Kurtis Conner

Kurtis Matthew Kenneth Conner (born May 4, 1994) is a Canadian comedian, YouTuber, and podcaster. As of April 2023, his channel has over four million subscribers.

Kurtis Conner
Conner in March 2022
Personal information
Born
Kurtis Matthew Kenneth Conner

(1994-05-04) May 4, 1994
North York, Ontario, Canada
Occupations
Spouse
Jenna Allard
​
(m. 2022)​
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2013–present
Genres
Subscribers4.56 million[1]
Total views738.56 million[1]
Associated acts
100,000 subscribers2017
1,000,000 subscribers2018
Last updated: 23 June 2023

Early life

Kurtis Matthew Kenneth Conner[2] was born at North York General Hospital in the North York district of Toronto on May 4, 1994,[3][4] and grew up in Hamilton[5][6] before moving back to Toronto.[7] He has an older sister.[8][9] His stepfather died on June 6, 2023.[10] Conner first performed stand-up comedy in 2013, at the age of 19, and later joined Humber College's Comedy Writing and Performance program.[11]

Internet career

Early online career (2013–2017)

Conner began social media on Vine,[7] an app exclusively for six-second videos which existed from June 2012 to January 2017.[12] He amassed around 350 thousand followers on the platform, but later decided to attempt to create longform content on YouTube.[7]

Conner uploaded the first video on his channel in 2014.[13] He originally made videos for fun after his full-time office job, uploading around every week. His channel began to gain momentum in 2017 when one of his videos gained 600 thousand views in two days, leading him to increase his video output. Conner decided to take a risk and quit his office job to become a full-time YouTuber.[7]

YouTube (2017–)

His channel has become known for his critique of content perceived as problematic on YouTube, and for making fun of those who wish to marginalize groups of people.[14] In 2019, he and his friend and fellow comedian Jacob Sharpe criticised TikToker Sebastian Bails and Bails's girlfriend Lauren Godwin for making light of domestic abuse on their YouTube channel. Conner and Sharpe were both disturbed by the content, frequently commenting in the video that they found it difficult to make light of such a serious subject. Conner later said he would raise $10,000 for the domestic abuse charity loveisrespect and then match it with his own donation, with over $16,000 being raised and Conner making a donation of $26,000 overall.[15]

Conner also criticised a "female Viagra" trend on YouTube, which involved YouTubers administering a claimed aphrodisiac for women by spiking their girlfriend's drink without their consent. His video was later removed from YouTube as it showed the controversial behaviour, although other "female Viagra" videos were still available on the platform at the time.[16]

Conner has made more lighthearted videos, and says that his favorite content is film criticism.[7] He has made content about the TikTok Hype House, manipulative tactics used by Justin Bieber's team to promote his song "Yummy", the 22 Convention (a "convention for women" run by anti-feminist men's rights activists),[7] and pick-up artist Russell Hartley (whom Conner dubbed "misogynist of the year").[17]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Conner posted a video detailing how to become famous online.[18] In April 2021, he and Danny Gonzalez produced the song "In Love with a Creeper", which features them competing for the affections of (and eventually having a threesome with) a creeper from the video game Minecraft.[19]

Content

Kurtis Conner was described by Lindsay Dodgson of Insider as "one of YouTube's most popular commentators". Like YouTubers Drew Gooden and Danny Gonzalez, he took a more lighthearted and comedic approach to the commentary genre and uses a deadpan delivery.[7][20]

Stand-up comedy

Conner began performing stand-up shows all over Canada in 2013.[11] He self-released his debut comedy album Cuppla Jokes in 2016, which reached No. 1 on the iTunes comedy charts and No. 6 on the Billboard comedy charts.[11] In 2019, he was a special guest and opening act for his friends and fellow YouTubers Danny Gonzalez and Drew Gooden during their We Are Two Different People Tour.[7][21][22][23]

Personal life

Conner started dating Jenna Allard on December 11, 2014.[24] The two were married in Tuscany on October 19, 2022.[25][26] They have a dog named Kiwi.[27] They live together in Ontario, Canada.[28]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2016 "Could You Get Me to Tomorrow?" Unnamed Protagonist The Bandicoots music video[29]
2017 Hot Jokes Himself Comedy special
2023 James Chapeskie's Darkness Ensemble Dancer Youtube Short Film[30]

Discography

Albums
Year Title
2016 Cuppla Jokes

Singles
Year Title
2020 "Blood Related"
2022 "True Story"
Year Title
2021 "In Love with a Creeper" (Danny Gonzalez feat. Kurtis Conner)
Year Title
2023 "END OF THE WATER (FEEL)" (Waterparks (band))

