Branden Miller

{{BLP sources section|date=May 2018}}

Branden Miller was raised in Hopewell, Virginia, and adopted by Buddy and Veronica Miller. In 2002, his adoptive father died of cancer.

Miller claims he had a difficult time discussing his homosexuality with his classmates, and described himself as "trade". He came out to his family and friends after his sister discovered gay porn on his computer, and says he was not shown support from his mother, who claimed his sexuality was unbiblical. Miller discovered at the age of 17 that he was adopted, and that he was born to a mother of Puerto Rican descent and a black father of unspecified heritage.

After becoming aware of his adoption, Miller began to dress in drag every day for several months. He dropped out of high school before graduation.{{cite web|last=McDermott|first=D.|title=Joanne The Scammer Lives For Drama. Branden Miller Is Just Trying To Live.|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/09/joanne-the-scammer-branden-miller-messy-bitch-interview|website=The FADER|accessdate=29 December 2016}}

Before creating the character of Joanne, Miller began starring in pornographic videos on "cam sites" at the age of 18, under the pseudonym "Playboi Branden". In his pornographic videos, he would "act straight" in order to appeal to those who fetishized "gay-for-pay" men.

Miller says that Joanne's creation was inspired by videos made by YouTube personality Cara Cunningham, mainly her video "Leave Britney Alone".{{cite web|title=MTV VMAS 2016: Joanne the Scammer, 3 Things to Know|url=http://people.com/tv/mtv-vmas-2016-joanne-the-scammer-3-things-to-know/|website=People|accessdate=30 December 2016|date=29 August 2016}} She was initially created as the character "Miss Prada", and had the role of a prostitute. Miller uploaded videos to YouTube of his character "Miss Prada", who would often proclaim her infatuation for singer Chris Brown and make sexual advances towards various men. The character was also inspired by the discovery of his adoption, which he says he wanted to "run away" from. The character also stemmed from Miller's belief that "every modern woman is a scammer".{{cite web|last=Gorton|first=Thomas|title=Learn how to scam with the internet's biggest cheat|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/31009/1/learn-how-to-scam-with-the-internet-s-biggest-cheat|website=Dazed|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=5 May 2016}}

Joanne's appearance typically includes a fur coat and a mid-length blonde wig.

In May 2016, Miller was emailed by an anonymous person claiming to work for Twitter, who would "verify" his account if he provided certain information. However, the anonymous person deleted Joanne's account instead. The person asked for $500 in return for the Twitter account, which Miller refused to pay. Eventually, the Twitter handle was returned to Miller and was also verified.{{cite web|last=Pulliam-Moore|first=Charles|title=How Branden Miller, the Man Behind Joanne the Scammer, Got Scammed Off Twitter|url=http://fusion.net/story/297149/joanne-the-scammer-got-scammed/|website=Fusion|accessdate=29 December 2016}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/joanne-the-scammer-returns-to-twitter-after-getting-scammed|title=How Joanne The Scammer Got Scammed Off Twitter|work=BuzzFeed|access-date=2018-05-02|language=en}}

In August 2016, Miller joined the entertainment network Super Deluxe to begin creating a series of videos starring Joanne the Scammer.{{cite web|last=Deluxe|first=Super|title=Caucasian Living with Joanne the Scammer|url=http://www.caucasianliving.com/?hwh=ujKrl2I1E16|website=Caucasian Living with Joanne the Scammer|accessdate=29 December 2016}} The first, entitled "Caucasian Living with Joanne the Scammer", stars actress Chelsea Peretti.{{cite web|last=McCormick|first=Luke|title=Watch Caucasian Living With Joanne The Scammer|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/18/joanne-the-scammer-caucasian-living|website=The FADER|accessdate=29 December 2016}}{{cite web|last=Bergado|first=Gabe|title=Joanne the Scammer breaks into Chelsea Peretti's Caucasian mansion|url=http://www.dailydot.com/unclick/joanne-the-scammer-chelsea-peretti-house/|website=The Daily Dot|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=18 August 2016}}{{cite web|last=Jung|first=E. Alex|title=Joanne the Scammer Breaks Into Caucasian Lady Chelsea Peretti's House|url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/08/joanne-the-scammer-robs-chelsea-perettis-house.html|website=Vulture|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=18 August 2016}}{{cite web|last=McCartney|first=Claire|title=Watch Joanne the Scammer's New Video: 'Caucasian Living'|url=http://www.papermag.com/joanne-the-scammers-new-video-caucasian-living-1977020775.html|website=Paper Mag|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=18 August 2016}} Miller also starred in an 8-minute long Thelma & Louise-themed short entitled "Khadi & Joanne", which also starred internet personality and comedian Khadi Don, and was produced by Super Deluxe as well.

