Photo: You Won’t Believe This Is Actually David Letterman

It’s been almost a year since David Letterman retired from hosting his late-night talk show. He’s grown a sprawling beard since then, making his face nearly unrecognizable to former fans of the show. 

Photos of Letterman on a morning run surfaced on social media, inviting gentle mockery at the man’s visual transformation. 

Letterman’s appearance drew comparison from Santa Claus to the Unabomber. 

#DavidLetterman or Santa Claus??? YOU decide! https://t.co/NSPdGwDnhh pic.twitter.com/6MbMmEwsKl

— Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) March 23, 2016

“What can you tell us about your days with the Unabomber?” #DavidLetterman pic.twitter.com/LHa4wGJIX5

— Freedom Fry (@freedomfrymusic) March 23, 2016

Some decried the gawking at Letterman as “beard-shaming.” 

Stop 👏 beardshaming 👏 David 👏 Letterman

— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) March 23, 2016

David Letterman is trending because people are beard-shaming him, cmon man

— Jenna Lupin (@JennaC_MN) March 23, 2016

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