References
    1. "About Kurtis Conner". YouTube.
    2. Conner, Kurtis (April 14, 2019). Country Memes. Event occurs at 9:54. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2022 – via YouTube. I'm a real fucking Redneck, okay? Kurtis Matthew Kenneth Conner!
    3. Fact-Checking Insane Articles Written About Me. Kurtis Conner. June 28, 2021. Event occurs at 13:10. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via YouTube. 'Conner praises his birthday on the forth of May' Oh, my birthday! [...] I was born at North York General.
    4. @kurtisconner (May 4, 2020). "thanks for all the birthday wishes today 💖❤️ luv u" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    5. WE DID A SHOW IN MY HOMETOWN. Kurtis Conner. March 25, 2017. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via YouTube.
    6. Conner, Kurtis Matthew Kenneth (October 25, 2021). Debunking Urban Legends w/ Jacob Sharpe (Video). Event occurs at 5:36. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
    7. Dodgson, Lindsay (February 9, 2020). "Meet Kurtis Conner, one of YouTube's most popular commentators with big dreams of one day having a Netflix comedy special". Insider. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
    8. Johnson, Jarvis Allen; Cope, Jordan Adika; Conner, Kurtis Matthew Kenneth (February 24, 2023). Becoming Dominant Men (w/ Kurtis Conner) | Sad Boyz. Event occurs at 2:41. Retrieved June 1, 2023 – via YouTube.
    9. Connor, Kurtis Matthew Kenneth (October 29, 2021). This Low-Budget Horror Movie is Terrifying...For All The Wrong Reasons (Video). Event occurs at 1:56. Retrieved October 24, 2023 – via YouTube.
    10. Connor, Kurtis Matthew Kenneth [@kurtisconnor] (June 8, 2023). "My stepdad, Lawrence, passed away on Tuesday night. He was the funniest, sweetest, and most caring person I've ever known and I feel so incredibly lucky that I had an incredible father figure like him to look up to my whole life. Truly one of a kind. I don't know where we go after this life but wherever he is; I know he's at peace and he's probably enjoying an ice cold can of coke and a huge bowl of popcorn ❤️ I love you Lawrence. Rest easy ❤️" – via Instagram.
    11. BWW News Desk. "Comedian Kurtis Conner Has Added a Second Performance at The Den Theatre". Broadway World. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
    12. Wong, Wilson (January 17, 2022). "A look back at Vine — the six-second video app that made us scream, laugh and cry". NBC News. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
    13. Conner, Kurtis (July 22, 2014). HOT JOKES & COLD DOGS (FT. JACOB SHARPE) (Video). YouTube.
    14. Decena, Jaelyn (April 5, 2020). "Eight YouTube channels to watch while you're social distancing". The Cougar Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
    15. Dodgson, Lindsay (December 20, 2019). "A YouTuber called out 2 TikTok stars for a prank where they pretended to be in a violent, abusive relationship". Insider. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
    16. Dodgson, Lindsay (May 12, 2020). "A YouTuber posted a video criticizing a problematic trend on the platform, but it was taken down before the offending videos were". Insider. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
    17. Lasker, Alex (August 10, 2020). "Problematic dating coach branded as 'misogynist of the year' in brutal video". In the Know. Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
    18. Wynne, Kelly (April 8, 2020). "Kurtis Conner's top tips for finding online success during COVID-19". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
    19. Grayson, Nathan (April 28, 2021). "Song About Fucking A Minecraft Creeper Is Obscenely Catchy". Kotaku. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
    20. Rosenblatt, Kalhan (December 25, 2019). "How social media has changed in the past decade, according to its influencers". NBC News. Retrieved April 27, 2023. Kurtis Conner, 25, another content reviewer who takes a more lighthearted and comedic approach to his videos.
      Haylock, Zoe (March 2, 2021). "Welcome to the Circus". Vulture. Retrieved April 27, 2023. Fellow former Viners Danny Gonzalez, Drew Gooden, Kurtis Conner, and more instilled comedy into commentary while calling out everyone from kids creators to life hacks to pick-up artists.
    21. McDaniel, Taylor (September 11, 2019). "YouTubers Danny Gonzalez and Drew Gooden captivate fans on comedy show tour". The Oakland Post. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
    22. Wynne, Kelly (September 5, 2019). "Danny Gonzalez and Drew Gooden talk tour, comedy and YouTube careers". Newsweek. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
    23. Wilbur, Brock (September 9, 2019). "Drew Gooden and Danny Gonzalez: The John Olivers of YouTube Culture". Paste. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
    24. Conner, Kurtis [@kurtisconner] (December 11, 2017). "HAPPY 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO MY LOVE!!!! you make my days so much brighter. love you forever and ever t.co/2h3yfD0NvU" (Tweet). Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via Twitter.
    25. Conner, Kurtis [@kurtisconner] (October 19, 2022). "went to Italy to marry the love of my life 💕 luv u forever & ever" – via Instagram.
    26. Connor, Kurtis Matthew Kenneth (November 15, 2022). The Most Tone-Deaf Video Ever Made (Video). Event occurs at 0:21. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
    27. Conner, Kurtis [@kurtisconner] (July 21, 2018). "me and Jenna are parents now :') welcome to the family, kiwi t.co/MOLHv48a5N" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022 – via Twitter.
    28. Connor, Kurtis Matthew Kenneth (January 14, 2022). I Lived Like a Billionaire for a Week (Video). Event occurs at 0:24. Retrieved July 6, 2023 – via YouTube.
    29. "The Bandicoots - Could You Get Me to Tomorrow? (Official Video) - YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
    30. DARKNESS, archived from the original on April 15, 2023, retrieved April 15, 2023
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