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VIRAL ALERT: Ashby Florence
During one of my late-night scrolling sessions on TikTok, I stumbled across a video of a girl dressed up in a DIY Alexander Hamilton costume, complete with a Sharpied-on goatee, lip-syncing to an audio from Hamilton. It was exactly the kind of silly, absurdist humor I — and many other TikTok users — live for. Little did I know, the creator known as Ashby would soon become a regular on my FYP.
@_ashbyflorence_ Omw to say no to this #fyp#hamilton#linmanuelmiranda#bestofwivesandbestofwomen#hamiltontiktok#comebacktosleep#lin#broadway#ham#hamiltontiktok#alexanderhamilton#bway#funnybroadway#bwatts#foryoupage#funny#viral#fypシ゚viral#fypシ#fypppppppppppppp#fypシ゚viral#daveeddiggs#burr ♬ Best of Wives and Best of Women - Phillipa Soo & Lin-Manuel Miranda
24-year-old comedic influencer Ashby Florence has become an overnight internet sensation, rising to fame on TikTok for her hilarious impressions of iconic fictional characters — her most beloved persona being her raunchy portrayal of the Lorax. In a matter of months, the newly popular TikToker skyrocketed to over 2 million followers, initially gaining attention for her series of viral Alexander Hamilton videos, the most popular of which racked up over 21 million views and 2 million likes.
@_ashbyflorence_ Replying to @Ezekiel✨️ Don’t shoot the messenger ??♀️ #hamiltontrend#lorax#ashby#ashbyhamilton#fyp#fypp#linmanuelmiranda#linmanuel#thelorax#loraxcostumes#funny#ASHBY#funny#viral#tiktoktrends#theloraxedit#letitgrow#ashbylive#ashbypitbull#ashbyhamilton#alexanderhamilton#hamiltonwindowcleaning#alexanderhamilton#aham#bwau#broadway#comedian#comedy#vinegary#ashby#ashbyflorence♬ original sound - ASHBY
Florence’s TikTok popularity even earned her a spot on the red carpet at Disney’s premiere of the Hamilton musical movie last month. There, she interviewed Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with other members from the original Broadway cast who attended the event.
@_ashbyflorence_ This little boys dreams came true last night⭐️ Thank you Lin-Manuel Miranda and @Disney Studios for one heck of an experience <3 #ashby#ashbyhamilton#linmanuelmiranda#fyp#fypシ゚viral♬ original sound - ASHBY
Since her debut as Hamilton and the Lorax, Florence has continued to expand her cast of characters, dressing up as Gru from Despicable Me, Lord Farquaad from Shrek, Megamind, King Julien from Madagascar, and Dobby from Harry Potter. She has even introduced fans to her boyfriend Ben Hunt, who makes regular appearances in her TikTok live videos as side characters, making for even more hilarious content.
@_ashbyflorence_ The names Gru, Gru Ivy @Benjamin Hunt #ashby#ashbylive#ashbygru#ashbylorax#fyp♬ original sound - ASHBY
Fans are obsessed with Florence — and for good reason. She leans into the childlike silliness that makes us laugh the hardest. Tuning into her live streams feels like playing dress-up with your friends. Her physical comedy, character dances, and hilarious accents all add to the charm. Florence is not afraid to be herself, and, in doing so, she has created a community of people who share her playful goofiness.
“Now I'm bashful,” a catchphrase coined by Florence's Lorax character, quickly caught on with fans. However, despite the phrase, Florence’s comedy-style is anything but “bashful”. Her unapologetic authenticity is undeniably magnetic, and one of the many reasons behind her instant rise to internet fame!