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Kevin Samuels

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Kevin Samuels
Samuels in 2020
Born
Kevin Roshon Samuels

March 13, 1969[1][2][3][4]
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedMay 5, 2022(2022-05-05) (aged 53)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Occupations
  • Internet personality
  • image consultant
MovementManosphere
Children1

Kevin Roshon Samuels (March 13, 1969 – May 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]

Early life

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Kevin Samuels was born in Oklahoma City. He attended Millwood High School[7] 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]

Career

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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.[9] The New York Times wrote, inaccurately, he built an image as a "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".[10] 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".[11] He also interviewed popular Instagram models like Brittany Renner, and reality TV stars like Tommie Lee.[12] Several prominent guests such as Minaj,[13] Marlon Wayans, and Tamar Braxton showed support for his work.[14]

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 term akin to mate value for rating people based on perceived attractiveness akin to rating economic products – for dating and relationships. He then evaluated women based on age, dress size, height and weight according to their perceived "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.[11] 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.[15][8] Samuels' critics decried him as being actively misogynoir,[16][17][18] and a part of the Black manosphere,[19] 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 of traditional values.[8][9][11] Some critics alleged that he had scammed fragrance houses, such as Bloomingdale's and other high-end stores in Atlanta,[20] as well as stealing ideas and content from other YouTubers.[21] He was also accused of hypocrisy with respect to the teachings of the Christian Bible and his own advice.[22]

Personal life and death

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Samuels was married and divorced twice.[17] 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.[8] According to the medical examiner's report, Samuels had hypertension, which contributed to his death.[2]

Impressions and tributes

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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.[23]

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.[24][23]

References

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  1. ^ "@Kevin Samuels Goes 1 on 1 vs Career Woman (Amanda)". Youtube. I am 51 years old" as of March 6, 2021
  2. ^ a b Romero, Dennis (July 19, 2022). "YouTube star Kevin Samuels died from hypertension, medical examiner concludes". NBC News.
  3. ^ Maldonado, Daisy (July 18, 2022). "YouTuber Kevin Samuels' Cause of Death Revealed". E News.
  4. ^ "Kevin Samuels, controversial relationship advisor, has died at 53". Fox 5 New York. May 6, 2022.
  5. ^ Espinoza, Joshua (May 6, 2022). "Kevin Samuels, Polarizing Influencer Who Gave Relationship Advice, Dead at 57". Complex. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  6. ^ Bero, Tayo. "How Steve Harvey Birthed A Generation Of Black Male Relationship Experts & Why Black Women Follow Them". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Kevin Samuels on High Value Men, "Average at Best" Women, Gay Rumors, Lori & Megan (Full Interview)". Youtube. June 26, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Victor, Daniel (May 7, 2022). "Kevin Samuels, a Polarizing YouTube Personality, Dies at 57". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  9. ^ a b Burke, Minyvonne (May 6, 2022). "Kevin Samuels, YouTuber with 1.4M subscribers, has died, his mother says". NBC News. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  10. ^ "The Late Kevin Samuels Makes A Cameo In The FX's Series 'Atlanta'". Black Enterprise. May 14, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c Staff (May 6, 2022). "Controversial Relationship Personality Kevin Samuels Has Died". GQ. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "T.I. Defends YouTube Personality Kevin Samuels, Blasts Critics Celebrating His Death". Vibe. May 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "The Instagram Live with @Nicki Minaj". Youtube. February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. ^ Germain, Atahabih (May 6, 2022). "Mother of Kevin Samuels Confirms Controversial YouTuber and 'Image Consultant' Has Passed Away at 56, Marlon Wayans and Tamar Braxton Send Their Condolences". Atlanta Black Star.
  15. ^ Peeples, Tanesha (May 6, 2022). "Social Media Murdered Kevin Samuels Before His Death Was Confirmed". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  16. ^ Linley, Zack (May 6, 2022). "Stop The Cap! We All Know Why Kevin Samuels' Death Is Making Black Women Feel A Way". Black News Newsone. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  17. ^ a b McDuffie, Candace (May 2, 2022). "When Will Kevin Samuels Finally Be Canceled?". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on May 14, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  18. ^ Staff (May 6, 2022). "Kevin Samuels passes away at 56". WBLS. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  19. ^ Young, Nicole (January 25, 2022). "My Brush With the Black Manosphere". Elle.
  20. ^ The Poor Black Man (December 17, 2021). "Kevin Samuels vs Bloomindale's Atlanta?". Youtube. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Sandra Rose (January 4, 2022). "YouTuber exposes Kevin Samuels' shady past". SANDRAROSE. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  22. ^ Brittany Venti (November 18, 2021). "Kevin Samuels is a Fraud". Youtube. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  23. ^ a b "ORLI ANROW - Young Kevin Samuels (Official Music Video) ft. @byKevinSamuels". YouTube. September 18, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  24. ^ "THERAPY THURSDAYS with DEVIN R. SAMUELS (Highlights)". YouTube. May 4, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
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