Rezo

Rezo is a German content creator, podcaster, musician, and entrepreneur who does not reveal his real name in public and currently resides in Aachen. Recognized for his blue-colored hair, he has built a presence on YouTube and appeared on entertainment television. In addition to his online content, he contributed a topical column to Zeit Online from 2019 to 2020 and co-hosts the podcast Hobbylos alongside Julien Bam.

Rezo was born in Wuppertal on 14 August 1992 and grew up in a Protestant pastor's family. He experienced bullying during his school years and underwent psychological treatment for a short time. Music provided him with an escape, and he played guitar in various bands from the age of 14 until shortly before finishing his higher education. He studied computer science with music as a minor at the Technical University of Dortmund, receiving support from the Dortmund Model SME Scholarship starting in 2015. He earned a bachelor's degree in 2013 and a Master of Science in 2016 with a thesis in graph theory.

Rezo maintains a straight edge lifestyle, refraining from intoxicants such as nicotine and cannabis, and publicly advocates for veganism. Although he does not describe himself as Christian, he says he has internalized Christian values. He attributes his eloquence to a culture of lively discussion at his childhood home, though he experiences occasional stuttering in live situations like panel discussions.

Rezo established his main YouTube channel in September 2012, focusing on music content including covers, mashups, remixes, and original performances, accumulating nearly 1.75 million users by 2019. To celebrate reaching one million subscribers in 2018, he created an ensemble music video for the song Hall of Fame featuring 100 YouTube creators. On his secondary channel, Rezo ja lol ey, he posts comedic and conversational videos with other online creators.

In May 2019, shortly before the European Parliament election, Rezo published a 54-minute video titled Die Zerstörung der CDU on his secondary channel. Citing 247 scientific references, he criticized the governing CDU/CSU and SPD on climate policy, internet censorship, wealth inequality, and war, while warning against the right-wing populist AfD. The video received over 13 million views within eleven days and initiated extensive public debate.

The political impact of the video and the subsequent choices of young voters became known as the "Rezo effect." Days before the vote, Rezo joined over 90 creators in a follow-up video asking voters not to support the CDU/CSU or SPD. The viral video prompted significant responses across the political landscape, including public discussions from CDU leadership regarding campaign opinion regulation.

In September 2019, Rezo won a Goldene Kamera Digital Award as a special jury prize. He has continued to release commentary on political subjects, including videos on the climate crisis and public criticism of political responses to events such as the Halle synagogue shooting.