Tyler Oakley

Mathew Tyler Oakley is an American digital content creator, author, actor, television personality, and activist. He gained widespread recognition as a pioneering online vlogger, posting material focused on pop culture, humor, and social issues. In addition to his entertainment career, Oakley is known for his extensive advocacy centered on LGBTQ rights, education, healthcare, and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth.

Oakley was born on March 22, 1989, in Jackson, Michigan, and grew up alongside twelve siblings. Following his parents' divorce during his infancy, he later relocated to Okemos, Michigan, where he participated in drama and choir. During his adolescence, he dealt with bulimia nervosa and came out as gay while in high school. He attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree covering communication, marketing, and social media. While in college, he experienced a period of severe depression and suicidal ideation following a relationship breakup.

During his freshman year in 2007, Oakley began posting videos on YouTube to stay connected with high school friends attending different institutions. After graduating, he moved to San Francisco, California, working as a social media manager while continuing to upload videos after work shifts. His channel gained significant momentum through content addressing pop culture topics such as Glee, Lady Gaga, and One Direction, along with collaborations with creators like Troye Sivan, Connor Franta, Grace Helbig, Zoella, and Hannah Hart. He reached one million subscribers in 2012, co-hosted PopSugar's news update Top That! in 2013, interviewed One Direction, and was featured in the 2014 Frontline report Generation Like.

Oakley expanded into other media projects, launching the podcast Psychobabble in 2014 with Korey Kuhl and embarking on an international live show tour titled Tyler Oakley's Slumber Party. In 2014, he met President Barack Obama and collaborated on an educational video with First Lady Michelle Obama. He published his essay collection, Binge, through Simon & Schuster in 2015, which became a New York Times bestseller. That same year, he released the documentary film Snervous. Oakley later hosted The Tyler Oakley Show on ellentube in 2016, interviewed political candidate Hillary Clinton, released an eyewear line with Warby Parker, and created the 2017 online series Chosen Family.

On television, Oakley made appearances on Insider Tonight, guest-hosted MTV's Catfish: The TV Show in 2015, and competed twice on The Amazing Race alongside Kuhl, finishing third in season 28 and second in season 31. His screen credits also include Escape the Night and RuPaul's Drag Race. In December 2020, he announced an indefinite break from YouTube, transitioning primarily to streaming on Twitch.

Oakley has maintained long-term involvement with The Trevor Project, having interned there in 2009, co-hosted its annual TrevorLIVE event starting in 2011, and raised over $1 million for the organization. His work has earned recognition including GLAAD's Davidson/Valentini Award in 2015, Attitude's Young Hero Award in 2016, inclusion in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in 2017, and induction into the VidCon Hall of Fame in 2025.