The sold-out crowd at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium was buzzing Thursday night with excited chatter and thrilling anticipation. Every seat in MemAud was filled with every patron waiting for one person: Brittany Broski.
The electrifying energy hit a peak when the lights dimmed and “Vroom Vroom” by Charli XCX blared on the speakers. Broski came out on stage, grooving to the song and waving to fans. The music, however, had competition and was eventually drowned out to the sound of thunderous applause and screams, but also something else: monkey noises.
The hoots, reminiscent of a sound a baboon might make, could have been interpreted as odd to an outsider, but were natural for Brittany Broski fans, also known as Broski Nation.
“Damn, every person in Ohio is here,” Broski said, immediately getting the crowd laughing.
Broski, whose real name is Brittany Tomlinson, is a 27-year-old comedian and Internet personality. A Dallas native, she first entered the internet creator sphere when a video of her trying kombucha for the first time went viral in 2019. At the time, she was working as a bank employee and was eventually fired due to her growing social media presence.
The termination turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as she now has over seven million followers on TikTok and almost two million on Instagram. In addition to posting consistently on social media, Broski has her own podcast, The Broski Report with Brittany Broski, and is the host of a medieval-themed talk show, Royal Court.
Broski has cultivated the reputation of a skilled interviewer, with star-studded names such as Cole Sprouse, Charli XCX, Josh Gad and Aaron Taylor-Johnson all appearing as guests on Royal Court. Additionally, Broski has hosted a multitude of red carpets and even attended the Paris Olympics as a Team USA Creator.
The event in MemAud was put on by OHIO Live & Rams Head Group Present and was marketed as “An Evening of Conversation and Laughter with Brittany Broski.” The ticket prices ranged from $35-$55, and they quickly sold out after going on sale Jan. 15.
Elizabeth Hendrickson, a journalism professor and Director of Studies in the Honors Tutorial College, was the moderator and was tasked with interviewing Broski.
Hendrickson, whose background is in entertainment journalism, was well-equipped for the job and facilitated a flowing conversation that also highlighted Broski’s comedic flair.
Known for her authenticity as well as the ability to talk about a multitude of topics, Broski touched on everything from body positivity to fairy smut to the Russian Revolution.
The conversation started with the topic of college and how life while enrolled in university is a distinctive experience.
“I think that some of the stuff I really loved about college, other than being hungover and sleeping in, was waking up and wanting to learn, and I still feel that way now,” Broski said.
An advocate for lifelong learning, Broski often uses her podcast to discuss concepts and subjects that interest her. These talking points include etymology, art history, astronomy, linguistics, consumerism and critical theory. She also regularly uses her platform to discuss politics and current events.
“We’re going through an illiteracy crisis, but I have the utmost faith we’re going to change the world,” she said.
Broski also discussed the challenges of navigating being in the public eye.
“My number one tip of self care and boundaries is stop talking,” she said. “I’m in the business of talking and sharing my thoughts, but maybe you don’t need to give your thoughts on everything.”
The conversation ebbed and flowed between serious and silly. Broski touched on her struggles with accepting her body, but also gave insight on who would be invited to her hypothetical historical figures dinner. The answer? Robert Downey Jr., George Orwell, Princess Diana and Amy Winehouse all would be in attendance.
Hendrickson was also able to play off Broski’s buoyant energy with a few witty remarks of her own.
“I’m really putting these transitions on you, girl,” Broski said after forgetting an initial question.
“Not in this state,” Hendrickson quipped back.
This exchange was met with an initial collective gasp from the crowd followed by laughs and applause.
After the event, Hendrickson said she had a blast interviewing Broski and was a fan of her authenticity.
“I just find her to be an incredibly compelling and refreshing person,” she said. “She’s somebody people can relate to. Really smart, cool, young people relate to her, and I love that.”
Hendrickson said Broski made her job easy and the entire experience was very enjoyable.
“It was just really comfortable, and I could have kept going easily for hours,” she said. “She’s just fabulous.”
Lauren Carmichael, a hairstylist from Columbus, made the drive down to Athens to see Broski live. Carmichael was one of the lucky few chosen from the crowd to ask Broski a question directly. A long-time fan, she was still recovering from the adrenaline-inducing moment after the show ended.
“I would like everyone to know I’m still shaking,” she said. “I have been so obsessed with her for years now, and I love her so much.”
Max Cartwright, a junior studying media and social change, said he doesn’t watch Broski’s content a lot, but still had a lot of fun at the event.
“I do like that she can be both serious and funny at the same time,” he said.
As the event wrapped up, attendees did not seem to want the night to end, with many yelling out invitations to grab drinks as well as some last minute questions. Broski left her fans with one parting remark that was true to her brand as a comedian.
“I’m going to go piss out the rest of this Red Bull, and I love y’all,” she said.
