDENTALLY POSTED HIS D**K ON HIS INSTAGRAM STORY.’
Said 1989ies: ‘Just going through Instagram stories at work and got flashbanged by tom welling posting a nude story.’
Others, meanwhile, were more confused about how this might have occurred, with crownsdiana wondering ‘how did he not notice his reflection on his instagram story before sharing it to his 2.2 million followers?’
And, more to the point, asked souvenirstyles was ‘the fact that it’s been 10 hours and is still up …’
However, not everyone was convinced, with ANAEKIN bemoaning that they ‘couldn’t see s**t,’ while tvandthatsthat added: ‘I still can’t see the penis in the Tom Welling pic, am I blind.’
‘Y’all just looking at clouds and imagining shapes,’ suggested kimmie_c_.
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
Tom played teenage Clark Kent for all ten seasons of Smallville, a show which explores the Kryptonian superhero’s upbringing in the titular town.
During this time, he also meets a young Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), forming a surprising bond with his future nemesis.
For much of its time, Smallville adopted a ‘monster of the week’ type format, in which Clark would do battle with superpowered individuals, many of whom would form Superman’s future rogues’ gallery.
It also incorporated romance in the love triangle between Clark, teenage crush Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) and Lois Lane (Erica Durance).
After ten years on air, the show wrapped up in 2011, with Clark finally donning the iconic suit – a design borrowed from the 2006 film Superman Returns.
Tom briefly reprised the role in 2019, appearing as Clark in the TV crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths – where it was revealed that he’d given up his powers to live a normal life with Lois Lane.
With the show celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Tom and his co-stars – Kristin, Erica and Michael – have joined NYCC to discuss the series’ legacy.
One cast member who won’t be joining the reunion is Clark’s pal, Chloe Sullivan, played by Allison Mack – after her involvement in modern-day cultNxivm.
In 2019, she admitted to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison and fined $20,000 (£15,000).
In 2022, Tom joked about his former co-star not appearing in a planned animated reboot, quipping: ‘It might be tough to get Allison.’
All ten seasons of Smallville are streaming now on Netflix and ITVX in the UK.