Offline With Rubes: Stickers, Red Carpets and Six Years of TikTok Slander

There aren’t many people who can ask a celebrity what animal part they’d love to have, but somehow presenter and content creator Rubes (@rubes.us) manages to pull it off with significant ease. Born and raised in South East London, Rubes’ entry into the creative industry wasn’t necessarily linear. In fact, if anything, you could more accurately label it as a squiggly line (something that has undoubtedly grounded her). Here, she spoke to KOMI, for our new series ‘Offline With’, all about the world of content, some red-carpet moments and her favourite meme.

Who are you and what do you do?

Hello, I'm Rubes, I'm a content creator, casting director and a presenter slash host.

What’s the most important thing for you to channel when creating content?

Silliness. Silliness is key. I am a silly person, and I believe that I want my content to reflect who I am. And so I always try to have something that's real, normal and very me.

Dream person to interview?

I'd love to interview Bad Bunny. I would also love to interview Olivia Rodrigo. I feel like she'd be so interesting. Lily Allen — oh my God, diva.

What’s been your most exciting opportunity thus far? And why?

Where do I begin? Since I've gone full-time freelance in the past sort of year and a bit, I've had some incredible opportunities. I've just come back from hosting the Amazon Music Primavera live stream in Barcelona, which was so much fun. I thought it was going to be terrifying, but it was really good. And then some red carpets I've had recently — I got to interview some incredible people with Dazed Magazine.

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What would you do if all social-media disappeared?

Start looking for a new job. Firstly, I've got bills to pay, I've got rent to pay. God, guys, if social media disappears, I'd be ******.

Do you think people respond better to off the cuff content?

I think so. I think even recently I've tried my hand at some over-polished content. I've taken some real time and effort with editing stuff, and it just doesn't do as well as when I flip out my phone and walk down the street with a little wide headphone in my ear, just chatting absolute ****

Favourite meme of the moment?

You know what, less so memes. I'm in my sticker era. I love just a silly little sticker on a work group chat just to keep things light and fun.

Do you think it's important to make use of social media to enter traditional media areas?

I think 100% being creative wherever you can and just being yourself. I was making TikToks for six years before anything within presenting came about and that's I think what people seem to overlook or don't even know about me. I've been making TikToks since 2020; they originally were dancing TikToks and guys... I can't dance. There's always going to be people chatting **** about you behind your back no matter what. And sometimes you just have to be like, okay, I'll give them a reason, but it'll pay off. People were definitely making fun of my TikTok six years ago and they still make fun of me today, but that's okay.

Posting on the grid or on your story?

On my story, I hate a grid post. Grid posts scare me.

When was the last time you were properly offline?

So, the last time I was offline was when I had surgery. I had surgery for my endometriosis at the end of January this year. It only took 11 years, but it's fine. Love that. I think it was really good for my brain. It reset it in a lot of ways because you can't laugh or cry or tense your stomach in any way after those sorts of surgeries. I had to find content and things to do that would amuse me but only here and not make me smile, not make me laugh or cry or feel anything too deeply. I watched the Take That documentary which is perfect. That took up a full day of recovery.