Jonathan Cheban

{{Short description|American reality TV personality and entrepreneur}}

{{Infobox person

| name =

| image = Jonathan Cheban by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg

| caption = Cheban in 2024

| birth_name = Jonathan Cheban

| other_names =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|2|21}}

| birth_place = Kishinev, Moldavian SSR, Soviet Union

| education = Fort Lee High School

| alma_mater = Hofstra University

| partner =

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Reality TV personality
entrepreneur

}}

| television = {{plainlist|

}}

Foodgod{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/27/kim-kardashians-bff-jonathan-cheban-legally-changes-name-foodgod-10994171/|publisher=Metro|date=27 October 2019|access-date=October 28, 2019|title=Kim Kardashian's BFF Jonathan Cheban legally changes name to Foodgod|first=Isobel |last=Lewis}} (born Jonathan Cheban; 21 February 1974) is an American reality television personality, entrepreneur and former publicist. He has made appearances on the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its spinoffs.

Early life

Cheban was born in Moldova, Soviet Union in 1974, the only child of a real-estate agent mother, Galina, and a diamond-dealer father, Mikhail{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2004/11/the-art-of-the-schmooze/ |title=The Art of the Schmooze|first=Noelle |last=Hancock |work=New York Observer |date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=November 8, 2013| archive-date= December 2, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111202000922/http://www.observer.com/2004/11/the-art-of-the-schmooze| url-status=live}} who died in 2011.{{cite web|last=Lee |first=Esther |url=http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/jonathan-cheban-kim-kardashian-best-friend-millionaire-matchmaker-submission-video-20131912 |title=Jonathan Cheban, Kim Kardashian's Friend, on Millionaire Matchmaker |work=Us Weekly |date=December 19, 2013 |access-date=February 1, 2014| quote=...the reality star, 39.... [M]y dad passed away two years ago. }} He grew up in Fort Lee, New Jersey and attended Fort Lee High School before graduating from Hofstra University with a communications degree in 1995.{{cite news|last=Stein|first=Joshua David| url=https://www.gq.com/story/jonathan-cheban-foodgod-dinner-at-tao |title=Dinner at TAO with the 'FoodGod' Jonathan Cheban|work=GQ|date= September 16, 2016| access-date= December 30, 2017|quote=Cheban was born in Russia {{sic}} in 1974 but grew up across the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey.}} Cheban is of Russian Jewish background.{{cite web | last=Efrem | first=Maia | title=5 Jewish Things About Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's Wedding | website=The Forward | date=May 21, 2014 | url=https://forward.com/schmooze/198656/5-jewish-things-about-kim-kardashian-and-kanye-wes/ | access-date=December 30, 2017}}

Career

=Publicist=

After graduation, Cheban began working for publicist Peggy Siegal at her firm in New York. At one point, music manager Benny Medina called Siegal to work on Sean Combs' 29th birthday party. When Siegal rejected the offer despite Cheban's urging, Cheban accepted the job himself. Cheban left Siegal and formed his own public-relations firm with two other publicists. He left that company in 2001, and went on to found his own firm, CommandPR.

=Reality television=

Cheban first gained public attention with his appearance on the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, appearing as a friend of the Kardashian sisters.{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Lauren M.|title=Jonathan Cheban: PR King|url=http://la-confidential-magazine.com/living/articles/making-a-scene|work=Los Angeles Confidential|access-date=October 5, 2014}} He subsequently appeared in several episodes of the show's spin-offs, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, Kourtney and Kim Take Miami and Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons.

In 2010, Cheban starred in his own reality show, The Spin Crowd, chronicling the lives of Cheban, Simon Huck and their employees at his firm. Kim Kardashian executive-produced and kickstarted the series due to her friendship with Cheban.Kardashian, Kim; Cheban, Jonathan. (Sep 21, 2010). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-FFsZXClNs Kim Kardashian, Simon Huck & Jonathan Cheban= "The Spin Crowd" (video)]. YouTube. Young Hollywood. Episodes focused on both personal conflicts and the firm's promotion of celebrities, with largely unscripted dialogue.{{Cite web |date=2010-08-22 |title=Sunday's TV Highlights: 'The Spin Crowd' on E! |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2010-08-21/sundays-tv-highlights-the-spin-crowd-on-e |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} The series ran for one season of eight episodes before being cancelled.

Cheban's relationship with Kardashian has remained in the public spotlight. In 2012, Cheban made a short video spoofing himself as someone living in the shadow of Kardashian's fame.{{cite web |url=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/2700dbdaa1/jonathan-cheban-i-m-kim-kardashian-s-best-friend |title=Jonathan Cheban: I'm Kim Kardashian's BEST Friend! |publisher=Funny or Die |date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=November 8, 2013 |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827175922/http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/2700dbdaa1/jonathan-cheban-i-m-kim-kardashian-s-best-friend |url-status=dead }}

In January 2016, Cheban entered the Celebrity Big Brother 17 house in the U.K., to compete as a housemate on its 17th season. He voluntarily left the show within days, which he finished 15th place.{{cite news| url=http://people.com/tv/jonathan-cheban-quits-celebrity-big-brother/| title=Jonathan Cheban Leaves U.K. Celebrity Big Brother, Citing Concerns for His 'Mental Stability'| work=People | date= January 11, 2016|access-date=February 22, 2017| archive-date=February 22, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170222205608/http://people.com/tv/jonathan-cheban-quits-celebrity-big-brother/ | url-status=live}}

