Today we’d like to introduce you to Chay Lee
Hi Chay, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Sure thing—I started out as a TV news reporter for an ABC affiliate in a small town in Virginia. Being on air was a dream come true, but it had its challenges—especially as a Black man ( that’s a whole other story) —and I was reporting on the tough stuff and I was a one man band, shooting, editing, and reporting. So, I decided to shake things up and move to New York City. I landed at Viacom, working with MTV, BET, and VH1, which was a blast. I got to create fun content and just enjoy the process. And I started doing stand up comedy which I have done on and off over the years.
Then, I discovered branded content and had the chance to work with some amazing brands like Chevy, Coca-Cola, and New Amsterdam Vodka. It was cool to see how content could be both fun and impactful. After that, I was recruited to co- run TBWA\Chiat\Day’s cultural content studio, Backslash in Los Angeles where made daily culturally relevant content. It was so cool to learn the advertising business while also making engaging video content– a great experience that led to even more awesome projects. I got the chance to work as writer at Harbeat, Kevin Hart’s Agency, a creative producer at Maximum Effort, Ryan Reynold’s creative agency, and I just wrapped up producing/ directing a series called “Check The Tech” for iONE Digital highlighting, Black innovators in tech. I did spend some time at Revolt, Puff’s music network. The only Diddy party I went to was our Christmas party at Dave and Busters–and it was lit.
Currently I have really been in my content creator bag. I’m part of TikTok’s Creators Program, doing daily comedic news updates and I just launched a YouTube channel called “The Black Joy Club,” where I celebrate Black people and culture. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m loving every minute of it! And I co host a comedy show every 4th Saturday at the Glendale Room here in LA.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The path of a creative person is never smooth, and mine’s been no exception. When I left the news, I hit a major identity crisis—wondering what was next. But I made a promise to myself: I was going to have fun making making things. May sound a bit juvenile but that’s been my guiding light ever since.
I’ve never been one to play it safe. Which means I have taken some risks… which means I’ve had my share of ups and downs, including times when I was out of work. But the upside? I’ve been able to travel the world, create cool stuff, and live life on my own terms. No regrets.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In the words of the great Mason Betha “I do what I’m doing but I do it like I’m doing it for TV”. Sorry—those lines cracks me up and this felt like the only time I could use it in an interview. Well, I’ve got a ton of slashes—because, you know, it’s LA, and who doesn’t?
If I had to sum it up, I’d say I’m a producer/content creator/director. I’ve told long form and short form stories across pretty much every format you can think of. What sets me apart, though, is my background in journalism—it’s made me a strong storyteller. And because I do comedy, I love to infuse humor in what I do.
But beyond that, I lead with empathy. That’s a huge part of who I am and comes partly from my Christian faith. It’s what helps me bring teams together and get everyone on the same page. At the end of the day, whether it’s making people laugh or building a team, it’s all about connection. That’s what I do. Word.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Mannnn listen…I think AI is coming for us all. I had AI answer all these questions. I kid, but I do think it’s coming after the creative industry. Thats why I think that people who are able to “productize themselves” are going to be able to win.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thechaylee.com
- Instagram: newsguychay
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chay-lee-creative/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackjoyclub
