In this episode of Entertainment Unscripted, podcast contributor Celina Landero Valenzuela sits down with Chad Johnson – a hard-of-hearing content creator, athlete and sign language educator with over 1.6 million TikTok followers. Chad opens up about how a friend encouraged him to share ASL online, how he went viral seemingly overnight and what it’s like to represent the U.S. Deaf Men’s National Soccer Team. From dispelling myths about Deaf identity to dreaming big in Los Angeles’ modeling scene, Chad brings insight, humor and heart to this wide-ranging conversation.

Mia Fernandez: Hello everyone, and welcome back to Entertainment Unscripted! Today, podcast contributor Celina Landero Valenzuela is joined by Chad Johnson, a content creator who teaches sign language on his social media platforms. They’ll be discussing Chad’s experience as a public figure and his goals for the future.

Celina Landero Valenzuela: Welcome, Chad! How are you doing?

Chad Johnson: I’m doing good, thanks for having me.

CLV: Do you want to tell us a little bit about yourself?

CJ: Yeah! My name is Chad Johnson. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and I’m hard of hearing – Deaf. I wear two hearing aids in my ears.

CLV: Okay. I want to ask – what inspired you to start creating content on TikTok and the other platforms you’re on?

CJ: Yeah, so I teach sign language on all my platforms. What got me into it was my friend Shaheem. He kept pushing me to start, but I was blowing it off at first. One day I just made a video, and next thing I know, I started getting all these followers and attention I wasn’t used to. I hit a million followers in two weeks – it was insane.
I never pictured myself posting sign language content as my niche. I actually learned sign language when I went to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. – a Deaf university. Everyone who goes there and doesn’t already know sign has to learn it.
Before that, I grew up in the hearing world, talking. That was my first time interacting with other Deaf and hard of hearing people like me.

CLV: How old were you then?

CJ: I was 20.

CLV: And is that when you started making content?

CJ: No, that came later. I started creating content around 22 or 23.

CLV: So it kind of just happened out of nowhere?

CJ: Yeah! Someone requested a video, I made it, it blew up – and then people kept requesting more in the comments. So I ran with it. I’ve been doing it ever since.

CLV: So you’re one of those creators who didn’t set out to go viral – it just happened, and then you kept engaging with your audience?

CJ: Exactly. It went viral, and I just stayed consistent. That’s what people like – not someone who posts randomly, but someone who shows up every day. They’re learning something daily, having a laugh and the comments are always genuine. That kind of feedback really makes my day.

CLV: I’ve seen you on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. Where else can we find you?

CJ: I’m also on Twitter and Facebook.

CLV: Which one’s your favorite platform?

CJ: TikTok for sure. It’s where I started, and it has all kinds of videos you don’t see elsewhere. I also edit everything on there. It’s definitely number one for me.

CLV: And TikTok’s where you have the most followers, right?

CJ: Yeah, 1.6 million.

CLV: Do you get a lot of DMs?

CJ: Oh yeah, every day. Some are super genuine – people thanking me because they can now better communicate with Deaf or hard of hearing friends and family. Others are just people shooting their shot … sometimes saying some wild stuff. It really varies!

CLV: You’re also a soccer player, right?

CJ: Yeah – I play for the U.S. Deaf Men’s National Soccer Team. It’s just like the regular national team, but for Deaf and hard of hearing players who meet the criteria. We travel internationally to compete.

CLV: Do any of your teammates do content creation?

CJ: Nope, just me. But they call me “Mr. Famous” or “King Chatty.” I include them in some of my videos though – teaching soccer signs and sharing our language with the public and soccer fans.

CLV: What’s the biggest misconception about the Deaf community?

CJ: One big one is people assuming Deaf folks can’t talk. And also the term “hearing impaired” – a lot of people don’t like that. It frames deafness as a disability in a negative way. I personally don’t get offended, but it’s something I try to educate people on, because saying it to the wrong person can be hurtful.

CLV: Where do you see yourself in a couple years?

CJ: I haven’t thought that far ahead, but I’d definitely like to get into modeling and acting.

CLV: You’re in LA – that’s the place to do it!

CJ: Exactly. That’s why I’m building my page, networking and putting myself out there.

CLV: Have any producers or brands reached out?

CJ: A few, but a lot are far away. I have to take the initiative more and pitch myself. It’s tough in LA – nothing’s free, and there’s a lot of competition. But I’m gonna keep at it.

CLV: You mentioned earlier that you’re heading to Tokyo?

CJ: Yeah! We qualified for the Deaf Olympics. Last year we went to Brazil, and now we’re heading to Tokyo for about three weeks. We’ve got five training camps before that – goal is to win gold.

CLV: What was it like when TikTok was almost banned?

CJ: I was panicking! People were telling me to move to other apps like Favorited, but it wasn’t the same vibe. I was rushing to post everything in my drafts. I didn’t want to lose all that work.

CLV: Do you still make content while traveling?

CJ: Of course. I’ll make videos with teammates, show soccer signs, do vlogs – a day in the life on the Deaf National Team kind of thing.

CLV: Do you edit your own videos?

CJ: Yup. Editing’s easy for me now.

CLV: How many videos do you make a day?

CJ: When I first blew up, I’d make 20 videos a day and post three times a day. Now I post once a day to conserve energy and content.

CLV: Is there a best day to post?

CJ: Depends on the content, but I’d say Friday or Saturday. Some people like Mondays though – it varies.

CLV: Do you ever tailor content to specific countries or cultures based on your followers?

CJ: Not really. I post whatever I vibe with. But my audience is super loyal and diverse – all age ranges, all over the world. It’s wild.

CLV: This has been so amazing. Thank you for taking the time to be here and share your story with us and with UCLA.

CJ: Of course! Thanks so much for having me.