YouTube’s biggest anonymous “Tea” channel, Spill Sesh, revealed her face for the first time in five years and is now spilling all the tea as Kristi Cook. With over 347M views, she breaks down the biggest controversies and scandals engulfing the internet’s biggest stars on the channel.
Millennium Magazine has an exclusive chat with the mysterious YouTuber!
How has the transition been for you since unveiling yourself as the face behind Spill Sesh?
The transition has been surprisingly easy I’d say. I wanted to keep my youtube channel exactly how it was without me really being in the videos, but I’ve been able to expand what I can do on other platforms. I’ve also been able to say yes to more opportunities such as events which has been really nice.
You’ve amassed a massive following by dissecting internet controversies and scandals. What motivated you to start Spill Sesh in the first place, and how has your perspective on online content creation evolved over the years?
It began with my love for content creation that had me start the channel. I have always loved Youtube and spent most of my time since middle school watching it,I found myself so invested in the lives of these internet stars when mainstream media wasn’t yet reporting on them. I figured there had to be others just as invested in influencer drama and it’s really where things started. Now it’s expanded to much more than influencer drama and I’m covering all sorts of topics.
Over the years social media has changed so much and I do think online creators are taken more seriously than ever before. It’s really opened my eyes to the possibilities of where I can take Spill Sesh.
Your content spans a wide range of topics, from celebrity gossip to internet culture. How do you stay updated on the latest trends and news, and how do you decide which stories to cover on your channel?
I am always online, I love pop culture in general so most of my timelines and for you pages are all centered around that world. My friends always text me and DM me things they see to keep me in the loop. Usually if I see a story getting talked about on multiple platforms I know it might make for a good story, especially if it’s lasted a couple of days/weeks. But also, there’s niche stories I personally do find really fascinating that I will do just to see how my audience reacts.
Many viewers are curious about your process for gathering information. Could you walk us through how you research and verify the details of a story before presenting it to your audience?
There’s a few different ways I approach a story, it depends on the topic. If it’s in regards to a lawsuit I’m usually cross referencing multiple news outlets, sourcing them for information in my videos. Other times, if it’s more of a video talking about the internet’s reaction to something going on I’m collecting Tik Toks, tweets, Instagram comments, etc and formulating a story around them from when the drama started to where things are at the moment.
How do you balance your personal life with the demands of managing a successful YouTube channel?
I try to manage it the best I can, I’ll have days where I make multiple videos and then spend the next few with friends and family. Just try to make sure I avoid burnout.
How do you navigate the ethical considerations of reporting on sensitive topics while maintaining a loyal audience?
I take sensitive topics extremely seriously, always wanting to make sure I’m getting my facts right. It’s a time where I like to sit and observe what’s going on before reporting on it myself to make sure I’m getting the full story from all angles.
– Photography by Hunter Moreno