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Michael Weist

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Michael Weist
Born25 July 1996 Edit this on Wikidata
Alma mater
OccupationProducer and actor
WorksJawline
Websitehttps://www.michaelweist.com Edit this on Wikidata

Michael Gordon Weist III is an American talent manager, producer, actor, and entrepreneur known for his work in managing social media influencers and his involvement in several high-profile digital media projects.[1] Weist gained significant attention for organizing TanaCon and for his appearance in the Hulu documentary Jawline, which played at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.[2][3][4][5]

Weist is a voting member of The Recording Academy.[6]

Weist's television and movie work includes guest appearances on Dr. Phil, The Grammy Awards, The Kids Choice Awards, and appearances in Hulu's Jawline, Amazon Prime, and Vice.[7][8][9]

Weist has worked with clients such as Will Ferrell, Kings of Leon, Bryce Hall, Tana Mongeau, Larray, Chris Hansen, and others.[10][1][11][12]

Early life

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Michael Weist was born in Nashville, Tennessee. By the age of 16, Weist was already making a name for himself as a DJ, working with Grammy Award-winning artists like Kings of Leon.[1]

Projects and career

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Good Times Entertainment

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At 17, Weist founded Good Times Entertainment, a talent management company that worked with digital content creators and influencers. The company quickly became known for its innovative approach to managing online personalities. Weist also created Good Times TV, a video streaming platform aimed at showcasing content from his managed talent.[13][14][15][16]

TanaCon

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However, Weist’s most notable project under Good Times Entertainment was the organization of TanaCon in 2018, a convention created in collaboration with YouTuber Tana Mongeau as an alternative to VidCon. The event, which featured guests like Shane Dawson, Bella Thorne, Casey Neistat, and David Dobrik, was canceled within hours due to overcrowding and safety concerns. The fallout from TanaCon was widely covered in the media, and Weist later filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and dissolved his company Good Times Entertainment, claiming a loss of $700,000 due to the event.[17][18]

SwerV Records

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In 2014, Weist launched SwerV Records, a record label designed to promote music created by social media influencers. One of the label’s most successful projects was the release of tracks by influencer Larray, including "First Place" and "Last Place." "First Place" became particularly popular, spending 42 weeks on Billboard’s Comedy Digital Tracks chart and gaining over 55 million views on YouTube; ranking at number 13 on the 2018 year-end chart.[19][20][21][22]

Juice Krate Media Group

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In 2019, Weist founded Juice Krate Media Group, where he served as president and CEO. Juice Krate focused on the management, monetization, and branding of influencers, providing services that included merchandise and event planning. The company played a significant role in shaping the careers of several digital content creators and further established Weist's influence in the entertainment industry.[7][23][24][25]

Will Ferrell

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On October 19th, 2023, Michael hosted an event benefiting the charity Smile Train. The event featured appearances from actor Will Ferrell, who appeared on the red carpet with his family, and performances by artists including Reese Witherspoon’s and Ryan Phillippe’s son, Deacon Phillippe.[26][27][28][29]

Personal life

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Weist is openly gay.[30][31]

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In 2017 Weist filed a defamation lawsuit against former clients, Bryce Hall and Mikey Barone, which was briefly depicted in the Hulu documentary Jawline. The case settled in 2018; Hall posted a statement via Twitter: "I made some harsh statements about Michael and regret making those statements, including any suggestion of sexual assault. I am sorry for what happened and I am glad it's over."[32][33][34]

After an interview with Chris Hansen, host of the reality television series To Catch a Predator, Weist filed a lawsuit against TikToker and former client Danielle Cohn and her boyfriend Mason in June 2022.[35][36]

