Brandon Farris: The Comedian Who Turned Adversities into Success on Social Media

Luca Moreira
7 Min Read
Brandon Farris (Te'Aven Roque)
Brandon Farris (Te'Aven Roque)

Brandon Farris, comedian and content creator, has gained over 24 million followers across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. His journey, which began by documenting his life while living in a car in Los Angeles, is an inspiring example of resilience and creativity. Now living in Sacramento, he faces the challenge of reinventing himself in an ever-changing digital landscape, while captivating audiences with humor, authenticity, and a message of hope.

Brandon, your life journey is incredibly inspiring, especially when you share your experience of living in your car in Los Angeles. How did that tough phase shape the person and content creator you are today?

It was hard for sure, but I was there by choice. I knew that if I wanted to be successful, I had to give myself all of the opportunities to succeed and no option to fail or to back out. I guess that whole period just sort of solidified my mentality that I could achieve my goals if I was committed enough. It was definitely one of the toughest periods of my life, but I wouldn’t change it.

Your humor, blending comedy with vulnerability, is one of the factors that captivate your followers the most. How do you balance these two aspects and maintain your authenticity, even with millions of people following your life?

It’s really important to me to be genuine. We get offers all the time to do collaborations and promote brands, and most of the time we just say “no thanks, that’s not for us.” I think the fans of the channel, some of them, have been watching for like 10 years. I feel like I owe it to them to be myself and to be what they signed up for.

With over 24 million followers and billions of views across various platforms, how do you handle the pressure of maintaining a creative standard while staying connected with your audience?

It’s really tough. The toughest part, to be honest. I try to do stuff for loyal fans like our members only group and stuff like that. But truthfully I am a pretty chill, pretty private person, so it can be kind of a weight to carry sometimes. Having standards is just about remembering why we are here and remembering why people watch. We get messages all the time saying stuff like “you really helped me get through a tough time” or “you’re the reason I get through the day.” That kind of stuff really matters so I try to remember that even though I am trying to be funny, there is also a purpose behind it. Hopefully they know how grateful I am for all their support.

The potential TikTok ban has put you in a position to rethink your strategy. How are you preparing for this change, and what can your followers expect from the new forms of content you’re exploring?

We are kind of in the same boat as everyone else, I guess. We have a huge following on TikTok, but it is really hard to generate revenue there for the kind of stuff we do. I went through something kind of similar back when Facebook made the push to mobile. My views went to almost zero, practically overnight, so I had to reinvent myself on YouTube. We are doing okay on Facebook now, but it took years to rebuild so I think for me and every other creator, it’s about staying nimble and adapting. We make the content, but we really don’t have any control over the platforms so we need to be rethinking our strategy practically everyday, which we do.

You’re known for creating viral parodies and sketches that make everyone laugh. Where does your inspiration for this content come from? Is there a specific process you follow to create something that is both funny and impactful?

Not necessarily a process, but it’s practically all I think about. Sometimes me and Cam inspire each other just by hanging out and cutting up. This year we made some changes to our process and now the team handles almost everything that isn’t related to making videos, so at least now I have the luxury of just being focused on coming up with something people will like!

Your story of perseverance and success has resonated with many people. For those facing difficulties or striving to achieve their own dreams, what would you say to help them not give up?

There is something better out there for you. It might look very different than what you expected, and it might take longer than you want it to, but the only way to get to that point is to not give up.

Now that you’re in Sacramento with your wife, how has the change in scenery influenced your personal life and career? What does the future hold for Brandon Farris, both in digital content and in life outside the cameras?

I would say not much. We love where we live but we also have family all over so we end up travelling to see them. I think the thing about where I am now is that it is a big enough city that I can do everything I need to do, hire the right people, and all that…but not so big that I feel like I am getting lost in the crowd or getting chewed up in “the machine”. It works for us.

Follow Brandon Farris on Instagram

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