| Kevin Samuels | |
| Birth Name: | Kevin Roshon Samuels |
| Birth Date: | March 13, 1969[1] [2] [3] [4] |
| Birth Place: | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Children: | 1 |
| Movement: | Manosphere |
Kevin Roshon Samuels (March 13, 1969May 5, 2022) was an American internet personality and image consultant. He rose to popularity in 2020 through his YouTube and Instagram live streams discussing modern society, gender issues, and relationships.[5] [6]
Kevin Samuels was born in Oklahoma City. He attended Millwood High School, and studied chemical engineering at the University of Oklahoma, but was not able to graduate due to having Hodgkin lymphoma at age 21. He said it was a point in life where he "recognized [his] own mortality"[7]
Samuels worked in the marketing industry before starting his own image-consulting firm in 2013.[8] He accumulated 1.4 million subscribers on YouTube, 1.2 million followers on Instagram and thousands on several other online platforms like Twitter and TikTok. The New York Times wrote he built an image as a "plain-spoken, hypermasculine authority" who advocated for "strict gender roles".[8]
Samuels gained traction in mainstream hip-hop culture, interviewing Nicki Minaj and T.I., while also making guest appearances on No Jumper, Joe Budden TV and VladTV. In 2022, Samuels made a cameo appearance on the television series Atlanta in the episode "Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga".[9] In February 2022, Samuels appeared in a music video in which he acted as a therapist and dating coach for rapper Future on the single "Worst Day". He also interviewed popular Instagram models like Brittany Renner, and reality TV stars like Tommie Lee.[10] Several prominent guests such as Minaj,[11] Marlon Wayans, and Tamar Braxton showed support for his work.[12]
Samuels' comments on men and women were sometimes controversial. As an image consultant, he often asked women who called his show asking for dating advice to rate themselves based on what he called the perceived "sexual market place value" -- a Manosphere term for rating people based on perceived attractiveness akin to rating economic products -- for dating and relationships. He then critiqued women based on age, dress size, height and weight according to his perception of their "sexual market place value". He believed that some women had unrealistically high standards for the types of men they should be dating, while also criticizing men for lacking employable skills or being overweight. In addition, he strongly criticized the black community for failing to meet what he saw as "traditional values", specifically with black Americans' high out-of-wedlock birth rate and significantly lower marriage rate than other racial groups in the United States.[13] Samuels' critics decried him as being actively misogynoir,[14] [15] and a part of the Black manosphere,[16] specifically criticizing him for expressing these views when he openly engaged in casual sexual relationships, and he himself was not married. His supporters defended him as an advocate for traditional values.[8] [17] [18] He's been the subject of claims accusing him of allegedly scamming fragrance houses, such as Bloomingdale’s and other high end stores in Atlanta[19] and well as stealing ideas and content from other Youtubers.[20] He's also accused of being a hypocrite in regards to the teaching of the Christian bible and his own teachings.[21]
Samuels was married and divorced twice.[22] He had one daughter in his first marriage.[8]
On May 5, 2022, Samuels was found unresponsive in his Atlanta apartment after a woman who had stayed with him the night prior called 911, telling the operator Samuels was complaining of chest pains and that he had collapsed. Samuels was rushed to a hospital, where he later died. According to the medical examiner's report, Samuels had hypertension, which contributed to his death.
American comedian Affion Crockett had a regular show on his YouTube channel playing a character called Devin R. Samuels, which was a comedic impression of Kevin Samuels. Crockett often used the same mannerisms, phrases, and styles of communicating that Samuels had on his show.
Bulgarian music producer ORLI ANROW did a tribute song in memory of Kevin Samuels, named "Young Kevin Samuels". The producer had similar attire as Samuels in the music video and also used expressions that Samuels did on his show. The song included a sample from Kevin Samuels, who is also credited as a writer of the song.[23] [24]