Eugene Lee Yang
A filmmaker and activist who used viral comedy to champion LGBTQ+ visibility and challenge Asian-American stereotypes on a massive scale.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American filmmaker and internet personality·Birthday: January 18·Millennials
Biography
Eugene Lee Yang emerged from the digital trenches of BuzzFeed to become a defining creative force of the 2010s internet. At BuzzFeed, his sharp, cinematic video concepts broke the mold of listicle content, but it was as a co-founder of The Try Guys that he built an empire on earnest experimentation and unapologetic personality. Yang leveraged that platform with precision, using his signature deadpan humor and formidable dance skills to disarm audiences before delivering potent social commentary. His 2019 solo video, "I'm Gay," was a watershed moment—a stunning, self-directed piece of visual storytelling that blended personal narrative with political protest, viewed tens of millions of times. Beyond the laughs, he has consistently redirected his influence toward activism, supporting LGBTQ+ causes and advocating for diverse representation in media, proving that internet fame could be a conduit for substantive cultural change.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Eugene was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eugene Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Eugene's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded The Try Guys and its parent company 2nd Try LLC, building a multi-platform media brand from a BuzzFeed spin-off.
- Wrote, directed, and starred in the 2019 visual manifesto "I'm Gay," a viral music video that became a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ visibility online.
- Authored the #1 New York Times Best Seller "The Try Guys: The Hidden Power of Failing Up" in 2023.
- Directed and starred in the independent horror film "The Last of the Try Guys," showcasing his filmmaking ambitions beyond digital content.
Did You Know?
He is a trained animator and worked as a motion graphics artist early in his career.
He performed a choreographed dance routine in a hanbok (traditional Korean attire) in his "I'm Gay" video as a statement on cultural identity.
He provided the voice for the character Xian in the Netflix animated series "City of Ghosts."
He is an avid collector of vintage and designer toys and figurines.
““I am not a spokesperson for the gay community. I am a spokesperson for my own goddamn self.””
