Meet James Butler

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Butler.

James, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
How did I get to where I am today? Being open to learning lessons along the way, especially in the scariest, darkest, hardest times.

My upbringing was different. I was born in Maryland and raised by my biological parents together until they split up when I was like six. We moved to South Carolina at some point during those years and when they split, my dad went back to Maryland and I went with him. We ended up becoming homeless. We slept outside, in abandoned trailers, shelters and families couches. Some of the locals would refer to us as “Pursuit of Happiness” even. It got pretty bad but I somehow always found joy in everyday life. If there was music playing, there wouldn’t be a problem in the world to me.

When I was 8/9, my mom came to Maryland and brought me back to Boston. Unfortunately, shortly after I was put into foster care as my mom was recovering from her alcoholism. A year later, in 2010, she passed a way to cancer. My life changed forever. I’m a mommy’s boy so losing her so unexpectedly was the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life. I felt like I lost a part of me for some time. Then she became my driving force and inspiration for everything that I do. My mom was a nurse, a giver, a philanthropist. Everybody loved her, she lit up the room everywhere she went. Never afraid to start a conversation or breakout into dance! She was the kind of woman that would give her last to those she loves, to make sure they’re okay too.

I found dance during this time, it saved my life. My DSS social worker suggested since I wasn’t into sports that I try chorus or musical theater. I grew up singing in the Church so up chorus and musical theater and started dancing in 5th grade when I was 9! I trained competitively as a dancer until I was 16. I won prestigious awards all around the east coast and got accepted into elite dance programs like the School of American Ballet theater. From the age, nine-to-fifteen, after living in roughly fifteen foster homes and three-to-four group homes; my dance teacher adopted me at fifteen. Dance seemed like it was going to be my ticket into college but ever since I was a young boy being a talk show host, actor, and singer was always the dream job. Oprah has been my inipo since I was like six. Seeing someone on TV who went through so much but still so willing to help heal and give to others is amazing to me. We are both Aquarius so she gets me.

I started my Youtube Channel when I was 15 to practice and get ready for my dream talk show one day. I knew since I was six, I wanted to move to LA after I graduated High School. In 2016, I applied to many schools for Broadcasting Communication Radio and Television and got accepted to my top choice PACE University in NYC. I deferred to PACE and moved to LA a week after graduation with a loose plan but a big dream, passion, and resilience.

After nearly a year of being in LA while working at Zara and restlessly trying to get signed to a modeling and acting agency, I woke up one day to my first viral video. My life changed forever. A few months before that day, I filmed a conversation between me and my biological father after ten years of neglected communication. A sharing stories on YouTube of growing up in foster care, losing my mom to cancer, etc. I wanted to talk to my dad for some self-healing I knew was needed. I shared parts of that convo with my supporters with hopes of it maybe helping someone or motivating self-healing too, like my past videos!

Shortly after, I signed my first modeling contract quickly landing campaigns with True Religion, Adidas, Beats by Dre, Champion and more. I’m now one of the faces of brands like Nike, Hollister, Apple, HM, and more.

I will continue to use my gifts and artistic talents to help inspire change in the World through activism and philanthropy work. During this past June 2020, I started an occupation and organization called Black Future Project. A group of activists inspired to defeat systematic racism, educate our community on black lives, and empower, support, and serve black communities. I really feel like despite the emotional roller coaster the passing of George Flyod and the Black Lives Matter, I have been led closer to my purpose and calling. That’s where I am today and have so much coming up that I can’t wait to share with you!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has NOT been smooth but that’s the beauty in the trip! I hit many potholes, speed bumps, and hills on my journey to where I am today and I’m grateful for everyone lesson that I learned through those obstacles. It gave me more drive to get to my goals and dream destinations! When I came to LA, I was working at Zara, eating Ramen Noodles, broke ass shit, and walking miles in chelsea boots to and from modeling agencies until my feet was blistering bad bleeding, trying to get signed. And mind you most of my friend at this time are already rich and famous so I felt like the runt of the group but used that as fuel to the fire on my mission. This road hasn’t been as pretty as Instagram may make it seem. It was extremely hard to get to where I am today, but all those blood, sweat, and tears literally got me here. If it comes easy, will it mean the same? Think about that.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a man of many talents. If you need a trained dancer I can do that for you. If you need a TV Host, singer, actor, comedian, motivation speaker, activist, model – I’ll get the job done for you!

I think I have found a lot of success out here in LA because I am super charismatic and trained in different talents. So when people are looking to get a job done they call me with confidence in my work ethic. There’s not many black guy models out here in LA that are also fully classical trained in Ballet. There’s also not many guy models in LA that are super confirmable talking on camera, I’ve been doing that since before I was even ten. Growing up, I had role models around me that always encourage me to “study the greats, to be great” and one thing about all the greats is, they trained in everything and was great at all of it. I have been training and preparing for this moment since I was in elementary. I also had dreams of coming to LA and making it big so I could help people like Oprah, hahaha!

I’m most proud of my humility and grounded-ness that is so easy to lose touch of when you’re out here surrounded by materialism and superficial people. Anytime my head starts to feel like it’s unbalanced, I check myself and remind myself of the nights I spent sleeping in the woods, the group homes, foster homes, and then I continue with grace and gratitude!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
When I first came to LA and went viral, I was measuring my success based on my follower count and that started to drive me crazy. I was confused because I was gaining so many followers but losing so much happiness. Then that’s when I realized my success is in my level of happy not fame, followers, money, etc. If I am creating, helping people, and happy I feel successful!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: james.butler
• Twitter: lerjamesbut

Image Credit:
“WALK IN LOVE” Image Credit IG: @tba_terry, YouTube Screen Grab: James Butler, Nike SS19 Tokyo Japan 2019, Leaning painted suit image – PC: Miranda Penn Turrin, True Religion Campaign PC

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