Joey Graceffa

Joey Graceffa

Joey Graceffa speaking at the 2014 VidCon
Personal information
Born Joseph Michael Graceffa
(1991-05-16) May 16, 1991
Marlborough, Massachusetts
Nationality American
Website http://joeygraceffa.com/
YouTube information
Channel name JoeyGraceffa
Years active 2007–present
Genre vlogging, gaming
Subscribers 6 million subscribers (main) 1.48 million subscribers (gaming) (April 2016)
Total views

647 million views (main), 175 million views (gaming)

823 million views (combined main and gaming) (November 2015)
Associated acts Shane Dawson, Miranda Sings, Tyler Oakley

Joseph Michael "Joey" Graceffa (born May 16, 1991[1] ) is an YouTube personality. His two YouTube channels, JoeyGraceffa[2] and Joey Graceffa,[3] have a combined total of more than 850 million views. He was a contestant on 22nd and 24th seasons of The Amazing Race and has appeared in short films as well as television and web series.

Early life

Graceffa was born in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the son of Debbie O'Connor and Joe Graceffa. He has two siblings, a sister named Nicole and a half brother named Jett.[4][5] He graduated from Marlborough High School in 2009.[6] Graceffa attended Fitchburg State College intending to major in film, but left after one year.[4]

Career

2009–13: YouTube success and The Amazing Race

At age 17, Graceffa began uploading videos to YouTube on a channel known as WinterSpringPro, with his high school classmate and friend Brittany Joyal.[4][7] In 2009, he started posting videos on his own channel, called, JoeyGraceffa. In 2013, he joined the StyleHaul YouTube network.[8] Graceffa posts daily vlogs on his channel. As of April 2016, he had over 6 million subscribers and approximately 700 million total views on his main YouTube channel.[9] On a second YouTube channel focusing on his gaming, he had more than 1.4 million subscribers and approximately 200 million views, for a total of nearly 900 million views.[10] He also has more than 2.6 million Twitter followers[11] and more than 3.4 million instagram followers.[12]

In 2013, Graceffa and fellow YouTube personality Meghan Camarena were contestants on The Amazing Race 22.[13][14] The two made it to the tenth leg before being eliminated. Graceffa told an interviewer that "There were a lot of bad times but it was definitely good overall. It was an amazing experience, and I'd love to do it again."[15] The two later teamed up again to compete in The Amazing Race: All-Stars.[16]

2014-present: Films and In Real Life

In late 2013 and early 2014, Graceffa starred in his own web series titled Storytellers.[17][18] In 2014, Graceffa starred in his own short film titled Eon.[19] The same year Graceffa also starred in Ethereal alongside Joey Pollari. Throughout 2012 to 2014, Graceffa was in various BlackBoxTV short films. He was also a part of the Fine Brothers online series MyMusic throughout 2013 and 2014. Graceffa was nominated for two awards at the 2014 Teen Choice Awards.[20] He won "Best Male Actor in a Dramatic Web Series" at the 2014 Streamy Awards for his portrayal of Hunter Crowley in Storytellers.[21] Graceffa was named by Common Sense Media as one of "10 YouTube Stars Your Kids Love".[22]

In March 2015, Graceffa starred in an episode of the CONtv reality television project Fight of the Living Dead, created by fellow YouTube personality Justine Ezarik.[23][24]

On May 16, 2015 Graceffa released a song with an accompanying music video titled "Don't Wait" that was widely distributed on Twitter and other media to broadly positive comment. It tells a fantasy fairytale story that features goblins, a witch and a prince.[25] The video ends with Graceffa, dressed as a prince, kissing his male co-star. By December 2015, it had received more than 15 million views.[26][27] Graceffa confirmed on YouTube on May 18, 2015 that he is gay.[28] Graceffa stated that the reason he waited so long to come out online was because "there was a lot of hesitation to come out online because of growing up in my town: It wasn't acceptable to be gay; it was looked down upon." He also went on to state that after coming out, "I definitely feel more open and free with who I am, and I think that's inspired a lot of other people to also do the same and have come out to their friends and family."[29]

