Nicole Arbour
Nicole Arbour | |
---|---|
![]() Arbour at the 2014 Hamilton Festival of Friends | |
Born |
1985 (age 32–33) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
Alma mater | Humber College |
Occupation | Actress, choreographer, comedian, dancer, musician, singer, writer |
Known for | YouTube, music |
Nicole Arbour (born 1985[1]) is a Canadian comedian, recording artist, choreographer, actress, dancer, singer and YouTube personality.
Career
Arbour is a former cheerleader for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association.[2] While studying at Humber College, she started her cheerleader career and led the Humber Hype dance team which won two national championships.[3]
As an actress, Arbour appeared in Howie Do It,[4] and Silent But Deadly.[2] Arbour's single "Bang Bang" was released on April 30, 2013.[2] On June 18, 2015, her single and music video to "Fun Revolution" was released and was the first Periscope music video to debut.[5][6] In April 2015, Arbour was nominated as a finalist for "Best Comedian" for the Shorty Awards, however she ultimately lost to Hannibal Buress.[7][8] Arbour released a single and self-directed music video to “Show Me How You Werk” on December 4, 2017.[9]
Arbour's brand of cheerleader meets motivational speaker was the foundation of her #GoTeam movement.[10] She states her motivation as recovering from a car accident that left her in chronic pain.[11] She has worked as a choreographer for professional cheerleading teams, award shows, and recording artists including Omi's "Cheerleader" performance in 2015 Much Music Video Awards, 2013 Much Music Video Awards and CFL Argos Cheerleaders.
Arbour has been the host of a number of major events and tours including Style New York Fashion Week at Madison Square Garden,[12] Virgin Mobile "National Fearless Day" with Richard Branson,[13] City Fest Toronto[14] and LG National Texting Championships 2008–2009.[15] She also worked for brands on their marketing campaigns including Virgin Mobile, Axe and Molson Canadian's "Guy Code Campaign". Arbour was featured in Adweek magazine in April 2017 for her work in an advertisement of PMD's Lip Plumping Device.[16]
In 2016 Arbour spoke at the TEDWomen event in Beverly Hills, California as a comedian and social media influencer.[17] She was a speaker at the Archangel Summit 2017 along with Daymond John, Simon Sinek and Danielle LaPorte.[18][19]
As of April 2018, Arbour has received over 700,000,000 views on her online comedy content. In her first year online she received over 300,000,000 views on her videos and celebrated by hosting the "World’s Biggest Champagne Shower" at the Flamingo Hotel Las Vegas.[20]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Silent But Deadly | Jackie | |
2009 | You Might as Well Live | Regina Manitoba | |
2008 | The Rocker | Trashy Groupie |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014–2015 | Too Much Information | Herself[21] | Series regular |
2015 | CMT's Hottest | Herself | Series regular |
2015 | CMT's Hottest | Herself | Series regular |
2009 | Howie Do It | Beautiful Assistant / Spokesmodel | Series regular; 7 episodes |
2007 | Winnipeg Comedy Festival | Herself | Standup Comedian [22] |
2006-2009 | Video on Trial | Herself | Series regular |
Awards and recognition
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | International Pain Foundation Hero of Hope Awards | Nerve To Be Heard | Won | [23] |
2016 | The Producers Choice Honors | Honorary Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | Won | [24][25] |
2015 | Shorty Awards | Best Comedian | Nominated | [26][27] |
2009 | IAB Mixx Awards | Branded Content | Nominated | [28] |
Controversies
"Dear Fat People"
In September 2015, Arbour became the subject of controversy when she posted a viral video on her YouTube channel titled "Dear Fat People".[29] Critics argued that the video endorses fat shaming.[30] The video was temporarily unavailable on YouTube,[31] over claims that it violated the YouTube terms of service, but was later restored.[32]
Arbour was the subject of both public and celebrity criticism, with model Ashley Graham labelling her comments as "downright disgusting".[33] Director Pat Mills fired Arbour from an upcoming movie after seeing the video and was quoted via several sources, "I'm gay. I was bullied a lot as a kid. I am no stranger to ridicule and loneliness... It's fat-phobic and awful. It went on for over six minutes. I felt like I had been punched in the gut. I was so upset I was shaking like Shelley Duvall in The Shining".[33] On September 10, 2015, Arbour, via Twitter denied ever having any form of involvement in the film.[34][35]
Soon after the video, Arbour was fired from her job where she was a choreographer for an anti-bullying video for kids.[36] The director of the film she was hired to work on said it "made me never want to see her again".[36]
On September 16, 2015, Arbour appeared on The View to defend her actions in the "Dear Fat People" video, stating while on the show "that video was made to offend people...it's just satire," and that the video wasn't supposed to be taken seriously.[37] Time cited an interview stating, "Arbour doesn't see her comments as bullying, but rather an intense form of truth-telling".[38] Arbour was quoted in the Time article, defending her actions:
I find seeing someone's head being blown off offensive ... I find children starving in a country with more than enough food offensive. I find women's bodies being mutilated for religious purposes, that is offensive to me. But words and satire I don't find offensive.[38]
Domestic abuse allegations
On January 11, 2016, YouTube personality Matthew Santoro posted "My Abuse Story", a video in which he claimed he had been in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship with Arbour, although he did not name her in the video. The video was originally set to private after Santoro ended the relationship but was accidentally made public.[39] Santoro claimed he was manipulated into isolating himself from his friends and family because of Arbour's jealousy, and was later even punched in the face.[40] Arbour denied the allegations in a YouTube video.[39] Santoro has since removed his original video.
