Signature “ Shopee Arab” persona and the word “Al- Assadam ,” influencer Elton Jhon has gained massive popularity on TikTok, helping to alleviate anxiety and depression among his followers. In an exclusive interview, he shares how divine inspiration and the challenges of his journey have led him to connect deeply with his audience, transforming his passion for live streaming into a mission to bring joy and hope to others.
How did the idea of creating the ” Shopee Arab ” character and doing live streams on TikTok come about? What inspired you to follow this creative path?
Many people on the platform said that I looked like an Arab. So what happened? I started researching how Arabs dress and their culture, and I realized that I really did look like them. One day, I asked God for a sign, asking if I should continue on the platform with that character, if this was really the right path for me. Until then, he sent me a video, and he sent me a gentleman on March 7th, around 7 am. This gentleman started crying and said that I had given him back his life. He had depression and, at the time, 70% of his lungs were compromised by an infection, in addition to suffering from anxiety. He was thinking about taking his own life, but since then, I have received many messages saying that I help alleviate people’s depression and anxiety. This is what motivates me every day to continue with this Arab character.
The word ” alassadam ” has become a trademark of your live streams. How did you come up with this word and how do you feel when you see the impact it has on your followers?
Boy, about this word “Al- Assadam “… what happened? I went to do a live with an Arab, and he was teaching me how to say “Al- Assadam “. Actually, the correct way to say it would be ” Assadam “, if I’m not mistaken. Then, I ended up saying “Al- Assadam ” and the Arab started laughing. He was a real Arab. From then on, I started using this word in my interactions, and that’s how the name “Al- Assadam ” came about. At the time, my name was ” Shoupi Arab “, but I couldn’t register that name because ” Shoupi ” was already registered. Then, during a festival here in my city, people started calling me “Al- Assadam “, and that’s when I decided to change my name to “Al- Assadam ” and register it. I didn’t know it would take on this proportion, but I’m happy with it. God willing, I will continue to grow.
We know that your journey so far has been full of challenges. How have the difficulties you have faced shaped the person and content creator you are today?
What shaped me to do all this was an inspiration I had from MC Melody. A lot of people criticized her for her falsetto, but it was the haters who helped her become great. So I faced criticism and kept my head up. I didn’t lower my head and stayed focused. “Speak well or speak badly, speak of me.” What inspired me was Melody. She taught me how to deal with haters . Today, I’m a more relaxed guy about it.
You receive a lot of testimonials from people saying that your videos have helped them alleviate difficult times, such as depression. What is it like for you to know that your work has such a positive impact on people’s lives?
At first, when I asked God for a sign, and that sign came the next day, I couldn’t believe that all of that was possible. I had been trying to work with live streams for 15 years, 14 of which were focused on live gaming. “Árabe da Shoupi ” came about at that time, and God gave me that sign. He showed me that my mission is to bring joy to people, and there is nothing more rewarding than that. I have a testimonial on my Instagram that I don’t remember exactly the words, but the guy said that his intern, who was depressed, was laughing when she heard “Al- Assadam ” at lunchtime. He said that the girl tried to take her own life twice, and seeing her laughing was something rare in the last two years. That motivates me to keep going. A year later, I participated in an official battle on TikTok with DJ Wesley Calisto, and I finished at the top of the rankings in Brazil, being watched by the whole world. Coincidentally, this happened exactly on March 7th, one year after I asked God for the sign. If this isn’t God’s work, I don’t know what is.
Your relationship with your mother is an aspect that your followers love and that appears frequently in your content. How does she react to your success and the affection of your fans?
My mom… When I was 17, I told her, “One day I’m going to give you a good life working on live streams.” My mom has been through a lot, and being able to have her be a part of this journey is wonderful. She loves interacting with her followers and has fit right into this world of content creation. She’s always supported me and never asked me to give up. Today, she’s proud of me, and that’s very rewarding. She’s a little shy in front of the camera, but she always interacts when I call her. Thank God, she’s very happy with everything that’s happening.
You had a number of different jobs before dedicating yourself to content creation. How do these experiences influence your work and your outlook on life today?
Thank God, I’ve worked in many different jobs. Since I was 17, I’ve tried to work with live streams. I worked from Monday to Saturday and, on the weekends, I’d go live on Twitch to try to do live streams of games. I also sold motorcycles, had a bike shop for six years and worked as a delivery boy. I decided to leave those jobs to try my hand at live streaming. It was 4 months of hard work, starting at 9 am and working until 7 pm, then starting live at 9 am and only stopping at 4 or 5 am. I believed that this was what I wanted for my life, and thank God, we’re here today. The courage to make those decisions was essential, because if I hadn’t taken that step, I might still be in the same place.
Your audience is constantly growing and includes well-known figures such as Cesar Menotti. How do you deal with this popularity and what do you think makes people connect with you so much?
Thank God, I have received support from many famous people, such as César Menotti, Túlio Milionário, Sofia Valverde, Xamã, MC Davi, MC Bela, and many others. What connected me with these people was humor and comedy. During the pandemic, with so much depression and anxiety, being able to bring joy to people was what made me connect with them. I receive reports from people who, when watching my videos, feel lighter, and that is very gratifying.
What are your next steps as a content creator? Do you have any new projects in mind or something you would like to do in the future?
In the future, I don’t want to just do live streams. I went to the beach in Arraial do Cabo, put on my Arab clothes, and started walking around. Foreigners, people who had never seen me before, asked to take pictures with me, and I thought it was really cool. My plans are to expand to creating content in shopping malls, beaches, and other places, not just at home or in studios. I also think about working with security guards, going to clubs, and doing other projects. These are my plans for the future.
Follow Elton Jhon on Instagram