On May 19, 2015, Graceffa released a memoir titled In Real Life: My Journey to a Pixelated World, published by Simon & Schuster. In the book, he discusses being bullied and feeling lonely in school, his mother's alcoholism, his brother's autism, the beginnings of his YouTube career and his road to self-acceptance, among other topics.[30][31] His book was a New York Times Best Seller on the "celebrities" list in July 2015[32] and the cover was updated to acknowledge this achievement.[33]

On February 14, 2016, Graceffa announced that he has been in a relationship with Daniel Preda since July 2014 in a video titled "OUR LOVE STORY!" [34][35]

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2014
Eon Drifter Short film; also served as producer
Ethereal Zane Short film; also served as executive producer
Haunting Ian Ian Short film; also served as writer and executive producer
Story Tellers Hunter Tv mini series; also served as writer and executive producer
2016
Absolute Peril Jake Filming

Television

Year Film Role Notes
2013–
14		 The Amazing Race Himself Season 22 (10 episodes), Season 24 (3 episodes)
2015 Huge on the Tube Episode: "Joey Graceffa"
Influencer Journeys

Web

Year Film Role Notes
2012–present BlackBoxTV Hotel Employee #2 Episode: Silverwood: The Perfect Night
Adrian White Episode: Zombie
Not announced Episode: The Babysitter
Aaron Episode: The Fourth Door
2013–
14		 MyMusic Vampire Temp Recurring role; 6 episodes
2013–present Storytellers Hunter Crowley Main role; 6 episodes
Also executive producer, writer, and co-creator
Streamy Award for Best Actor in A Drama
Nominated—Streamy Award for Best Drama
2015 Fight of the Living Dead Himself Episode: "Pilot"

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

Year Song Album Ref.
2012 "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
(solo or duet with Luke Conard)		 N/A [36]
2013 "Kiss You"
(solo or duet with Luke Conard)		 [37]
"Anna Sun" [38]
"Story of My Life"
(with Luke Conard)		 [39]
2014 "Collar Full [40]
"Silver Lining" [41]
2015 "Don't Wait" [42]

Personal life

On February 14, 2016, Graceffa confirmed he is in a relationship with Daniel Preda.[43][44] The pair have been together since July 2014. He lives in Los Angeles, California[45] along with Preda and their two husky dogs, Wolf and Storm.[46]

Awards and nominations

Year Nominated Award Result
2014 Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Award for Choice Web Star: Male Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Award for Choice Web Star: Gaming Nominated
Streamy Awards Best Male Actor in a Dramatic Web Series – Storytellers Won
Streamy Awards Best Drama Series - Storytellers Nominated
2015 Teen Choice Awards Teen Choice Award for Choice Web Star: Male Nominated
2015 Streamy Awards Best Lifestyle Series Nominated

