Robert Anderson is an American internet personality and comedian. Based in New York City, he became known on TikTok for his Gay Science series, which satirizes LGBT stereotypes and was made into his book Gay Science: The Totally Scientific Examination of LGBTQ+ Culture, Myths, and Stereotypes (2024), and his recaps of the television series 7th Heaven.
Rob Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 or 1988 (age 36–37)[1] |
| Other names | Heartthrobert |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2020–present |
TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 2.5 million |
| Likes | 99.7 million |
Last updated: August 6, 2024 | |
Life and career
editAnderson was raised on the Jersey Shore.[2] Growing up, Anderson attended a Christian school and frequently performed in musicals during his adolescence.[3] After graduating from college, Anderson moved to Chicago, where he was inspired by the first two films in the Scary Movie film series and the television series Strangers with Candy to pursue comedy.[4] There, he performed improv comedy for seven years, including with the iO Theater, Annoyance Theatre, and The Second City.[5] He also competed on the reality competition series Capture in 2013.[6]
Anderson started his personal TikTok account, @Heartthrobert, in late 2019 while living in New York City. He also posted TikTok videos for the food review company The Infatuation, one of which, about granola bars "going everywhere", was posted in 2020 and became popular.[7] His parody of Charlotte Awbery singing the song "Shallow" from the movie musical A Star Is Born went viral and he was soon signed to United Talent Agency.[8] He was nominated for the award for Favorite TikToker at the 2021 Queerties.[9] He started doing stand-up comedy in May 2022.[3] By June 2022, he had over two million followers on TikTok.[1] That same month, he narrated an advertisement for Postmates's "bottom menu" for Pride Month.[10] He released his debut single, "Nothing for You", a comedy song about sexual submission, in September 2022. He went on a national comedy tour, the Heartthrob Live tour, throughout 2022.[11][12] Also in 2022, he released his second single, "Is Your Boyfriend Single?", and published the satirical picture book The Fergamerican National Anthem, about Fergie's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.[3][12] He was also nominated for the award for Best Comic at the 2023 Queerties.[13]
Anderson began posting comedic recaps of the WB television series 7th Heaven in March 2023, which broadened his audience online.[14][15][16] His video about Mama Bear of the children's book series Berenstain Bears being an "almond mom", posted in July 2023, also went viral.[17] He also co-hosted the WOW Presents Plus series Glam Slam with Monét X Change.[18] Anderson's satirical social media series Gay Science, which uses fake science to explain the behaviors behind LGBT stereotypes, began in 2020 with a video of him describing why gay men prefer coffee iced rather than hot.[19][7][20] His book Gay Science: The Totally Scientific Examination of LGBTQ+ Culture, Myths, and Stereotypes was published by Penguin Random House in June 2024.[8][7]
Public image and personal life
editRebecca Alter of Vulture praised Anderson's 7th Heaven recaps on TikTok as "painfully funny" and called them "hyper-shortform".[21] Elle Canada's Nancy Pierri wrote in 2021 that Gay Science had "received a ton of praise" on TikTok.[22] Bernardo Sim of Pride called Anderson "one of the most popular gay comedians on social media" in 2022.[23]
Anderson has stated that he has mild pectus excavatum.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Macias, Ernesto (June 3, 2022). "Will Bottoms Survive the Apocalypse? @Heartthrobert Has Answers". Interview. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Nunn, Jerry (May 17, 2024). "Rob Anderson teaches some lessons in 'Gay Science'". Windy City Times. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Sichinava, Nino (October 28, 2022). "Interview | Rob Anderson". Schön!. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Cook, Michael (June 12, 2022). "Rob Anderson Finds His Pride In Taking Risks With His Comedy". Instinct. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Gomis Expósito, Adrián (June 21, 2022). "Rob Anderson: The pathway to success". Sicky. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ "Kosior '10 competes on new survival reality show 'Capture'". Princeton Alumni Weekly. July 10, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b c Duffy, Steve (June 20, 2024). "Rob Anderson Debunks Stereotypes with 'Queer Science' (And Makes Us Laugh)". Edge Media Network. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Reynolds, Daniel (June 26, 2024). "In 'Gay Science,' satire meets the scientific method". Out. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "The Queerties 2021 / Favorite Tiktoker Winners". Queerty. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Iovine, Anna (June 9, 2022). "Postmates releases 'bottom menu' for Pride". Mashable. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Kelleher, Patrick (September 10, 2022). "TikTok heartthrob on epic gay science videos and his big sub anthem". PinkNews. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Donovan, Joshua (October 19, 2022). "Viral Comedian Rob Anderson Embarks On 'Heartthrob Live' Tour". DNA. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Giardina, Henry (January 29, 2023). "Make 'em laugh: Presenting the Queerties 2023 nominations for best Comic". Queerty. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ McClain Merrill, Allison (June 9, 2023). "Former '7th Heaven' Fans Are Revisiting the Show's Most Absurd Plot Lines on TikTok". Glamour. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Ashcraft, Kady Ruth (May 23, 2023). "Revisiting '7th Heaven' Through TikTok Has Been a Joy". Jezebel. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Rob Anderson knows you think he's annoying". Los Angeles Blade. April 20, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ McGuire, Jen (July 21, 2023). "Viral TikTok Breaks Down Why Mama From 'The Berenstain Bears' Was Totally An Almond Mom". Romper. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Cook, Michael (April 15, 2024). "Rob Anderson Brings His Patented Brand of 'Gay Science' To The Masses With New Book". OutSFL. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Song, Sandra (July 12, 2022). "Rob Anderson on Subverting Queer Stereotypes". Paper. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Bergman, S. Bear (July 21, 2023). "'Dungeons and Drag Queens' and country music without the gun-toting hate top the QCC playlist this week". Xtra. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Alter, Rebecca (July 7, 2023). "The Youtube TV-Recap Canon". Vulture. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Pierri, Nancy (July 28, 2021). "15 LGBTQIA2S+ Content Creators You Should Be Following". Elle Canada. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ^ Sim, Bernardo (August 25, 2022). "Comedy Heartthrob Rob Anderson On Why He's Not Afraid To Get Stupid". Pride. Retrieved August 7, 2024.