In 2017, Cheban appeared on the second season of U.K.'s "Celebs Go Dating".{{citation needed|date=March 2017}}

Other ventures

In 2008, Cheban launched his own clothing line, Kritik.{{cite web |url=http://fashionwashere.net/?p=174 |title=Jonathan Cheban Launches Kritik Clothing | |publisher=Fashionwashere.net |date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=November 8, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192436/http://fashionwashere.net/?p=174 |url-status=usurped }} Cheban also has designed jewelry for RichRocks.{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodlife.com/pics/jonathan-cheban-richrocks-jewelry-collection-kim-kardashian-gisele/#!1/061311_kim_cheban_jewelry_teaser_2_544110613221055/ |title=Jonathan Cheban Teams Up With RichRocks To Launch His First Jewelry Collection! |publisher=Hollywood Life |date=June 13, 2011 |access-date=November 8, 2013 |archive-date=May 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501075719/http://hollywoodlife.com/pics/jonathan-cheban-richrocks-jewelry-collection-kim-kardashian-gisele/#!1/061311_kim_cheban_jewelry_teaser_2_544110613221055/ |url-status=dead }} In late 2012, Cheban opened Sushi MiKasa, a restaurant in Miami.{{cite web|url=http://miami.eater.com/archives/2012/11/06/jonathan-cheban-to-open-sushi-mikasa-at-shelborne.php |title=Jonathan Cheban to Open Sushi MiKasa at Shelborne - Fall Tracking - Eater Miami |publisher=Miami.eater.com |date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=November 8, 2013}}

On November 24, 2013, Cheban also co-hosted Coca-Cola Red Carpet Live!, a pre-show to the 2013 American Music Awards.{{cite press release|title=Presenters Announced for the "2013 American Music Awards" Airing Live Sunday, November 24th At 8 PM ET/PT on ABC|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/presenters-announced-for-the-2013-american-music-awards-airing-live-sunday-november-24th-at-8-pm-etpt-on-abc-232860081.html| date= November 21, 2013| access-date= February 22, 2017| publisher=Dick Clark Productions | archive-date= February 22, 2017| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170222204825/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/presenters-announced-for-the-2013-american-music-awards-airing-live-sunday-november-24th-at-8-pm-etpt-on-abc-232860081.html | url-status=live}} In January 2014, Cheban launched a product called Glam Screen, which is both a protective cover for a smart phone, as well as a mirror.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/meet-glam-screen-smartphone-cover-doubles-mirror-030000283.html |title=Meet Glam Screen, the smartphone cover that doubles as a mirror |publisher=Yahoo |date=January 23, 2014 |access-date=January 31, 2014}}

In 2014, Cheban launched TheDishh, an entertainment and life-style website that features what Cheban and his team consider to be the highest-quality foods, gadgets and entertainment.{{cite web|last1=Horgan|first1=Richard|title=Jonathan Cheban Builds Out The Dishh|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/jonathan-cheban-david-caplan-dishh_b234409|website=Media Bistro|access-date=3 December 2014}}

In February 2015, Cheban opened the fast food restaurant Burger Bandit in Lynbrook, New York, on Long Island.{{cite news|last1=Marcus |first1=ERIC |title=Burger Bandit opens in Lynbrook |url=http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/feed-me/burger-bandit-opens-in-lynbrook-1.9968017 |work=Newsday |location=New York City / Long Island |date=February 23, 2015 |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20170222204140/http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/feed-me/burger-bandit-opens-in-lynbrook-1.9968017 |url-status=live }}

In late 2019 Cheban launched the podcast Foodgod: OMFG!{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/jonathan-cheban-opens-up-about-podcast-kim-kardashian/|title = Foodgod Jonathan Cheban Opens up About New Podcast, Candid First Interview with Kim Kardashian}}

Personal life

In late 2012, Cheban began dating stylist Anat Popovsky after meeting her while filming Kourtney and Kim Take Miami.{{cite web|url=http://hollywoodlife.com/2013/06/18/jonathan-cheban-new-girlfriend-kim-kardashian/ |title=Jonathan Cheban Date Night — Reality Star Spotted Out With Girlfriend |publisher=Hollywood Life |date=June 18, 2013 |access-date=November 8, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/456858/jonathan-cheban-and-girlfriend-anat-popovsky-s-european-getaway-brought-them-even-closer-together |title=Jonathan Cheban and Girlfriend Anat Popovsky's European Getaway Brought Them Even Closer Together |publisher=E! News UK |date=September 9, 2013 |access-date=November 8, 2013}} Cheban signed on as a single man on the second episode of the seventh season of Millionaire Matchmaker, which aired on December 12, 2013 on Bravo.{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Zach|title=Jonathan Cheban Looks for Love on Bravo's Millionaire Matchmaker|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/482120/jonathan-cheban-looks-for-love-on-bravo-s-millionaire-matchmaker|publisher=E! Online|date= November 18, 2013|access-date=June 15, 2014}}

In October 2019, various media outlets announced he had changed his legal name to his social media handle, Foodgod, after starting the process in January.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2019/10/27/jonathan-cheban-legally-change-name-foodgod-kim-kardashian/?adid=justjaredsocialexchange/|title=Kim Kardashian's Pal Jonathan Cheban Legally Changes Name to Foodgod|date=October 27, 2019 }}