Benny Drama’s unholiest internet habits

Who knew that super-glam comedienne, viral social media star, actor-slash-writer and the internet’s favourite impersonator Benito Skinner (better known to most as @bennydrama7) once lived in New Cross, South London?

“I studied abroad in the UK, if you can believe that, at King’s College,” the 29-year-old says animatedly, Zooming in from his home in sunny Los Angeles. ​“I mean, I’m from Idaho! It was a culture shock. I had a vintage Burberry jacket on and I was like, London! This is a fucking city. I gotta step my shit up.”

Skinner has come a long way since the days of picking up buckets of chicken from his local Morley’s to eat in a ​“strange dorm” alone. Over the last few years, he’s become one of comedy’s foremost figures, having amassed a legion of fans and followers (1.4 million on both Instagram and TikTok, to be exact) in the process, thanks to his hilarious skits and outrageous characters that are influenced by the very best of pop culture.

Last summer, his deadpan impressions of the Kardashian family were so spot-on that Kourtney invited Skinner to appear on an episode of their reality show. The year before, the actual White House commissioned him to film a skit encouraging Americans to get vaccinated. Skinner promptly embodied Gen Z intern Kooper for the occasion, an acrylic nailed, Thom Browne suit-wearing, phone-tapping archetype that sent the internet into a frenzy.

Slickly produced social media sketches and viral success aside, Skinner’s also been hard at work behind the scenes – namely, writing the semi-autobiographical comedy series Overcompensating, which he’ll also star in, about his experience of being in the closet at university. His pal Charli XCX is even doing the music for the show.

“That’s always been a dream of mine, acting in something that I’d conceptualised and that was bigger than something you’d see on your phone screen,” Skinner says. ​“Not that there’s anything wrong with that – in fact, I do think that’s pretty much what TV is now. A lot of the show is about me going to college, being in the closet and finding this female protector that makes you feel like you can be yourself. But in all of that, pretending is really funny.”

Skinner doesn’t deny that what he went through was traumatic. ​“Being at a party with a bunch of straight guys wearing a backwards hat? I have to laugh, even though I was crying myself to sleep,” he says. But recontextualising his experience through the lens of comedy has helped him tremendously. ​“Overcompensating is a dark comedy. The only way through that time was comedy and it saved my life.”

Most recently, Skinner released his podcast Ride, which he hosts with his best friend and fellow comic Mary Beth Barone. Each episode, they have a no-holds-barred chat about whatever they happen to be obsessed with that week. ​“It’s so us, it’s so fun, it’s for the girls,” he says. ​“Obviously we’re looking at doing some shows in London – maybe even in New Cross Gate. The London dolls laugh at some of the most despicable things. It’s gnarly.”

On that note, keep scrolling for Skinner’s most sick and twisted internet habits.

The last article I found myself thinking about was…

I have perioral dermatitis, a skin condition from putting too many products and make-up on my face over the last 29 years. I get rashes. Honestly, I’m a doctor at this point – I’m a derm! I read an article on Byrdie where this girl was outlining all the things she’d used. I purchased everything and probably made it worse. I love a little skincare write-up. I’m a true scholar.

The last new artist I discovered on Spotify was…

I’m obsessed with Sudan Archives – her last album is beautiful. I’m also entering an era of not being as in tune with music because I’m working on a show, so I don’t have my finger on the pulse. When is Lana coming out with something? I also like Arlo Parks.

The last podcast I spent hours listening to was…

I am obsessed with Bailey Sarian. She does the Murder, Mystery & Makeup videos on YouTube and she has this great podcast called Dark History, which is all about the things you didn’t learn in history class. She tells you some deeply fucked up things that have happened, which definitely won’t make you feel better about the state of anything. We were all raised on lies, especially in America. She’s so engaging and it’s my go-to.

The last picture I liked on Instagram was…

Burberry is back and I liked a picture of the new Daniel Lee campaign. Liberty Ross, let’s go!

The last TikTok I sent to a friend was…

All of them have Pedro Pascal in them. He’s the last king that we have on earth. I’ve sent it so many times, but someone on the red carpet says, ​“Hey daddy,” and he’s like, ​“Hey momma,” and it cuts to this guy falling backwards through a screen door. So good.

The last series I binged (or watched a lot of) was…

Obviously I’ve been watching The Last of Us. Also Bad Sisters. I was so obsessed, I ripped through it in two days. My boyfriend always falls asleep and I just keep going. Bye momma!

The last book I stayed awake reading was…

Just by Looking at Him by [actor, writer and comedian] Ryan O’Connell. We were in Queer as Folk together and he’s one of my favourite people in the world. I haven’t seen him in a while and I read his book on a trip – it felt like I was with him. It’s amazing to see someone’s voice be truly captured in their work. I highly recommend it.

The last meme that made me laugh aloud was…

My boyfriend [director and collaborator Terrence O’Connor] dressed as a horse for Halloween and got reposted on some ketamine lover’s Twitter account. I am so proud. Something about that being used as pro-ketamine propaganda is absolutely deranged. I can’t even describe what my laughter was like the day he dressed up like that. The heels, the hair… He looked so beautiful! I was dressed as a full lizard at this point. I could talk about this every day. Also the horse and lizard thing – and this is something I can’t say often – but that image has never existed in history. This has no reference to anything. This is just a singular image in time. So unholy.