Joanne the Scammer has received attention from various notable figures such as Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Solange Knowles,{{cite web|last=O'Donnell|first=Carey|title=Solange Knowles Won Halloween Before It Even Happened|url=http://www.papermag.com/solange-knowles-halloween-costume-joanne-the-scammer-2074729529.html|website=Paper Mag|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=1 November 2016}} Teyana Taylor,{{cite web|last=Chau|first=Thomas|title=Teyana Taylor Wins Halloween as Joanne the Scammer|url=http://popcrush.com/teyana-taylor-joanne-the-scammer-halloween-costume/|website=PopCrush|accessdate=29 December 2016}}{{cite web|last=Adhiambo Rogo|first=Paula|title=Teyana Taylor Dressed Up As Joanne The Scammer For Halloween And It's Hilarious|url=http://www.essence.com/celebrity/teyana-taylor-dressed-joanne-scammer-halloween-and-its-hilarious|website=Essence|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=30 October 2016}} Ariana Grande,{{cite web|last=Elizabeth|first=De|title=Ariana Grande's Faceswap With Joanne the Scammer is Pretty Iconic|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/story/ariana-grandes-faceswap-with-joanne-the-scammer-is-pretty-iconic|website=Teen Vogue|date=18 September 2016 |accessdate=29 December 2016}} Amber Rose, Rowan Blanchard, Sky Ferreira, Chelsea Peretti, and others. Miller was invited to the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards for his portrayal of the character of Joanne.{{cite web|title=Joanne The Scammer To Attend MTV VMAs 2016|url=http://www.vibe.com/2016/08/joanne-the-scammer-attending-mtv-vmas-2016/|author=Vibe|website=Vibe|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=27 August 2016}}{{cite web|last=Diaz|first=Evelyn|title=This Is Proof That Joanne the Scammer Is the Diva We All Want to Be|url=https://www.bet.com/article/2ye75k/joanne-the-scammer-is-the-diva-we-all-want-to-be|website=BET|access-date=29 December 2016}} Miller co-hosted Amber Rose's annual SlutWalk Festival in 2016.{{cite web|last=Rose|first=Amber|title=Lineup|url=http://amberroseslutwalk.com/line-up/|website=The Amber Rose SlutWalk|accessdate=29 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230085940/http://amberroseslutwalk.com/line-up/|archive-date=30 December 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Bellino|first=Damian|title=Everyone Turned Out and Slayed at Amber Rose's SlutWalk|url=http://www.vh1.com/news/285079/amber-roses-slutwalk-red-carpet-2016/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005101738/http://www.vh1.com/news/285079/amber-roses-slutwalk-red-carpet-2016/|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2016|website=VH1 News|accessdate=29 December 2016}}

The Fader describes Joanne as "a fiercely independent hot mess who goes to obscene, hilarious lengths to look out for herself" and "a byproduct of how frightening and lonely the world can feel". Teen Vogue describes the character as "a self-proclaimed 'messy b*tch who lives for the drama'". Paper Magazine calls Joanne "a gorgeously exaggerated meshing of meme culture and the darkness of the deep web and Craigslist with elements of gender fluidity, hip-hop and the ball scene tossed in".{{cite web|last=O'Donnell|first=Carey|title=Talking Business With Social Media Prophet Joanne the Scammer|url=http://www.papermag.com/joanne-the-scammer-1692717936.html|website=Paper Mag|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=28 March 2016}} The Huffington Post says that Joanne gained popularity through "embezzlement and offensive remarks".{{cite web|last=Finley|first=Taryn|title=15 Times Joanne The Scammer Was The Messiest B***h Alive|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/joanne-the-scammer-is-an-icon_us_57c6e04fe4b078581f10409f|website=The Huffington Post|accessdate=29 December 2016|date=31 August 2016}} BuzzFeed called her "a hilarious and compelling character that has become wildly popular on Twitter".{{cite web |last=Notopoulos |first=Katie |title=How Joanne The Scammer Got Scammed Off Twitter |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/joanne-the-scammer-returns-to-twitter-after-getting-scammed |accessdate=29 December 2016 |website=BuzzFeed}} The character also appeared in Fergie's music video for "Tension". The character had a cameo appearance in Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral.

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Category:Living people

Category:American Internet celebrities

Category:1991 births

Category:People from Hopewell, Virginia

Category:Male actors from Virginia