Rob Potylo, aka Robby Roadsteamer, has spent the last year playfully antagonizing MAGA supporters across the country. Last Sunday, dressed in leopard Spanx and a QAnon Shaman-inspired outfit, he pestered Trump loyalists at Madison Square Garden.
As Robby Roadsteamer, Potylo’s comedic persona, he’s known for provocative performances, blending music, comedy, and social commentary. His act has evolved over time, tackling topics like mental health and creativity. The comic with over 114,000 TikTok followers, has spent the past year blasting parody songs about the insurrection, abortion rights, and Trump’s candidacy in front of crowds of people wearing red hats.
But last week through the grapevine and his influencer friends, Potylo had heard that Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist who had spent the last four months in jail for defying subpoenas in response to January 6, was having a press conference at the Loews Regency Hotel, just a couple dozen blocks uptown from the stadium. So he changed into a bright red suit, sunglasses, and a bandana straight out of your hippie grandma’s closet, and managed to get up the elevator by convincing security that he was a “photographer for Tim Pool” — an alt-right influencer who is currently taking time off his podcast to be with the family he doesn’t have.
“I didn’t expect that they were going to let me into the God damn press conference, because I feel like I’m definitely on like a couple of lists for the Trumps,” Potylo told Passionfruit.
So with news cameras all around and an unaware Bannon, Potylo took his shot at the Q and A section. “I’m wondering when’s the next insurrection and can we storm the Burger King after this,” Potylo bluntly asked the recently released convict. Security dragged him out within seconds, but the live-streamed conference clip was already going “atomic” the comic said. His Twitter followers quadrupled in a couple of days and more people than ever were paying attention to the work he had been doing over the past year.
Potylo, who’s been satirizing American culture, for nearly two decades, has partnered with the likes of performance artist, political activist, and boot-hat wearer Vermin Supreme. As well as wrestler Chyna, who he witnessed over the last few years of her life “being swallowed up” by the hate on social media.
“What I’m trying to do is put myself out there, regardless of what happens or the situation, and just, show people that man, there’s real alternative comedy and art still there,” Potylo said. “You gotta be like Indiana Jones, man, like an archeologist, you gotta find it and chase it down, like that motherfucking Ark.”
And though his face hasn’t melted off, Potylo has been pushed into the danger zone for his art. He had his megaphone punched at the MSG rally. He’s been kicked out of two different Hulk Hogan meet and greets — the second time he wore a teddy bear suit to sneak in.
To pay for all of the gas and costume changes, Poltylo has been successfully crowd-funding his journey through donations received from fans, as well as TikTok and YouTube revenue. Learning from Vermin Supreme, who has managed to crowd-fund his activism since the 1980s, Potylo knows that it’s easier to ask for donations “like a political campaign,” appealing to people through his character for their support. “It’s a lot easier to be like, I need your dirty Venmo money so I can battle the evil Magamaniacs,” he said.
Potylo, for his part, is well aware that playing a character online can be a delicate balancing act, as it’s easy to become consumed by the persona. Take Guy Beahm, aka DrDisrespect, for example. Initially, his DrDisrespect persona was a satire of toxic gaming culture, but following allegations of messaging a minor, his online presence took a drastic turn, embracing MAGA ideology.
In stark contrast, Potylo demonstrates self-awareness, recognizing the risks of losing himself in his online persona. To stay grounded, he reminds himself of his core objective: “to be a lightning rod, helping progression move forward, rather than succumbing to my vices.”