On June 1, 2022, Weist posted a statement via Twitter in which he stated he filed a lawsuit against the social media platform TikTok; stating: "[TikTok] has a responsibility to its users and creators; the banning and suspension of creator accounts without cause must stop. This pattern of behavior & treatment of creators across TikTok has got to be stopped. Imagine if TikTok is a creator's primary income… It's time creators stand up and assert their rights; this is not ok."[37]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kaufman, Amy (August 23, 2019). "How the 23-year-old talent manager behind TanaCon bounced back from bankruptcy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Sorren, Martha (August 23, 2019). "Why Michael Weist From Hulu's New Documentary Jawline May Sound Familiar". Refinery29.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Berman, Judy (August 14, 2019). "'Jawline' Is an Empathetic Exploration of Influencer Culture". Time. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  4. ^ MTV News Staff. "Jawline Documentary Follows The Fleeting Fame Of Teenage Social Media Success". MTV. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Nicholson, Amy (January 29, 2019). "Sundance Film Review: 'Jawline'". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Kirkl, Justin (August 24, 2019). "'Jawline' is an Unnerving Meditation on Generation Z and Fleeting Fame". Esquire. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Hulu's Jawline Tells the Story of Austyn Tester, Would-Be Social Media Star". Vogue. August 23, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  8. ^ Phil, McGraw (May 17, 2021). "Social Media Outcast: The Organizer of TanaCon Speaks Out". Dr. Phil. CBS. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "'Self-Love Is More Important Than A 'Like' On Instagram,' Says TanaCon Organizer Who Claims He's Changed", Dr. Phil, CBS, September 7, 2022, retrieved September 11, 2022
  10. ^ McCrory, Connor (October 21, 2023). "MSN: Will Ferrell's son Magnus talks new music and idea behind the viral DJ gig at USC with dad". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  11. ^ "CEO of Good Times Entertainment, Michael Weist is photographed for..." Getty Images. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "Michael Weist and director Liza Mandelup on Jawline's power dynamics". Film. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  13. ^ A. O. L. Staff. "This social media CEO serves his clients in a way no one else can". AOL.com. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "Your TanaCon Refund Might Be Funding Michael Weist's New Business". Trending All Day. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "22-Year-Old TanaCon Organizer Says His 'Good Times' Company Is Pivoting From Live Events To Original Content". IMDb. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Fratella, Danny (August 17, 2018). "TanaCon founder to pivot into content production, launches OTT platform". Social Blade. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "'Jawline' on Hulu: Yes, That's Michael Weist of TanaCon". August 23, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  18. ^ "Hulu's Doc 'Jawline' Has a Major Connection to the TanaCon Disaster". Decider. August 23, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  19. ^ "Industry Ink: AristoWorks, UMPG, SwerVRecords, Capitol CMG Publishing". MusicRow.com. September 5, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  20. ^ First Place - Larray | Credits | AllMusic, retrieved April 15, 2023
  21. ^ The Race (Remix) - First Place / Larray (Official Music Video), retrieved April 15, 2023
  22. ^ "Comedy Digital Track Sales - Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  23. ^ "After 'Jawline', Austyn Tester Plans to Return to Social Media With "More Mainstream Stuff"". Decider. August 23, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  24. ^ Sorren, Martha. "Why Michael Weist From Hulu's New Documentary Jawline May Sound Familiar". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  25. ^ "Update · TanaCon: The Toxicity of the Internet · Manhattan College Omeka". omeka-pilot.manhattan.edu. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  26. ^ McCrory, Connor (2023-10-20). "Will Ferrell's son Magnus talks new music and idea behind the viral DJ video". Daily Express US. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  27. ^ "Deacon Phillippe and Will Ferrell's Son Magnus Spend Boys' Night Out in L.A. — See the Photos!". Peoplemag. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  28. ^ "Will Ferrell, Magnus Paulin Ferrell, Mattias Paulin Ferrell, and..." Getty Images. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  29. ^ Agate, Samantha (2023-10-20). "Will Ferrell and Sons Make Rare Appearance [Photos]". Closer Weekly. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  30. ^ "Being an Influencer Is Harder Than It Looks". GQ. August 22, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  31. ^ Fienberg, Daniel (January 28, 2019). "'Jawline': Film Review | Sundance 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  32. ^ Chen, Joyce. "How The Lawsuit From Hulu Documentary Jawline Turned Out". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  33. ^ sarabelcher (July 13, 2020). "What Happened to Bryce Hall's Lawsuit With Michael Weist?". Distractify. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  34. ^ Michael Weist III v. Bryce Hall, Michael Barone III (Los Angeles County Superior Courts 2018), Text.
  35. ^ JaaniKay. "Michael Weist Filed a Lawsuit against Danielle Cohn and Her Boyfriend". hollywoodmask. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  36. ^ Michael Gordon Weist III v. Danielle Cohn (Tenn. Ct. [Gen., Spec.] Sess. 2022), Text.
  37. ^ Michael Gordon Weist III v. TikTok Inc. (Tenn. Ct. [Gen., Spec.] Sess.), Text.
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