"Hey, bitches!" William Sledd greets his audience as he smiles into the camera. Sledd is charming--even playful--as he begins the latest installment of his video fashion blog Ask A Gay Man. But then he sobers. "It is so easy leaving nasty comments and hate," he says, "because people do it all the time...so I was wondering if we could all be mature for a day and not leave any nasty comments."
Sledd, a self-proclaimed Internet celebrity, began making headlines only last November, when his eighth YouTube installment, "AAGM: Denim Edition," was watched more than 2 million times. And while feedback was generally positive--his series was nominated for the first annual YouTube Awards and now boasts almost 60,000 subscribers--Sledd has experienced backlash from people he calls the "haters."
"Sometimes I read [the comments], sometimes I don't," Sledd, 23, explains over the phone. When he first started, he let it get to him, but maturity and a little success have helped him deal with the homophobia. "It's ignorance," he says, "You have to ignore it."
Bravo announced the June 21 launch of AAGM on OutzoneTV.com. The weekly video blogs, or vlogs, will cover the latest and greatest in fashion and pop culture accompanied by Sledd's witty and at times saucy commentary. Sledd will also be Bravo's go-to man for pride-related events, offering man-on-the-street coverage from across the nation.
When asked about his partnership with Bravo, Sledd gushes about the opportunities the network will provide. "[I'm] totally excited," he says. "It's going to give me more resources and more capabilities to produce better and greater videos."
The success is almost overwhelming for a small-town boy who only a year ago was working long shifts at the Gap in his hometown of Paducah, Ky.
"It's kinda nuts," he says. "The people that watch the videos and the people who you come into contact with is pretty absurd." His new best friend, Broadway star Christine Ebersole of GreyGardens, is an Internet find. "She stalked me!" Sledd exclaims.
Sledd started practicing fashion commentary at a young age by people-watching with his friends. "There is not a lot to do in Kentucky," he says, "so you have to be creative." The vlogs were only an outgrowth of this pastime. Sledd explains that he was motivated by the outrageous outfits people make for themselves. "What they choose to wear," he says, "it's scary!"
Yet he doesn't want people to simply emulate his look, which he describes as J.Crew-Gap preppy. "I recommend that everyone be best at their own personal style," he says. For his viewers he tries to offer a little bit of everything, although he prefers chain stores.
Despite his growing fame, Sledd has kept his local celebrity to a minimum. "Home is home," he says, explaining that he refuses to do local press. Every now and then someone recognizes him, he says, but he likes not being known." His boyfriend keeps a similarly low profile. He's the quiet one, Sledd explains. And as for himself? "I'm the loud, outgoing bitch!"
"Hey, bitches!"
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