Blakely Thornton describes himself as a “pop culture anthropologist,” entertaining his considerable digital audience (131k followers on TikTok) with hilarious takes on fashion, celebrities, and more. His videos end with his signature signoff: “Roll credits.” The catchphrase has become so popular that Monica Lewinsky told him she hopes Kamala Harris says it when she wins the presidency in November.
Thornton will appear in an upcoming OutTV series OFFSHOOT, and his podcast Immediately No is coming in 2025. “I think all aspects of culture, whether highbrow or lowbrow, are connected,” Thornton says.
In the age of influencers, attention can be lucrative but also distracting; Thornton says his biggest challenge is remaining himself as the noise around his work increases. But he has ways of keeping grounded. “I got back to my personal mantra: I’m very Black and very gay, I want those who are either of those things to feel more comfortable being them, and those who experience either one of those things to be more comfortable around them,” he says. @blakelythornton
Years before Stonewall, a cafeteria riot became a breakthrough for trans rights
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