Joy of life knows no age: How four seniors conquered the Internet

Sometimes they dance to Kylie Minogue in colorful feather boas, then they shake a leg in tight swimming trunks to the latest song by Taylor Swift. What connects every video of the “Old Gays” is their joy of life, which can be felt even through the smallest cell phone screen. The four seniors from Cathedral City, California, whose average age is 74, have become superstars on TikTok over the last six years, as “The Guardian“ reported.

The “Old Gays”: From TikTok celebrity to the mainstream

The “Old Gays”, consisting of friends Robert, Mick, Jessay and Bill, now have a whopping 11 million followers on Tiktok. However, their success in the USA has long since reached the mainstream. In addition to modeling jobs for Rihanna’s popular fashion brand Savage X Fenty and regular appearances on prime-time television, the Old Gays have business partnerships with major companies such as Netflix and T Mobile.

While most older people on Tiktok present themselves as rather cozy characters, the four seniors are known for their generosity. They largely owe their self-confidence to their fans, says 79-year-old Bob: “’I don’t think we all really felt at home in our older bodies before. With all the love we get, we feel so liberated.”

How four seniors became internet sensations

The men’s first contact with a camera came in 2018 during a lively dinner party. A mutual friend filmed Bill, Mick and Robert trying to guess modern slang words. The humor and chemistry between the three men was so palpable that the video quickly spread across the Internet. Jessay, 70, was the latest to join the group after being alerted to the video by a friend and realizing the three were his neighbors.

The “Old Gays” achieved their first major success as a quartet in the same year in collaboration with the homosexual dating app Grindr. Filmed in a professional studio, the four friends talked about their coming outs, played party games and dressed up as drag queens. They finally released their first video on Tiktok in 2021, which proved to be an instant success.

“Shimmer of light made of hope and optimism”: role models for young and old

Robert sees the key to the success of the “Old Gays” in their authenticity and hopes that they can serve as role models for young and old alike. “For some young people, we are the role models they have never had before in their lives,” says Robert, who at 80 is the oldest of the group.

Of people from his own generation, he says: “Whatever your sexuality, older people can see a glimmer of hope and optimism in our videos. An affirmation that you can get up to go out and enjoy life.”

No taboos: “We will not allow ourselves to be silenced”

It is precisely this visibility that also plays an important role in the upcoming book “Old Gays”. This is called “The Old Gays Guide to the Good Life” and has no taboos. It’s about grief, faith and bankruptcy, but also about masturbation, sex toys and erectile dysfunction. “For years, queer people have been forced to hide,” says Mick on the subject. “Now it is impossible to ignore us any longer; We won’t let shame silence us.” Robert adds: “We’re also helping to shine a light on our entire generation. A little reminder that many of us are still here and leading wonderful lives.”

A vision of America despite the possible re-election of Donald Trump

The “Old Gays” also see the far-reaching potential of their platform with regard to the upcoming US presidential elections in 2024. Because although the election threatens to divide the country due to the possible re-election of ex-President Donald Trump, the “Old Gays” want to move forward as role models: “We want to be seen by our country: four happy, gay men full of life. We are a vision of what America – and the world – could become.”