Bradley Cooper 2011 'Sexiest Man Alive'? Ryan Gosling Fans Protest Outside 'People' HQ [VIDEO]

Within minutes of People Magazine naming Bradley Cooper 2011's Sexiest Man Alive Wednesday, Ryan Gosling fans everywhere took to the internet.

Despite Cooper's good-looks and bad boy attitude in films like The Hangover, Ryan Gosling seemed a shoo-in for the sexiest man alive award this year.

Gosling has gained a cult-like following online. He's sparked numerous internet memes on Tumblr like Hey Girl and Ryan or a Puppy? not to mention, his Golden Globe nomination for Blue Valentine early in 2011. The 31-year-old Canadian has also played leading roles in three movies this year: Crazy, Stupid, Love, Drive, and co-starring in Ides of March, with two time winner of the sexiest man alive award, George Clooney.

Off-screen, Gosling has also been known to hang out with his dog, who sports a mohawk, and has been caught on camera breaking up fights on the streets of New York (check out the video below).

It's no wonder Gosling fans were surprised by Cooper winning the sexiest man alive award. What is surprising, however, is their reaction.

Fifteen protesters gathered outside People Magazine's New York headquarters Thursday wearing masks of Gosling's face with the eyes poked out.

Fans held up signs in support for Gosling and lambasted People for choosing Cooper.

Signs included slogans like: Ryan's abs are proof enough, Bradley Cooper doesn't even have a dog, Ryan Gosling is proof that there is a god and she is a woman and Hey Girl, I know magazines often create a false dichotomy, catalyzing unhealthy standards for female body image and further divide an already strained gender gap... but I totally should have been people's sexiest man of the year.

The protest was organized on Facebook by Matt Stopera, an editor at BuzzFeed. He posted pictures from the protest following the event. BuzzFeed has also started a petition to get People Magazine to admit that Ryan Gosling should have been named the sexiest man alive in 2011. At press time, 2,950 people have signed the petition letter.

Together, we can right this wrong, the petition states.

People Magazine responded to the protest late Thursday calling the movement, Occupy Sexy.

We stand by our man! People Executive Editor Liz Sporkin said. Bradley Cooper is the whole package. He's gorgeous, talented, brainy, loves his mom, can cook up a storm and speaks fluent French! Who can argue with that?

Watch the Occupy People Magazine Protest:

Watch Gosling Break Up a Fight in New York City: