Jonathan Cheban Explained

Birth Name:Jonathan Cheban
Birth Date:21 February 1973
Birth Place:Kishinev, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union
Education:Fort Lee High School
Alma Mater:Hofstra University
Partner:Becca Moore
Television:

Foodgod[1] (born Jonathan Cheban; 21 February 1974) is an American reality television personality, entrepreneur and former publicist. He has made appearances on the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its spinoffs.

Early life

Cheban was born in Moldova, Soviet Union in 1974, the only child of a real-estate agent mother, Galina, and a diamond-dealer father, Mikhail[2] who died in 2011.[3] He grew up in Fort Lee, New Jersey and attended Fort Lee High School before graduating from Hofstra University with a communications degree in 1995.[4] Cheban is of Russian Jewish background.[5]

Career

Publicist

After graduation, Cheban began working for publicist Peggy Siegal at her firm in New York. At one point, music manager Benny Medina called Siegal to work on Sean Combs' 29th birthday party. When Siegal rejected the offer despite Cheban's urging, Cheban accepted the job himself. Cheban left Siegal and formed his own public-relations firm with two other publicists. He left that company in 2001, and went on to found his own firm, CommandPR.[2]

Reality television

Cheban first gained public attention with his appearance on the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, appearing as a friend of the Kardashian sisters.[6] He subsequently appeared in several episodes of the show's spin-offs, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Kourtney and Kim Take Miami and Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons.

In 2010, Cheban starred in his own reality show, The Spin Crowd, chronicling the lives of Cheban, Simon Huck and their employees at his firm. Kim Kardashian executive-produced and kickstarted the series due to her friendship with Cheban.[7] Episodes focused on both personal conflicts and the firm's promotion of celebrities, with largely unscripted dialogue.[8] The series ran for one season of eight episodes before being cancelled.

Cheban's relationship with Kardashian has remained in the public spotlight. In 2012, Cheban made a short video spoofing himself as someone living in the shadow of Kardashian's fame.[9]

In January 2016, Cheban entered the Celebrity Big Brother 17 house in the U.K., to compete as a housemate on its 17th season. He voluntarily left the show within days, which he finished 15th place.[10]

In 2017, Cheban appeared on the second season of U.K.'s "Celebs Go Dating".

Other ventures

In 2008, Cheban launched his own clothing line, Kritik.[11] Cheban also has designed jewelry for RichRocks.[12] In late 2012, Cheban opened Sushi MiKasa, a restaurant in Miami.[13] On November 24, 2013, Cheban also co-hosted Coca-Cola Red Carpet Live!, a pre-show to the 2013 American Music Awards.[14] In January 2014, Cheban launched a product called Glam Screen, which is both a protective cover for a smart phone, as well as a mirror.[15]

In 2014, Cheban launched TheDishh, an entertainment and life-style website that features what Cheban and his team consider to be the highest-quality foods, gadgets and entertainment.[16]

In February 2015, Cheban opened the fast food restaurant Burger Bandit in Lynbrook, New York, on Long Island.[17]

In late 2019 Cheban launched the podcast Foodgod: OMFG![18]

Personal life

In late 2012, Cheban began dating stylist Anat Popovsky after meeting her while filming Kourtney and Kim Take Miami.[19] [20] Cheban signed on as a single man on the second episode of the seventh season of Millionaire Matchmaker, which aired on December 12, 2013 on Bravo.[21]

In October 2019, various media outlets announced he had changed his legal name to his social media handle, Foodgod, after starting the process in January.[1] [22]

Filmography

Film roles!Year!Title!Role!Notes
2017By Any Means Phil Cohen
Television roles; as himself!Year!Title!Notes
2009–2021Keeping Up with the Kardashians27 episodes
2009–2013Kourtney and Kim Take Miami9 episodes
2010The Spin Crowd8 episodes
2011–2012Kourtney and Kim Take New York6 episodes
2016Celebrity Big BrotherWalked; 15th place
2017Celebs Go Dating7 episodes
2018The Only Way Is EssexEpisode: "Episode #23.7"
2018Food God5 episodes
2018Celebrity Family FeudEpisode: "The Kardashians vs. The West Family and Jana Kramer vs. Gary Busey"
2019Recurring role

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kim Kardashian's BFF Jonathan Cheban legally changes name to Foodgod. Metro. 27 October 2019. October 28, 2019. Isobel . Lewis.
  2. Web site: The Art of the Schmooze. Noelle . Hancock . . January 18, 2013 . November 8, 2013. December 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111202000922/http://www.observer.com/2004/11/the-art-of-the-schmooze. live.
  3. Web site: Lee . Esther . Jonathan Cheban, Kim Kardashian's Friend, on Millionaire Matchmaker . . December 19, 2013 . February 1, 2014. ...the reality star, 39.... [M]y dad passed away two years ago. .
  4. News: Stein. Joshua David. Dinner at TAO with the 'FoodGod' Jonathan Cheban. GQ. September 16, 2016. December 30, 2017. Cheban was born in Russia in 1974 but grew up across the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey..
  5. Web site: Efrem . Maia . 5 Jewish Things About Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's Wedding . The Forward . May 21, 2014 . December 30, 2017.
  6. Web site: Murphy. Lauren M.. Jonathan Cheban: PR King. Los Angeles Confidential. October 5, 2014.
  7. Kardashian, Kim; Cheban, Jonathan. (Sep 21, 2010). Kim Kardashian, Simon Huck & Jonathan Cheban= "The Spin Crowd" (video). YouTube. Young Hollywood.
  8. Web site: 2010-08-22 . Sunday's TV Highlights: 'The Spin Crowd' on E! . 2024-05-11 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  9. Web site: Jonathan Cheban: I'm Kim Kardashian's BEST Friend! . . July 19, 2012 . November 8, 2013 . August 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170827175922/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/2700dbdaa1/jonathan-cheban-i-m-kim-kardashian-s-best-friend . dead .
  10. News: Jonathan Cheban Leaves U.K. Celebrity Big Brother, Citing Concerns for His 'Mental Stability'. . January 11, 2016. February 22, 2017. February 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170222205608/http://people.com/tv/jonathan-cheban-quits-celebrity-big-brother/ . live.
  11. Web site: Jonathan Cheban Launches Kritik Clothing | . Fashionwashere.net . April 11, 2008 . November 8, 2013 . October 29, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192436/http://fashionwashere.net/?p=174 . dead .
  12. Web site: Jonathan Cheban Teams Up With RichRocks To Launch His First Jewelry Collection! . Hollywood Life . June 13, 2011 . November 8, 2013 . May 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170501075719/http://hollywoodlife.com/pics/jonathan-cheban-richrocks-jewelry-collection-kim-kardashian-gisele/#!1/061311_kim_cheban_jewelry_teaser_2_544110613221055/ . dead .
  13. Web site: Jonathan Cheban to Open Sushi MiKasa at Shelborne - Fall Tracking - Eater Miami . Miami.eater.com . November 6, 2012 . November 8, 2013.
  14. Presenters Announced for the "2013 American Music Awards" Airing Live Sunday, November 24th At 8 PM ET/PT on ABC. November 21, 2013. February 22, 2017. . February 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170222204825/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/presenters-announced-for-the-2013-american-music-awards-airing-live-sunday-november-24th-at-8-pm-etpt-on-abc-232860081.html . live.
  15. Web site: Meet Glam Screen, the smartphone cover that doubles as a mirror . Yahoo . January 23, 2014 . January 31, 2014.
  16. Web site: Horgan. Richard. Jonathan Cheban Builds Out The Dishh. Media Bistro. 3 December 2014.
  17. News: Marcus . ERIC . Burger Bandit opens in Lynbrook . . New York City / Long Island . February 23, 2015 . February 22, 2017 . February 22, 2017 . https://archive.today/20170222204140/http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/feed-me/burger-bandit-opens-in-lynbrook-1.9968017 . live .
  18. Web site: Foodgod Jonathan Cheban Opens up About New Podcast, Candid First Interview with Kim Kardashian.
  19. Web site: Jonathan Cheban Date Night — Reality Star Spotted Out With Girlfriend . Hollywood Life . June 18, 2013 . November 8, 2013.
  20. Web site: Jonathan Cheban and Girlfriend Anat Popovsky's European Getaway Brought Them Even Closer Together . E! News UK . September 9, 2013 . November 8, 2013.
  21. Web site: Johnson. Zach. Jonathan Cheban Looks for Love on Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker. E! Online. November 18, 2013. June 15, 2014.
  22. Web site: Kim Kardashian's Pal Jonathan Cheban Legally Changes Name to Foodgod. October 27, 2019 .