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Khadi Don

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Khadi Don
Born (1996-04-04) April 4, 1996 (age 28)
Occupations
  • Social media personality
  • comedian
Years active2013–present

Khadi Don (born April 4, 1996) is an American social media personality, comedian, and actress. Don began posting on the video-sharing platform Vine in 2013, where she soon found viral success with her comedy sketches and parodies, including her 2015 parody of the Eve song "Who's That Girl?". She subsequently became popular on Black Twitter and other social media platforms.

Life and career

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Don was born on April 4, 1996[1][2] in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[3] She had one younger brother; he was killed in 2021.[4] She first began making videos as a child while grounded in her room with a camera.[5] Don became interested in comedy and making videos professionally after making and filming a parody of R. Kelly's song series "Trapped in the Closet" at age 12.[2][6] She sold customized shoes and clothing in high school. She studied fine arts in college, where she also competitively played basketball.[3]

Don started posting videos on YouTube and on the now-defunct video-sharing platform Vine in 2013. Her first video to find viral success on the latter platform was a voiceover of an Oprah Winfrey interview with Rihanna posted in late 2013. Her 2015 parody of the Eve song "Who's That Girl?", "Who's That Bitch", brought her further online success. She moved from Grand Rapids to Los Angeles in January 2016.[7] Her self-produced video content, which she posted to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and often included references to 1990s R&B and hip hop, became particularly popular on Black Twitter.[2][6] She starred in Super Deluxe's Thelma & Louise-inspired comedy short film Khadi & Joanne, starring Don as a fictionalized version of herself alongside Branden Miller as his character Joanne the Scammer, in December 2016.[8]

Don was signed to Fullscreen in March 2018.[9] She was featured as a special guest in the YouTube Originals livestream Bear Witness, Take Action, hosted by Keke Palmer and Common, in June 2020.[10]

Personal life

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After previously having come out to her friends and family, Don came out as a lesbian in a YouTube video in July 2019.[11]

Don has cited her mother, Dave Chappelle, Eddie Murphy, and Beyoncé as her comedic influences.[6] She has described her comedy as "super sarcastic" and "super witty" with "no filter".[12]

References

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  1. ^ @khadi (April 4, 2021). "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!🎂 And Easter.... this one is special ❤️🐰🐇" – via Instagram.
  2. ^ a b c Bergado, Gabe (March 17, 2016). "You won't be able to get the 'Who's That B***h' song out of your head". The Daily Dot. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Warner, Solly (January 15, 2021). "Khadi Don: The Comedic Chameleon". Notion. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  4. ^ Zekani, Sisa (January 30, 2023). "The Re-Introduction of Miss Khadi Don". Ladygunn. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  5. ^ Roberts, Taylor (February 28, 2020). "Make the Internet: Five Viral Black Creators on Owning Their Voice". Paper. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Logan, Elizabeth (October 31, 2016). "Mourning the Death of Vine With Khadi Don, the Realest Girl on the Internet". Glamour. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  7. ^ Starling, Lakin (May 2, 2016). "Khadi Don On Being A Woman In Comedy: 'It Makes Me Feel Godly'". The Fader. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  8. ^ Darville, Jordan (December 15, 2016). "Watch Joanne The Scammer Go On A Crime Spree With Khadi Don". The Fader. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  9. ^ Spangler, Todd (March 27, 2018). "Fullscreen Signs Lucas Cruikshank, Five Other Digital Influencers to Talent Roster". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (June 11, 2020). "YouTube Launches $100M Fund To Amplify Black Voices; Sets Racial Justice Special Hosted By Common & Keke Palmer". Deadline. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  11. ^ Stewart, Ellen (July 1, 2019). "Khadi Don 'comes out of the closet' in hilarious and heartfelt YouTube video". PinkNews. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  12. ^ "Khadi Don is an actress and entertainer whose comedy videos are an internet sensation". In the Know. January 25, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2023.