Morgan Jay
| Morgan Jay | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Morgan Venticinque |
| Born | February 2, 1987 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Medium |
|
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Genres | |
| Subject(s) | |
| Website | Official website |
| Musical career | |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, Pitch correction |
Morgan Jay Venticinque (born February 2, 1987) is an American stand-up comedian, musician, actor, and YouTuber. Jay rose to fame through by packaging his work in music and stand-up comedy into short-form content on TikTok and Instagram. His music often combines Auto-Tune pitch correction, guitar, and vocals. His focus on social media has driven 2.3 million followers to his Instagram and 7.2 million followers to his TikTok.
Early life and education
Jay was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States.[1] His parents were named Gaetano Venticinque (d. 1993) and Sylvia Oliveira.[2] He is of Brazilian and Italian descent.[3]
Jay was a "class clown" in high school and began his career with traditional stand-up comedy.[4] He studied at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and received training from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York City.[5]
Career
Jay began performing comedy at open mics in 2007 in New York City while in college, and developed his stage presence through experiences such as interning on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and working as a certified New York City bike tour guide. His background includes acting and choir.[6] After six years of performing, he incorporated music into his comedy act.[4]
He cites Rory Scovel, Reggie Watts and Karen Kilgariff as several of his influences.[7] In other interviews, he’s cited comedians Stephen Lynch and Adam Sandler.[8]
In 2019, he appeared on NBC’s Bring the Funny, but this did not significantly advance his career. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jay started posting clips of his crowd work from previous shows on social media, particularly TikTok. His online following then grew rapidly. This social media success led to a largely sold-out comedy tour across the U.S.[9]
He rose to prominence through viral TikTok videos featuring audience participation segments, using an auto-tuned microphone that allows audience members to sing with him.[6] He speaks to audiences by singing about relationships and everyday topics, and encourages audience members to respond in song with auto-tune vocals. His comedic songs explore subjects such as relationship dynamics (“What Are We”), moving in together (“Home Intruder”), and suppressed desires (“Bro”). His TikTok video “Just Friends?” became viral with over 129 million views and contributed to Jay’s popularity.[10]
His 2023 special, Live At The Village, was filmed in a Los Angeles recording studio. He credits director Jocelyn Cooper and cinematographer Sophie Bruza for the production’s visual quality. After streaming services passed on the special, Jay released it on YouTube, where it received positive feedback.[4]
As of April 2025, Jay was on a U.S. and international tour, including sold-out shows at venues like the Wiltern in Los Angeles. His following is largely made up of Gen Z fans, many of whom cite his performances as their first comedy show. Jay refers to his fan base as the "goofy gang".[6]
Jay is managed by Matt Sadeghian of Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Josh Sandler of Granderson Des Rochers.[11] He is recognized by Billboard as one of the top 15 musical comedians as of June 2025.[10]
Television and film
Jay has appeared in TV sitcoms such as St. Denis Medical and acted in the film Cotton Candy Bubble Gum which premiered at South by Southwest.[6] He has also been on MTV’s Wild’n’Out, Girls5Eva, Bring the Funny, and Night Court.[11]
References
- ^ Axelrod, Josh (November 28, 2020). "Funny how? N.J. comedians make the internet laugh as clubs stay closed". NJ.com. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ "Gaetano Venticinque obituary". The Record. June 15, 1993. p. 44. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025.
- ^ Jay, Morgan. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c Tatum, Erin (June 12, 2023). "Morgan Jay Presents a Night of Seductive Absurdity in New Comedy Special, "Live At The Village"". Cliche Magazine. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (February 2, 2021). "ViacomCBS Unveils 16 Performers For 2021 Showcase". Deadline. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Jordan, Leila (April 8, 2025). "Morgan Jay is giving his audience the musical sex comedy they want (and an auto-tuned microphone)". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025.
- ^ "Meet Morgan Jay". Voyage LA Magazine. January 8, 2017.
- ^ "New In Town: Morgan Jay". Man About Town.
- ^ Jones, CT (March 4, 2024). "'I'm an Internet Bitch:' How TikTok Created A New Kind of Comedy Career". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Levy, Joe (June 23, 2025). "Billboard's Top 15 Musical Comedians Right Now (Critic's Picks)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ^ a b Eggertsen, Chris (February 20, 2024). "Signed: Jon Pardi Is Head Over Boots for WME, British Rockers Sleep Token Bunk With RCA". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 5, 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.