Vitus Spehar, better known as V Spehar, is an American journalist and podcast host best known for their TikTok account, UnderTheDeskNews.[1]
V Spehar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 5, 1982 |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Known for | Political Activism, News |
| Spouse | Natalie Spehar |
TikTok information | |
| Page | |
| Followers | 3.2M |
| Likes | 210.3M |
Last updated: December 1, 2024 | |
Career
editBefore entering journalism, Spehar worked in the culinary and hospitality industries in New York City, Tampa, Florida, and Washington DC.[2] This included working at catering companies, the James Beard Foundation[3] and Hungry Harvest, an organization which addresses food insecurity.[1][4] Their first TikTok videos focused on preparing and cooking food during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5]
During the January 6 Insurrection in 2021, Spehar created a short video addressed to then-Vice President Mike Pence while lying under a desk.[4][6] The video took off, and Spehar continued to make videos focusing on explaining current events simply.[4]
After UnderTheDeskNews gained popularity, Spehar was hired to oversee the Los Angeles Times' TikTok account for six months.[1][6] They also signed with Lemonada Media to produce V Interesting, a weekly podcast which expanded Spehar's news coverage, which launched in 2022.[1][2][7]
Spehar attended VidCon in June 2022.[4] The following month, they received a New York Commendation Award for their journalistic efforts.[8] In September 2022 Spehar appeared on the Today Show.[9] By October 2022, Spehar's TikTok had 2.7 million followers.[10][11] That same month, Spehar was one of several TikTok influencers to be invited to attend briefings at the White House on the Inflation Reduction Act and on encouraging voter turnout for the 2022 Midterm Elections.[10][11] Barack Obama worked with the invitees to create videos encouraging voter turnout.[12][13] In November 2022 Spehar covered the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on their and NBC's TikTok accounts.[14] In March 2023 Spehar attended the congressional hearing on the RESTRICT Act, during which they sat directly behind Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok. Spehar criticized the proposed act both on their TikTok account and in-person at a press conference hosted by Rep. Jamaal Bowman the day before the hearing.[15][16][17][18]
In late March Spehar appeared as a guest of Mercury Stardust's 30-hour livestream, which in total raised more than $2 million for transgender healthcare.[19]
In April 2023 Spehar received a Webby Special Achievement Award.[20][21]
Personal life
editSpehar, who is originally from Shelton, Connecticut, has lived in Rochester, New York since 2020.[2][8] Spehar is nonbinary, uses they/them pronouns, and has dyslexia.[4][22]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Hale, James (2022-09-21). "Creators On The Rise: V Spehar on accidentally becoming TikTok's No. 1 newscaster". Tubefilter. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c Wexler, Matthew (2 February 2023). "What does the queer movement look like from under a desk?". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
- ^ "V Spehar". James Beard Foundation. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c d e f Rosenblatt, Kalhan (24 June 2022). "UnderTheDeskNews on their first VidCon ever". NBC News. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Adamczeski, Ryan (23 January 2023). "TikTok Star V Spehar on Making Current Events More Digestible". Advocate Channel. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b Druscovich, Magali; Dang, Sheila (2023-06-15). "News junkies turn to TikTok to chart new paths in media". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
- ^ de Luna, Elizabeth (2022-10-13). "What's on TikTok news whiz V Spehar's For You Page?". Mashable. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b Gandy, George (2022-07-14). "Local TikTok star receives NYS Commendation Award". RochesterFirst. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ "How this TikTok star became a trusted source of news for millions". TODAY.com. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b Sprunt, Barbara (9 October 2022). "The White House is turning to TikTok stars to take its message to a younger audience". National Public Radio. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Inside Democrats' elaborate attempt to woo TikTok influencers". Washington Post. 27 October 2022. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Forward, Devon (6 November 2022). "How Barack Obama Is Encouraging People to Vote on TikTok". Parade: Entertainment, Recipes, Health, Life, Holidays. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Pandolfo, Chris; Conklin, Audrey (2022-11-02). "Barack Obama teams with TikToker Vitus Spehar's 'Under the Desk News' for get-out-the-vote push". New York Post. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ @vitusspehar (23 November 2022). "Join me tomorrow on @tiktok_us at 8AM EST for behind the scenes coverage of the Macy's #ThanksgivingDay Parade streaming on @NBCUniversal and Under The Desk News channels". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Silberling, Amanda (2023-03-25). "'So infuriating': TikTokers are fuming over potential ban". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-04-04.
- ^ Racker, Mini (2023-03-23). "Inside the Influencer Campaign to Save TikTok in Washington". Time. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ Bastow, Keely (2023-03-23). "TikTokers Came to Capitol Hill to Speak Out Against a Possible App Ban". Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ Rosenblatt, Kalhan (22 March 2023). "'Don't take away the community that we've built': Creators protest potential TikTok ban in D.C." NBC News. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ Jaeckels, Beck. "TikTokers are hosting a 30-hour livestream to raise money for trans healthcare — they hit $1 million in just 6 hours". Insider. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- ^ "Under the Desk News". The Webby Awards. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (2023-04-25). "Variety Wins Three 2023 Webby Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
- ^ Ring, Trudy (2021-12-17). "Nonbinary TikToker Takes Biden to Task on Student Loan Record". Advocate. Retrieved 2023-01-27.