Rickey Thompson on His Rise & Fall, Toxic Relationships, Going Broke, & Finally Being Accepted
We Need To Talk with Paul C. BrunsonShow Notes
Vine made Rickey Thompson famous overnight, taking him from a bullied high school underdog to a sensation. But what really happened when he moved to Hollywood and the initial hype faded? Years later, he revisits his viral rise, the promises of LA, and the moments that changed his life in ways he never expected.
Rickey looks back at the trauma of growing up gay when his own father told him it was against the Bible, and the relentless bullying he endured while desperately dreaming of becoming an actor. He reflects on the whirlwind of sudden wealth, cashing a $50,000 check right out of high school, and the devastating reality check that followed when a four-year acting job came to an end. From being completely dropped by his agency and manager, to running out of money and being forced to move in with a friend, Rickey opens up about the darker reality of life after going viral. He reveals the moments he felt completely "over life," and how he had to lock himself in a room to rebuild his career from scratch on Instagram. Looking back at the videos where it all began, this is a raw and vulnerable look at the true cost of internet fame, told with the hindsight he never had at the time.
Rickey Thompson, We Need To Talk
Follow us here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX Brand partnerships enquiries: [email protected]
Follow Rickey here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickeythompson
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickeythompson
(00:00) Intro(02:08) Rickey Thompson's Childhood in North Carolina(03:42) Rickey's Childhood and Family(05:53) Rickey's Experience With Childhood Bullying(12:26) Rickey's Relationship With Religion(15:11) Advice to His Younger Self(17:01) Rickey's Childhood Dreams(18:44) Growing Up and Finding His Identity(22:38) How Rickey Became Famous on Vine(29:04) Touring and Moving to Los Angeles(36:10) Rickey's First Acting Role(38:44) Rickey Thompson's Coming Out Story(41:36) The Lowest Point of Rickey's Career(45:13) Rickey's Social Media Comeback(50:17) How His Parents' Divorce Affected Him(56:06) Huel Ad(57:16) Anthropic Ad(58:06) Cometeer Ad(59:10) How COVID Changed Rickey's Career(01:05:18) Rickey's Upcoming Film Role(01:09:20) Rickey's Dating History and Ex-Boyfriend(01:24:33) Rickey's Love of Fashion(01:27:55) Rickey Thompson at the Oscars(01:30:18) Most Memorable Conversation(01:33:08) Paul's Key Takeaways
Sponsored by:
Huel - http://uk.huel.com/WNTT use code WNTT for £10 off
Cometeer: https://cometeer.com/PAUL for $20 off your first order
Anthropic - https://www.claude.ai/talk
Sync-ID: MB01MZIO5KQM7XF
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson
Katie Price opens up about the childhood experiences that shaped her life before becoming Jordan, one of Britain's most recognisable celebrities. From growing up in Brighton to facing traumatic experiences and difficult early relationships, Katie reflects on how her past influenced her understanding of love, trust and self-worth.
The X Factor made Lucy Spraggan, Jahméne Douglas and Rak-Su’s Myles Stephenson famous overnight, but what really happened behind the scenes of Simon Cowell’s hit TV show? Years later, they revisit their iconic auditions, the promises of fame and the moments that changed their lives in ways they never expected.
In honour of Baby Loss Awareness Week, Olivia Bowen and Georgia Kousoulou discuss their deeply personal experiences of pregnancy loss, miscarriage and grief.
Fab Morvan opens up about the rise and fall of Milli Vanilli, winning a Grammy while hiding the truth behind their success, and the scandal that changed his life forever. He reflects on becoming a global superstar alongside Rob Pilatus, the pressure to maintain their image, and the decisions that would ultimately bring everything crashing down.
Nadiya Hussain opens up about the reality behind her extraordinary rise from home baker to one of Britain’s most recognisable TV personalities, and why success came with challenges she never expected.