Larry Owens is a multi-hyphenate millennial living on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He’s an actor, writer, singer, and comedian currently writing for truTV’s new game show Paid Off. Check out his website www.larryowenslive.com and social media @larryowenslive for live performances.
How would you describe your Twitter to someone who’s never seen it before?
My tweets are best described as queer intersectional graffiti on patriarchal media systems. I like to “punch up” while “dressing down.” And I’m also on a mission to find a Twitter bae!
My boyfriend is Turkish (but can pass for white), he’s an instagram model, and he can SING!
— Larry Owens (@larryowenslive) January 8, 2018
Social media is the perfect place to flaunt your success…or lack thereof. In this recurring “My boyfriend is…” series I like to describe how my boyfriend is the total package even though he doesn’t exist. Think of this as an Instagram photo of me cuddled in his arms that you “like” without thinking about it.
What’s the closest you’ve gotten to finding a Twitter bae?
In a matter of distance: 0 kilometers. DMs remain open.
being a black comedian is hard as fuck. i be halfway through a bit full committed and then im like “how does this fit into the context of my body inside of the construct of the black experience as exhibited through the black diaspora as a homosexual black person representing the” — Larry Owens (@larryowenslive) February 13, 2018
Black Panther recently made this tweet irrelevant because it brought all sorts of intersectionality to the consumption of the black experience. But this is also funny because it’s true. Like, do white guys think of the implications of their comedy on their entire race? I do and it’s stresses me out!!!!!!
How seriously do you think about the implications of your comedy in real life, vs online?
I don’t think about it. I let the audience imply whatever they wish—I would never want to take that power away from them.
one step closer to being the first overweight gay black man on television not wearing a mumu
— Larry Owens (@larryowenslive) February 9, 2018
I often take meetings where I’m asked to compare myself to a huge star that I wish to emulate. Sadly, there aren’t enough representations of gay black men so I want to be one of the first. And, no, I’m not queer shaming, I actually love boys in dresses. I just prefer an oversized Elaine Stritch-style oxford shirt masquerading as muumuu for myself.
What’s a role you would love to have?
In the movie Lady Bird the high school musical is a Sondheim show called Merrily We Roll Along – I want to play Charley Kringas in that onstage or on film.
“LOOK OUT CAUSE HERE I COME” -kids playing hide and seek Also: an greatest showman lyric — Larry Owens (@larryowenslive) January 9, 2018
I love musical theatre because it’s so easy to make fun of but it also makes me happy AF.
How is your voice on Twitter different from your voice in real life? or is it the same?
In my acts I’m normally singing but on the internet I actually have to write.
Photo by Kristina Stefanelli.
Karen Chee is a is a writer/performer who contributes regularly to The New Yorker and McSweeney’s.
