But ideally, you would think of two of your best gay best friends online who invite you over for some fun, and there you are, at their doorstep, looking for said good time. Instead, they tear into your look.
"Do you want some water? You look dehydrated."
They do it in such a well-meaning vocal fry that the shade is almost undetectable. And so it continues with this pair of gay besties on the internet, over and over and over, in varying scenarios that range from being your new realtors to attending your funeral.
But who exactly are these "mean gays"? Well, they're none other than Miami native Aaron Goldberg and Jake Jonez, who are most well-known to the internet and the world as the aptly named comedy pair, the Mean Gays. In addition to their digital conquest, the duo is currently on tour, stopping at the Palace Bar in Miami Beach on Saturday, December 28.
Goldberg and Jonez first met remotely during the 2020 pandemic. Each pursued their own online personality goals as self-proclaimed theater and film enthusiasts, but once they crossed paths on Instagram, they formed what would be a blossoming joint career journey by sliding into the DMs, the way they all start in this digital age.
"Before Jake, I honestly did not exist. I was more of a concept than a real person," Goldberg says jokingly over Zoom with New Times. "But once we met and the Mean Gays started, that's when I really started sculpting what it was like to write and produce sketch comedy on the internet."@aarongoldyboy Replying to @mariasoria164 ♬ original sound - Aaron Goldenberg
"Aaron was the one who reached out asking to collaborate first, and we both were kind of unsure of what that would even look like," Jonez adds. "But once we started making content together, we realized there was something really special there, and we knew we had to keep building on it."
That "something special" Jonez refers to is an internet act that has since garnered millions upon millions of views between TikTok and Instagram, along with a loyal fanbase of well over 500,000 followers. Perhaps the pair's most viral video is the one that started it all, a POV of two gay friends inviting you over for some fun, only to turn you somewhat politely away because you were, quite frankly, not what you looked like on your Grindr profile.
Navigating comedy in a hyper-online medium hasn't always been easy, Goldberg admits, especially when trying to understand how an algorithm can make some of their sketches more appealing to their audience than others. Even with the impending doom of TikTok, as it may be banned in the near future, both men are sure that they have a solid act — and friendship, for that matter — that can outlast a simple phone screen.
"When our 'Mean Gays Invite You Over' video started going crazy viral, spreading beyond our individual platforms and sparking all kinds of discourse and memes online, that's when I knew this was bigger than we ever anticipated. You can't manufacture that kind of natural virality and engagement," Goldberg says. "I think people relate to the characters we've created because we're tapping into those cringeworthy social situations we've all experienced, where someone says something cutting but tries to play it off as a joke. We're able to amplify that dynamic in a way that feels both relatable and cathartic for the audience."
Because of their internet virality, which has sustained for the better part of at least a year, the two decided to take the show on the road. It might be easy to think, How can two people who just make POV videos online make a 90-minute show out of that? But the duo would be the first to say it's a pretty common conversation they've had when booking venues.
"For our first live show, a lot of people were really unsure of what to expect. They were worried we would just stand on stage and make fun of the audience the whole time," Jonez admits. "But we've been able to expand on the narrative of these characters in a way that takes the audience on a full sketch-comedy roller coaster. It's not just Mean Gays sketches, but a really diverse mix of content that keeps people pleasantly surprised throughout the experience."@aarongoldyboy Such a steal! @Jake Jonez ♬ original sound - Aaron Goldenberg
"Jake and I are the type of people who, if we're going to do something, we really want to lean into it and maximize the experience," Goldberg adds. "So we've written, memorized, choreographed, and produced a show that takes the audience on a journey they weren't expecting from us as internet creators. The comments we've gotten after the shows have honestly been so flattering."
The whole experience has culminated in an upcoming performance at a staple in South Florida's LGBTQ community. Palace Bar, which is also gearing up for a majestic New Year's Eve, promises attendees that the comedy set on the rooftop won't be like an average comedy night.
"Guests attending the show can anticipate an unforgettable evening with a sophisticated setup and vibrant atmosphere, as well as during the entire New Year's week," says Palace Bar general manager AJ Prasaguet. "The venue boasts state-of-the-art sound and lighting, with stunning unobstructed city views, plus a welcoming space for socializing."
Goldberg, a Miami native, never went to Palace growing up but always admired what it represented for the community and the city at large. He even felt more comfortable coming out to his family and friends after seeing a comedy act, and he says it's hard to feel like the whole thing isn't meant to be.
"To be able to bring this show back to my hometown is really special," he says. "Palace is such an iconic venue, and I never had the chance to experience it myself when I was living there. So, to now be performing on that stage, it feels like this full-circle moment. I'm so honored that we get to bring this celebration of queer joy and comedy to a place that holds so much meaning for so many people."
The Mean Gays. 8 p.m. Saturday, at Palace Bar, 1052 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; 305-531-7234; palacesouthbeach.com. Tickets cost $50 to $90 via go-out.co.