References
- ↑ Siebert, Valerie (December 24, 2015). "YouTuber behind controversial 'Dear Fat People' video admits the crude clip was just a marketing scheme to promote herself – and boasts it has earned her THOUSANDS". Daily Mail. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
- 1 2 3 Strobel, Mike (April 18, 2013). "'World's Sexiest Comedian' on comeback as rapper after accident". Toronto Sun. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- ↑ "Unbeatable Arbour pumps it up". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Nicole Arbour". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Murray, Joshua (July 16, 2015). "Nicole Arbour presents the Fun Revolution: Artist Q&A". The Reviews Are In. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ↑ Cullen, Clare (June 20, 2015). "First ever music video debuts on Periscope - Independent.ie". www.independent.ie. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ↑ Lee, Ashley (March 2, 2015). "Shorty Awards 2015: Nominees Include Shonda Rhimes, Chris Pratt, Laverne Cox (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Best Comedian in Social Media - The Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ↑ "Pineapple Pages Episode 1: Show Me How You Werk". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Nicole Arbour". February 9, 2015. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Nicole Arbour » Go Team". February 20, 2015. Archived from the original on February 20, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
- ↑ "Style New York Fashion Week at Madison Square Garden". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Sir Richard Branson & Glee's Cory Monteith to Choose Canada's Most Fearless". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Cityfest at CityPlace: Toronto's Newest Festival This Saturday". August 14, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "LG Creates Game Show Atmosphere for Canadian Texting Championships". August 28, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Natural Beauty Is Great. But So Is Natural-ish Beauty, Says This Crazy Ad for a Lip Plumper". Adweek. April 26, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ ""It's About Time!" TEDxWomen Presents TEDxCanonDriveWomen Hits Beverly Hills, CA #itsabouttimetedxwomen". October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Archangel Summit 2017 – Superhero Entrepreneurs Who Want To Change The World". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Past Archangel Summit speakers". Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Internet Superstar Nicole Arbour Celebrates 300 Million Views by Hosting Biggest Champagne Shower at GO Pool at Flamingo Las Vegas". August 28, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ↑ "Too Much Information features cavalcade of comedians". November 17, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ "Performers Winnipeg Comedy Festival". Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ "2017 Hero of Hope Award Winners". Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ "Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles". Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ "2016 The Producers Choice Honors". Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ "Shorty Awards 2015: Nominees Include Shonda Rhimes, Chris Pratt, Laverne Cox (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. February 3, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ "Comedian in Social Media - Shorty Awards". Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ "MIXX Awards Finalists Announced". Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- ↑ Rodriguez, Karen (September 7, 2015). "'Dear Fat People' Video Sparks 'Fat-Shaming' Backlash". Newsy. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ↑ Hetter, Katia (September 7, 2015). "Celebrities battle it out over fat-shaming". CNN. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Castillo, Stephanie (September 6, 2015). "YouTube Video Censorship: Nicole Arbour's Account Gets Suspended After Shaming 'Fat People'". Medical Daily. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Hetter, Katia (September 8, 2015). "Fat-shaming: Celebrities battle it out". cnn.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- 1 2 Harrison, Lily (September 10, 2015). "YouTube Star Nicole Arbour Fired From Movie Role for Cruel Fat-Shaming Video". E! Online. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- ↑ Webber, Stephanie (September 11, 2015). "YouTube Star Nicole Arbour Fired From Movie After Fat-Shaming Video - Us Weekly". US Weekly. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Willis, Jackie (September 11, 2015). "YouTube Star Nicole Arbour Fired From Film After 'Dear Fat People' Backlash". ET. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- 1 2 Heigl, Alex (September 11, 2015). "Nicole Arbour Responds to Claim She Was Fired from Film Job in Wake of 'Dear Fat People' Backlash". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- ↑ Olya, Gabrielle (September 16, 2015). "Nicole Arbour Refuses to Apologize for 'Dear Fat People' YouTube Video on The View". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- 1 2 Ross, Ashley (September 10, 2015). "'Dear Fat People' Comedian Nicole Arbour: 'I'm Not Apologizing'". TIME.com. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- 1 2 Votta, Rae (January 12, 2016). "YouTube celebrity Matthew Santoro says ex Nicole Arbour abused him". The Daily Dot. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ↑ Kasparian, Ana (January 14, 2016). "Nicole Arbour's disgusting response to Matthew Santoro's allegation of abuse". www.rawstory.com. Retrieved July 10, 2016.