When we first saw pictures of Natalie Portman walking through New York with her new boyfriend, we initially thought Nat had started volunteering at her local homeless shelter, acting as a mentor for one lucky (and possibly blind) hobo. But then they made out. So who is this caveman-esque guy and what on earth is Natalie thinking? While at first glance folksy singer Devendra Banhart hardly looks like a pretty boy, we found some far more flattering shots of Natalie's new arm candy with his guitar from years ago. And even if Devendra's put on a pound or two since they were taken, we still had to do a double take and make sure we weren't looking at photos of Jim Morrison himself. Judge for yourself after the jump.

But just as we were ready to forgive Devendra for his silly name and give our stamp of approval, we read that his latest album was called Little Boys. And he really does sing about...little boys. As Banhart told Stereogum, he "watched the movie Chicken Hawk: Men Who Love Boys, about NAMBLA...swimming in my head was the idea of a song about a schizophrenic hermaphrodite with the male and female physical characteristics in one body." And suddenly that shaggy beard and set of piercing dark eyes looked less Morrison and more Manson.

[Photo credits: Ramey via People, Wikipedia, Rantsnjibes]

STAR TRACKS [People]

9:45 AM on Thu Apr 10 2008
By Molly Friedman
9,867 views
18 comments

Comments

Glass_Family at 09:55 AM on 04/10/08
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This guy can't have a pleasant odor.
the_insider at 10:01 AM on 04/10/08
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"... a schizophrenic hermaphrodite with the male and female physical characteristics in one body." Headcase and the Angry Inch
el smrtmnky at 10:14 AM on 04/10/08
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jesus.
no really, he looks like jesus.
emberglance at 10:18 AM on 04/10/08
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He most likely smells of patchouli and incense.

And he wrote the Little Boys song when his friend warned him Cripple Crow was likely to get played in Starbucks. It was his (pretty funny) effort to head off the masses at the pass. Looks like it's doing it's job...
Shumina at 10:23 AM on 04/10/08
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Proof positive that the American Dream is alive and well. You really CAN achieve anything...and I mean ANYTHING here.

You go, long-haired-skinny-NAMBLA-boy!
Package at 10:44 AM on 04/10/08
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"If you are a boy, do not deee-spair . . ."
Greasy Thumb Guzik at 10:50 AM on 04/10/08
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Nice Jewish girl goes out with guy with tats.

Natalie: A schanda fur die goyim!
mozbrat at 11:34 AM on 04/10/08
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Oh come on guys... I used to work with Devendra at the record shop -- he's a nice guy, a sweetheart, far cleaner than most of the punk rock employees, and while he's out there, it's more of the Topanga Canyon out there....

And did you know he doesn't even smoke pot?
Dave J. at 11:44 AM on 04/10/08
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Connectedness Index: 95

He bears a disturbing similarity to Vincent Gallo in one of those pics.

(Shudder.)
Shumina at 11:47 AM on 04/10/08
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@mozbrat: No Sale. No one is safe here...especially nice guys.
Shumina at 11:48 AM on 04/10/08
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David Letterman excluded, of course.
raincoaster at 12:05 PM on 04/10/08
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Connectedness Index: 337

@mozbrat: He doesn't smoke pot? Oh, that's going to break the hearts of a lot of hippies I know.

He IS hot. Too bad I can't stand his voice.
Benny at 01:13 PM on 04/10/08
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Yes, Natalie, but tell us again. Did listening to The Shins really change your life?
Ascender at 03:43 PM on 04/10/08
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Saw him at Pitchfork a few years ago. Boring as hell.
dana danger at 04:17 PM on 04/10/08
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@mozbrat: He really does seem like the nicest person. After seeing him live, I just wanted to run away and join his freaky hippie circus and never look back! Also, this continues Natalie Portman's streak of dating men that make me jealous of her. Sigh.
iAlreadyHateYou at 06:44 PM on 04/10/08
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Whatever happened to Gael?

On the other hand, that leaves him available for me. ME, DAMMIT!
Victor Ward at 05:12 AM on 04/11/08
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@iAlreadyHateYou: Share.

And "lovable" hippy? Those exist?
pettyhooker at 09:34 AM on 04/11/08
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Oh why couldn't they have dated when her head was shorn for "V"? That would have been so cute, in a Spawn Ranch kind of way...