Interviews

Pop Culturalist Chats with Roi Fabito (aka Guava Juice)

Roi Fabito is currently starring as “The Daredevil” in season three of the hit YouTube Premium series, Escape the Night. It’s a fitting character for the content creator who in real life could be described the same way. He left a successful partnership with Wasabi Productions—which at the time had 4.5 million subscribers and over 2 billion total views—to start his own venture. The result? The Guava Juice empire which includes a main channel with over 10 million subscribers, 4 billion total views, a video game which had over 120,000 downloads in its first week, and an exclusive toy line with Target.

PC: When did you first realize your passion for content creation?
Roi: I realized I love creating content when I took my parents’ video camera in the 7th grade. I grew up in Durham, North Carolina and there was literally nothing to do there. That camera was one of the only things I had to kill time and have fun with. I just became addicted to creating videos ever since that moment.

PC: Has your creative process changed over the years?
Roi: I started doing sketches and skits and then started doing experiments, challenges, and filling my bathtub with random things.

PC: If you had to choose a defining moment in your career, what would it be and why?
Roi: My defining moment was when I left my previous channel, Wassabi Productions, to start Guava Juice. That was the first time ever in my life where I was completely unsure and afraid of how everything would turn out, considering I left a successful channel with 4.5 million subscribers and 2 billion total views at the time. My mindset completely changed when that moment happened, and I have never ever worked so hard in my entire life. I wanted to get back to where I left off, but grow from there exponentially. I knew if I believed in myself and in my work, I could get there in no time.

PC: Were there any moments of self-doubt? How did you overcome them?
Roi: There were so many times during the early stages of Guava Juice where I doubted myself, and second-guessed whether leaving Wassabi Productions was the right choice. I knew practically that it wasn’t the best thing to do, but my happiness and dedication knew it was the best thing to do. I had never gotten so much hate and death threats when I started Guava Juice. I knew if I believed in my passion to make the channel successful, then everyone else watching would believe in me, too. I worked non-stop until my audience believed and enjoyed the content I was creating.

PC: What’s been your formula for success?
Roi: My formula is to always be consistent. You have to upload daily—don’t stop, keep uploading. If your content is crazy, fun, and silly, don’t stop being crazy, fun and silly.

PC: You recently released your own line of toys at Target. How did that come to fruition?
Roi: I wanted a way to share a piece of my personality and the creativity of my videos in real life. I want kids to feel how I feel whenever I make my videos and the perfect way to do this is to bring my personality into their homes with Guava Toys.


PC: You’re starring in season three of Escape the Night. How did you get involved with that series?
Roi: I wanted to be in it ever since I saw season one. Joey Graceffa followed me on Twitter and DM’d me out of nowhere and asked if I wanted to be on season three. I said, YES!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Roi: Terrace House

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Roi: 500 Days of Summer.

PC: Favorite book?
Roi: The Alchemist

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Roi: Hamilton

PC: Favorite social media platform?
Roi: Instagram

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Roi: Mason Ramsey

PC: Last show you binge-watched?
Roi: Westworld

PC: Hidden talent?
Roi: I can crack my big toes an unlimited amount of times.

Make sure to follow Roi on Twitter and Instagram, and Facebook, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

Kevin

Kevin is a writer living in New York City. He is an enthusiast with an extensive movie collection, who enjoys attending numerous conventions throughout the year. Say hi on Twitter and Instagram!

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