Benito Skinner Spun His Instagram Following Into Television Gold
Coat, Louis Vuitton Men’s. Sweater, pants, Zadig & Voltaire. Watch, Cartier. Ring, Shay Jewelry. Loafers, Giuseppe Zanotti.
Benito Skinner is ready to get canceled. It’s the logical next step in the celebrity formula: Rise from seemingly nowhere, gain recognition, star in and create a television show, and then go down in flames. “I can’t wait,” Skinner says jokingly. “I’ve been waiting.”
With the Instagram handle of @bennydrama7, it’s remarkable that Skinner has thus far survived the internet unscathed. The star got his start on Instagram, creating sketches and videos in which he impersonated celebrities, your hairstylist, and even the Starbucks logo, and created Heidi Klum-level Halloween costumes. The social media following he amassed—combined with his hard work, drive, and undeniable charisma—has resulted in the moment he is now relishing: the debut of the Prime Video series Overcompensating, which he created, wrote, produced, and stars in.
Skinner swears Overcompensating isn’t autobiographical. Sure, his character’s name in the show is Benny, and sure, just like Skinner, Benny grew up in Idaho in a conservative, Catholic environment, played football in high school, and wasn’t fully out in college, but he promises: Benny is not a direct reflection of him. “I have more siblings than just one,” Skinner says with a cheeky grin. “Also, my relationship with my sister is amazing, and we don’t fight,” he adds, referencing the feud with his on-camera sister, played by Mary Beth Barone.
It’s safe to say that elements of Skinner seep through as his character embarks on a journey that mirrors his own. The actor came out in college at Georgetown after grappling with his Catholic guilt and internalized homophobia, and he often relied on the female friendships in his life to get him through. In Overcompensating, his character Benny goes through something similar, forming a close relationship with Carmen (Wally Baram), a girl in his orientation group he immediately hits it off with.
“The internet has allowed these iron gates of Hollywood to be opened for so many more voices.”
The series makes fun of the “gay best friend” stereotype, while exploring the complexities of a girl-gay relationship. It’s called Overcompensating because in college, Skinner would often hide his sexuality and go a step too far to try to convince everyone he was straight. “Any weird memories that I had [from college] are in the show,” he says. “I’d be prepping the night before, and I’d be like, ‘Why the fuck did I do this to myself?’ But I created enough separation so I wouldn’t feel too insane.”
His university days are well behind him, and he’s now in a happy relationship with Terrence O’Connor, who originally encouraged him to make his Instagram public. “All I want for everyone—but especially queer people, because they’re my favorite, obviously—is to have someone who champions them,” Skinner says. “I think we had been on two dates and he was like, ‘Well, you’re making sketches. Your Instagram should be public.’...I was so scared, because I was like, ‘They’re going to make fun of my gay voice.’...Two weeks later, I’m [posting] in a wig.”
Blazer, turtleneck, trousers, gloves, boots, Saint Laurent.
His following gave him the audience to create his own stand-up comedy show, the roots of which served as the basis for his Prime series. Skinner is keenly aware he didn’t follow the orthodox path to television. “The internet has allowed these iron gates of Hollywood to be opened for so many more voices,” he says. “I have these people who have really taken to my comedy and are championing it.”
One of his cheerleaders is Brat singer and Grammy Award winner Charli xcx, who masterminded the music for Overcompensating. Over the course of the series, about 30 Charli songs are played. It’s almost a survey of her career pre-Brat, a celebration of pop’s hottest star.
The soundtrack came to be after the two became friends at one of Charli’s iconic parties. After a few drinks, and encouragement from O’Connor (who now helps to manage Charli’s socials), Skinner went up to the British singer and asked her to take a look at his script and score the show. She said, “Sure, babes.” Skinner sent her the script, and she signed on to the project immediately.
Through every element of the show, Skinner’s message is clear: He just wants people to feel loved, welcomed, and, when mistakes happen, forgiven, while celebrating the relationships that made him. “All of these people are hurting and really want to be loved so badly,” he says. “That’s the whole point of the show—wanting to be loved so deeply, and going about it in the totally wrong way. I don’t think that’s just a queer experience. I think that’s everyone.”
Hair by Sami Knight for Rehab; makeup by Alexandra French at Forward Artists; manicure by Jolene Brodeur at the Wall Group; produced by Anthony Federici at Petty Cash Production; photographed at Malibu Creek Ranch.
A version of this story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of ELLE.
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