“I’m going to teach you about who we are, whether you like it or not.”
Kalen Allen knows his superpower.
In November 2017, a video ofhis reaction to a 7-Up saladwent viral, attracting over 5.6 million views.
“I’m going to teach you about who we are, whether you like it or not."
Kalen’s witty commentary and innate ability to make people laugh caught the attention of Ellen DeGeneres.
By January 2018, the Kansas City native was hired to create videos forThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Check it out ahead.
Note:This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Kalen Allen:It is no secret that I am a very confident person.
I have always been that way.
And I never even gave people the space to [bully] me.
I always stood for who I was, and I never gave anybody any other option.
I was like, “This is who I am.
And you’re going to either take it or leave it.
I was also very lethal with my words; I could stand up for myself and hold my own.
I guess it could be a form of homophobia.
Even when I go back now, it’s just a different kind of world.
Kansas is a very conservative state.
That was my first introduction to what ballroom culture was.
Having exposure broadened my horizons.
What have you learned about yourself since becoming a public figure?
I had already conditioned my mind to believe that the life I live today would eventually be mine.
I treat this [industry] like a job.
It is a career for me.
It has nothing to do with fame, money, or any of that.
At the end of the day, everything that I am doing is for representation and visibility.
When people ask me, “Who did you look up to?”
I always say, “The lack thereof.”
That’s why I choose to never masc it up.
What’s the one takeaway you’ll carry with you from working onEllen?
I grieve it sometimes.
Those were some of the best years of my life.
I miss the community of it, and the people that I got to work with.
Especially when it came to the crew.
We did amazing things together.
We shot an episode of my digital series in Australia.
And when I ever needed to smile, I watched one of your videos.”
That’s what matters.
As long as my presence makes someone feel seen, loved, and heard.
I remember watchinga clip of you meeting Oprahbackstage atThe Ellen DeGeneres Show.
She said, “You are so authentically yourself.
You’re gonna go such a long way.”
What did that mean to hear those words?
Oh, you’re about to make me emotional, and I usually don’t get emotional.
This industry can be really tough.
It can be difficult at times because everybody always has their opinion.
When did you first realize that you could make people laugh?
People always ask me, “Where did you find your comedy?”
And I always say, “Trauma!”
Because I could entertain people, people left me alone.
They knew they would get a chuckle or a laugh out of me.
I take great responsibility because I believe that the laughter and joy that come from comedy is medicine.
I believe that it heals us.
It helps us get through some of our darkest times.
I don’t like to use people as punching bags.
I like to use inanimate objects or relatable circumstances.
A watermelon has no feelings.
This is food.”
As a content creator, is it ever challenging to remain authentically yourself?
My initial [food reaction] videos are usually everyone’s favorites.
Those dishes are specific dishes that are rooted in African American culture.
But then, because it became such a phenomenon, so many people wanted it all the time.
[It’s part of the reason why] I don’t even do them anymore.
People would send me a video of a hot dog Martini.
Nobody’s drinking that.
You want me to be like, “Oh, that’s nasty.”
Yes, we know.
That’s nasty because nobody would drink that.
That is me forcing a reaction to something that you already knew was some bullcrap.
You received racist backlash for speaking about the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.
You said that you lost over 100,000 followers during that time.
How did that experience impact you as a creator and as a person?
That experience shifted a lot.
[My form of entertainment] wasn’t as niche.
I still have a pretty large and diverse audience that I have to give a shot to keep engaged.
Being liked is not worth the sacrifice of not liking yourself.
That’s not a price that I’m willing to pay.
That was when it all changed for me.
I decided I was going to live in who I am, boldly.
Those are the key in of people I want here, following me and being inspired by me.
Those people matter to me, not those who want you to just fall in line and shut up.
How do you prioritize joy for yourself?
One thing I have been doing recently is allowing myself not to fight anymore.
I am relinquishing that fight and looking at the fruits of my labor.
I am accepting the fact that it has already come back to me tenfold.
I have already made it over the rainbow.
Youre known for serving looks.
How has fashion played a role in your self-expression?
[Dressing up] makes me feel powerful.
It’s almost like a superpower.
It’s an art form and a way to express oneself.
I love a coat.
When I’m walking down the street, I want the wind to blow that coat like a cape.
I love to get dressed up.
That has to do with [their] own insecurities.
I replied, “Actually, that is one of the bravest things somebody can do.
You think sissies and you think of weakness.
I believe that I am worthy of that much.
I wholeheartedly agree!
With that said, who is your Black queer fashion icon?
Whenever he posts a picture, I text him saying, “You ate this up.
This is everything!”
I think it’s so unique and something that only he has tapped into.
Who is your Black queer icon?
I feel like they never really got the flowers they deserved for doing amazing work in media.
The ones who lived authentically.
Who was your first queer crush?
I went to Usher’sConfessionstour when I was in kindergarten.
[Laughs]
What has been your proudest moment being Black and queer?
Being able to wake up every morning and relish in the fruits of my labor.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month is a time to teach what so many people refuse to teach.
This is a time when it will be in your face.
I’m going to teach you about who we are, whether you like it or not.
What do you want your contributions to Black history to be?
Thanks for chatting with us, Kalen!
Be sure to keep up with Kalen Allenhere.
you’re free to read moreBlack, Out & Proudinterviewshere.