References

  1. ↑ "Famous Birthdays Today, May 16: Megan Fox, Joey Graceffa, Janet Jackson, Pierce Brosnan, Kelly Hyland, Tori Spelling". Yareah Magazine. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  2. ↑ "JoeyGraceffa". YouTube. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Joey Graceffa". YouTube. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 "Marlborough teens are a hit on YouTube". Wicked Local. October 29, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  5. ↑ Graceffa, Joey. "Draw My Life – Joey Graceffa". YouTube.com. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Marlborough High School Class of 2009". MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA.
  7. ↑ Blattberg, Eric. "Meet the YouTube 1 percent". Digiday. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
  8. ↑ "YouTube Star Joey Graceffa Joins StyleHaul". Tubefilter. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  9. ↑ Graceffa, Joey. JoeyGraceffa, YouTube, accessed January 9, 2016
  10. ↑ Graceffa, Joey. JoeyGraceffa, YouTube, accessed January 9, 2016; and Graceffa, Joey. "Joey Graceffa", YouTube, accessed January 9, 2016.
  11. ↑ Graceffa, Joey. Joey Graceffa, Twitter, accessed January 9, 2016
  12. ↑ Graceffa, Joey. JoeyGraceffa, Instagram, accessed January 9, 2016
  13. ↑ "YouTube personality Joey Graceffa to compete in ‘The Amazing Race’". Hypable. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  14. ↑ CBS. "The Amazing Race – Meet Joey and Meghan". YouTube.com. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  15. ↑ "'Amazing Race': Joey and Meghan on Their Elimination". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Amazing Race 24: All-Stars Cast". CBS. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  17. ↑ Wilken, Selina. "Featured web series: Storytellers is high-tension, imaginative storytelling". Hypable. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  18. ↑ Varrati, Michael. "Storytelling with a Superstar: A Conversation with Joey Graceffa". The Video Ink. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  19. ↑ Patel, Sahil. "Joey Graceffa Stars in New Short Film ‘Eon’". The Video Ink. Retrieved October 7, 2014.
  20. ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly. "Teen Choice Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Winners Announced for the 4th Annual Streamy Awards". Streamys.org. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  22. ↑ Knorr, Caroline. "10 YouTube Stars Your Kids Love". Common Sense Media. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  23. ↑ Vejoda, Jim. "Fight of the Living Dead Trailer Debut". IGN. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  24. ↑ Beard, Lanford. "iJustine Previews Zombie Reality Competition Fight of the Living Dead". People. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  25. ↑ Pittman, Taylor. "YouTube Star Joey Graceffa Comes Out As Gay In Magical Music Video", The Huffington Post, May 18, 2015
  26. ↑ Graceffa, Joey (May 16, 2015). "Don't Wait – Official Music Video". Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  27. ↑ DeSimone, Evan. "Joey Graceffa Comes Out In New Music Video". New Media Rockstars. Retrieved May 17, 2015.; and Lord, Emma. "Joey Graceffa Came Out In His Music Video For "Don't Wait," And It Is Basically the Millennial Fairy Tale We've All Been Waiting For". Bustle. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  28. ↑ Graceffa, Joey. Graceffa stated that he planned on coming out through his book, but decided to be more open to his whole audience rather than only the people who purchased the book. "Yes I'm Gay", YouTube, May 18, 2015
  29. ↑ Nelson, Jeff. "YouTube Star Joey Graceffa on Coming Out: 'I Felt Like I Was Hiding Such a Big Part of My Life'". People. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Authors: Joey Graceffa". Simon & Schuster. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  31. ↑ Laurence, Emily. "Joey Graceffa comes out as gay in new memoir", Metro International, May 19, 2015; Kowalski, Kristine Hope. "Joey Graceffa Shares How He Found Self-Acceptance", Twist magazine, May 19, 2015
  32. ↑ "Best Sellers - The New York Times". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Joey Graceffa on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  34. ↑ "OUR LOVE STORY!". YouTube. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  35. ↑ Pearl, Diana (2016-02-14). "YouTube's Joey Graceffa Introduces His Boyfriend for the First Time". People (magazine). Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  36. ↑ "iTunes - Music - We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together - Single by Luke Conard & Joey Graceffa". iTunes.
  37. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Kiss You - Single by Luke Conard & Joey Graceffa". iTunes.
  38. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Anna Sun - Single by Joey Graceffa". iTunes.
  39. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Story of My Life - Single by Joey Graceffa & Luke Conard". iTunes.
  40. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Collar Full - Single by Joey Graceffa". iTunes.
  41. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Silver Lining - Single by Joey Graceffa". iTunes.
  42. ↑ "iTunes - Music - Don't Wait - Single by Joey Graceffa". iTunes.
  43. ↑ OUR LOVE STORY!. February 14, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2016 – via YouTube.
  44. ↑ "Joey Graceffa on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  45. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMtxzQthtt8
  46. ↑ http://www.popsugar.com/pets/Joey-Graceffa-Dog-Wolf-39975282#photo-39975282

Further reading

External links

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