What began as a series of short, satirical videos online has propelled comedians Jake Jonez and Aaron Goldenberg, known for their “Mean Gays” persona, into a burgeoning comedy empire, complete with sold-out live tours and burgeoning television careers.
Speaking to Gayety at the Queerties, The duo, whose online skits capture the essence of passive-aggressive interactions, recently reflected on their unexpected rise to fame. “It’s bizarre,” Jonez said, describing the snowball effect of their videos. “I think the snowball of the videos becoming something is the biggest joke of it all. Aside from the jokes in the videos, it’s just bizarre people watch.”
Goldenberg echoed the sentiment, expressing gratitude for the platforms that have allowed their content to reach a wide audience. “I am just so glad that I think we’re in a day where these platforms exist and find their audience,” he said. “I mean, I’ve made YouTube and Facebook videos forever ago that nobody f***** saw. So it’s so nice to have something like TikTok and Instagram that has actually decided to show it to people and that they enjoy it.”
The comedians’ “Mean Gays” skits, characterized by exaggerated expressions and biting social commentary, have resonated with viewers who recognize the familiar awkwardness of everyday interactions. The duo’s ability to tap into universal experiences of passive aggression has fueled their online popularity.
“For me, it’s been a blast,” Jonez said of the audience reactions. “Even if it’s a negative reaction or they think we’re the actual characters, I still get a huge kick out of it because kind of beautiful. I think people just relate with this passive aggressive bullshit that we’re spitting out.”
While some viewers initially mistook the characters for real people, Goldenberg believes that most of their audience understands the satirical nature of their work. “I think sometimes, I think majority of the internet audience is more intelligent than that,” he said. “Especially if they see 10 videos, they’re like, oh, this is a—”
The duo’s move from online videos to live performances has provided a new dimension to their comedy. Goldenberg described the transition as a pivotal moment in their careers.
“I think the best transition has been going from the internet to our live tour and actually hearing and seeing our fans react to things in person,” he said. “Like Jake and I, when we first performed in Boston, we had not performed the show for anybody.” Jake went on to even admit “it was my first time on stage” noting that there were some nerves for the performance.
Goldenberg, who admitted to stage fright, recounted the anxiety leading up to their first live show. “We were quite nervous and didn’t know how the show was going to be received, but I think in the first five minutes we were like, oh, every joke is hitting, and then we could just breathe for the rest of the time and it was so fun. We, it’s amazing.”
The live performances have allowed Jonez and Goldenberg to connect with their audience on a more personal level, solidifying their fan base and demonstrating the enduring appeal of their comedic style. Their ability to translate the humor of their short online videos into a full-length live show has proved successful.
Jonez and Goldenberg’s journey from online creators to touring comedians underscores the evolving landscape of entertainment. Their ability to leverage social media platforms to build an audience and then translate that success into live performances highlights the power of digital content in today’s entertainment industry. The duo’s relatable humor and engaging personalities have resonated with viewers, positioning them for continued success in both the digital and traditional entertainment realms.
