Kevin Samuels

Kevin Samuels was born in Oklahoma City. He attended Millwood High School 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".{{cite web |title=Kevin Samuels on High Value Men, "Average at Best" Women, Gay Rumors, Lori & Megan (Full Interview) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPs6GV4rLm4 |website=Youtube| date=June 26, 2021 }} He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-06 |title=Kevin Samuels, controversial relationship advisor with huge YouTube following, has died at 53 |url=https://www.fox5ny.com/news/kevin-samuels-heart-attack |access-date= |website=FOX 5 NY |language=en-US}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmvoSnK85pU&feature=youtu.be |title=How Kappa Alpha Psi Changed My Life {{!}} Why Fraternity Men & Sorority Women WIN © |date=2020-05-16 |last=Kevin Samuels |access-date=2025-03-13 |via=YouTube}}

Samuels worked in the marketing industry before starting his own image-consulting firm in 2013.{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/07/us/kevin-samuels-dead.html|title = Kevin Samuels, a Polarizing YouTube Personality, Dies at 57|date = May 7, 2022|accessdate = May 7, 2022|last = Victor|first = Daniel|newspaper = The New York Times|url-access = limited}} 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. The New York Times claimed he built an image as a "hypermasculine authority" who advocated for "strict gender roles".

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".{{Cite web |date=2022-05-14 |title=The Late Kevin Samuels Makes A Cameo In The FX's Series 'Atlanta' |url=https://www.blackenterprise.com/the-late-kevin-samuels-makes-a-cameo-in-the-fxs-series-atlanta/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Black Enterprise |language=en-US}} 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". He also interviewed popular Instagram models like Brittany Renner, and reality TV stars like Tommie Lee.{{cite web |title=T.I. Defends YouTube Personality Kevin Samuels, Blasts Critics Celebrating His Death |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/t-i-defends-youtube-kevin-samuels-celebrating-death-1234661659/ |publisher=Vibe |date=May 9, 2022}} Several prominent guests such as Minaj,{{cite web |title=The Instagram Live with @Nicki Minaj |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGkuBq2ZgLI |website=Youtube | date=February 2, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2022}} Marlon Wayans, and Tamar Braxton showed support for his work.{{cite web |last1=Germain |first1=Atahabih |title=Mother of Kevin Samuels Confirms Controversial YouTuber and 'Image Consultant' Has Passed Away at 56, Marlon Wayans and Tamar Braxton Send Their Condolences |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2022/05/06/mother-of-kevin-samuels-confirms-controversial-youtuber-and-image-consultant-has-passed-away-at-56-marlon-wayans-and-tamar-braxton-send-their-condolences/ |website=Atlanta Black Star |date=May 6, 2022}}

Samuels engaged in commentary on dating prospects for men and women, with a focus on the African American community. He frequently spoke about what he considered to be "high-value men," emphasizing financial success, social status, and discipline, while also discussing the traits he believed made a woman "high-value" in the dating market. He encouraged women to embrace femininity, be more cooperative in relationships, and prioritize finding a long-term relationship or marriage in their youth. He encouraged men to focus on building their careers, dressing well, and improving themselves physically and mentally to increase their value in the dating and business world.

Samuels often criticized what he saw as unrealistic expectations people had for partners, especially regarding financial stability, physical appearance, and traditional gender roles. 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, ambition, and being overweight. Samuels 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 group in the United States.{{Cite web |last1=Peeples |first1=Tanesha |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Social Media Murdered Kevin Samuels Before His Death Was Confirmed |url=https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2022/05/06/social-media-murdered-kevin-samuels-before-his-death-was-confirmed/ |access-date=May 9, 2022 |website=The Black Wall Street Times}}

His supporters defended him as a truth-teller who provided tough love, particularly to black men and women, and as an advocate of traditional values, believing he inspired individuals to strive for higher standards in their personal and professional lives.{{Cite news|url = https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/kevin-samuels-youtuber-14m-subscribers-died-mother-says-rcna27645|title = Kevin Samuels, YouTuber with 1.4M subscribers, has died, his mother says|publisher = NBC News|date = May 6, 2022|accessdate = May 6, 2022|last = Burke|first = Minyvonne}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/kevin-samuels-dead|title=Controversial Relationship Personality Kevin Samuels Has Died|author=Staff|work=GQ|date=May 6, 2022|accessdate=May 6, 2022}} Critics argued that his delivery was often harsh, demeaning, or reinforcing outdated gender roles.{{Cite web |last1=Linley |first1=Zack |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Stop The Cap! We All Know Why Kevin Samuels' Death Is Making Black Women Feel A Way |url=https://newsone.com/4331707/kevin-samuels-death-is-making-black-women-feel-a-way/ |access-date=May 9, 2022 |website=Black News Newsone}}{{Cite news |author=Staff |date=May 6, 2022 |title=Kevin Samuels passes away at 56 |url=https://www.wbls.com/news/entertainment/breaking-news-kevin-samuels-passes-away-at-56/ |accessdate=May 6, 2022 |publisher=WBLS}} They criticized him for his engagement in casual sexual relationships and not being married.

Some critics alleged that he had scammed fragrance houses, such as Bloomingdale's and other high-end stores in Atlanta, as well as stealing ideas and content from other YouTubers.{{cite web |author=The Poor Black Man |date=December 17, 2021 |title=Kevin Samuels vs Bloomindale's Atlanta? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxHPq_K9Ug8 |access-date=July 23, 2024 |website=Youtube}}{{cite web|url=https://sandrarose.com/2022/01/youtuber-exposes-kevin-samuels-shady-past/|title=YouTuber exposes Kevin Samuels' shady past|website=SANDRAROSE|author=Sandra Rose|date=January 4, 2022|access-date=July 23, 2024}}

Samuels was married and divorced twice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/kevin-samuels-finally-canceled-190000680.html|title=When Will Kevin Samuels Finally Be Canceled?|first=Candace|last=McDuffie|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=May 2, 2022|accessdate=May 6, 2022|archive-date=May 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220514161734/https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/kevin-samuels-finally-canceled-190000680.html|url-status=dead}} He had one daughter in his first marriage.

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. According to the medical examiner's report, Samuels had hypertension, which contributed to his death.

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.

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFYxoCYQPP4|title=THERAPY THURSDAYS with DEVIN R. SAMUELS (Highlights)|publisher=YouTube|date=May 4, 2021|accessdate=July 31, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-UR_8zG1zU|title=ORLI ANROW - Young Kevin Samuels (Official Music Video) ft. @byKevinSamuels|publisher=YouTube|date=September 18, 2022|accessdate=July 31, 2023}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|7098576}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samuels, Kevin}}

Category:20th-century African-American people

Category:21st-century African-American people

Category:21st-century African-American male actors

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:1969 births

Category:2022 deaths

Category:Age controversies

Category:American marketing people

Category:Businesspeople from Atlanta

Category:Businesspeople from Oklahoma City

Category:Male critics of feminism

Category:University of Oklahoma alumni

Category:YouTubers from Oklahoma