In this episode of Entertainment Unscripted, the contributor to the Podcast Celina Landero Valenzuela sits with Chad Johnson – a content creator, an athlete and a sign language educator with more than 1.6 million Tiktok followers. Chad opens the way a friend encouraged him to share ASL online, how he apparently became viral overnight and what is to represent the United States national football team. To dispel the myths on the identity of the deaf people in reverie in the modeling scene of Los Angeles, Chad brings an overview, humor and heart to this great conversation.
Mia Fernandez: Hello everyone, and welcome to unicenized entertainment! Today, the contributor to the podcast Celina Landero Valenzuela is joined by Chad Johnson, a creator of content that teaches sign language on his social media platforms. They will discuss Chad’s experience as a public personality and its objectives for the future.
Celina Landero Valenzuela: Welcome, Chad! How are you doing?
Chad Johnson: I’m fine, thank you for doing me.
Clv: Do you want to talk to us a bit about you?
CJ: Yeah! My name is Chad Johnson. I was born and I grew up in Los Angeles, California, and I am difficult to hear – Deaf. I wear two hearing aids in my ears.
Clv: All right. I want to ask – what inspired you to start creating content on Tiktok and the other platforms you are?
CJ: Yes, so I teach sign language on all my platforms. What brought me was my friend Shaheem. He continued to push me to start, but I did it at the beginning. One day, I just made a video, and the next thing I know, I started to get all these subscribers and the attention I was not used to. I struck a million followers in two weeks – it was crazy.
I never imagined myself by publishing sign language content like my niche. In fact, I learned sign language when I went to Gallaudet University in Washington, DC – a deaf university. All those who go there and do not already know the sign must learn it.
Before that, I grew up in the hearing world, speaking. It was my first interaction with other deaf and hard of hearing people like me.
Clv: How old are you then?
CJ: I was 20 years old.
Clv: And is it when you started to do content?
CJ: No, it came later. I started creating content around 22 or 23.
Clv: So, did it just happen now?
CJ: Yeah! Someone asked for a video, I did it, it exploded – then people continued to ask more in the comments. So I ran with it. I’ve been doing it since.
Clv: So, you are one of those creators who have not decided to become viral – it happened, then you continued to get involved with your audience?
CJ: Exactly. He became viral and I remained coherent. This is what people like – not someone who publishes at random, but someone who presents himself every day. They learn something daily, laughing and the comments are always authentic. This kind of feedback really makes my day.
Clv: I saw you on Tiktok, Instagram and Youtube. Where can we find you else?
CJ: I am also on Twitter and Facebook.
Clv: What is your favorite platform?
CJ: Tiktok for sure. This is where I started and he has all kinds of videos that you do not see elsewhere. I also modify everything there. This is definitely the number one for me.
Clv: And Tiktok is where you have the most followers, right?
CJ: Yes, 1.6 million.
Clv: Do you get a lot of DMS?
CJ: Oh yes, every day. Some are super authentic – people thank me because they can now communicate better with the deaf or friends and family. Others are just people who get their blows … sometimes saying wild stuff. It really varies!
Clv: You are also a football player, right?
CJ: Yes – I play for the national male football team of the deaf American. It is like the regular national team, but for the deaf and the hearing impaired who meet the criteria. We travel internationally to compete.
Clv: Does one of your teammates create content?
CJ: No, just me. But they call me “M. famous “or” King Bavard “. However, I include them in some of my videos – teach football panels and share our language with public and football fans.
Clv: What is the biggest false idea of the deaf community?
CJ: A big one is that people assume that deaf people cannot speak. And also the term “badly” – many people don’t like that. He supervises deafness as a handicap negatively. Personally, I am not offended, but it is something on which I try to educate people, because saying it to the bad person can be hurtful.
Clv: Where do you see yourself in a few years?
CJ: I did not think so far in advance, but I would certainly like to enter the modeling and the game.
Clv: You are at – This is the ideal place to do it!
CJ: Exactly. This is why I build my page, I network and I put there.
Clv: Have producers or brands contacted?
CJ: Some, but many are far away. I have to take the initiative more and introduce myself. It’s difficult in Los Angeles – nothing is free, and there is a lot of competition. But I will continue.
Clv: Did you mention earlier than you go to Tokyo?
CJ: Yeah! We qualified for the deaf Olympic Games. Last year, we went to Brazil, and now we head to Tokyo for about three weeks. We have five training camps before that – the goal is to gain gold.
Clv: How was it when Tiktok was almost prohibited?
CJ: I was panicked! People told me to move to other applications as favorites, but it was not the same atmosphere. I rushed to publish everything in my drafts. I didn’t want to lose all this work.
Clv: Do you always do content on a trip?
CJ: Of course. I will make videos with teammates, show football panels, make vlogs – a day in the life of the national team of the deaf.
Clv: Do you change your own videos?
CJ: Yeah. Edition is easy for me now.
Clv: How many videos do you do per day?
CJ: When I exploded for the first time, I would make 20 videos per day and published three times a day. Now I post once a day to keep energy and content.
Clv: Is there a better day to publish?
CJ: Depends on the content, but I would say Friday or Saturday. Some people love Mondays, however, this varies.
Clv: Do you already adapt content to specific countries or cultures according to your subscribers?
CJ: Not really. I post everything I vibe. But my audience is super loyal and diversified – all age groups, all over the world. It’s wild.
Clv: It was so incredible. Thank you for taking the time to be here and to share your story with us and with the UCLA.
CJ: Of course! Thank you very much for doing me.