Kristi Cook: The Internet's Favorite Creator Redefining Pop Culture

Long gone are the days when celebrity gossip was ruled by glossy magazines and paparazzi snapshots. In 2025, the tea is spilled on YouTube—and Spill Sesh is the one pouring.

Photo Credit: Hunter Cohen

As the creator of Spill Sesh, Kristi has carved out a space that blends pop culture commentary with real-time internet culture, giving her audience the kind of unfiltered, insightful takes they can’t get anywhere else. With hundreds of millions of views and a community that hangs onto every upload, she’s become Gen-Z’s trusted insider for all things drama, fame, and digital chaos.

Most recently, Kristi launched a short-form series called Who’s Worth the Ticket?, where she breaks down which celebrities are actually delivering—on stage, on tour, and at awards shows. It’s the latest example of how she’s evolving Spill Sesh into a multi-format brand while keeping her commentary sharp, fun, and perfectly in tune with what her audience wants.

We sat down with Kristi to talk about her journey from niche internet fan to full-blown media force, and what’s next for the brand that changed the way we consume and digest internet culture.

---

How did you get started with Spill Sesh, and what inspired you to create a platform dedicated to celebrity gossip?

It started when I first found this community on Youtube where people were talking about influencers. I had always loved pop culture and watched so much youtube content and felt at that time I started in 2018 none of the major news outlets covered online stars and when I found this small niche on Youtube I knew I needed to be a part of it and make videos talking about who I was watching. Now it feels like everyone is talking about it which is cool but back then it really felt so niche to discuss what went on in influencers lives. I feel like mainstream outlets didn’t think anyone cared about their drama like traditional celebrity drama. 

When you started Spill Sesh, did you ever expect it to grow this big? What was your “aha” moment when you realized you were reaching an audience on a whole new level?

No, definitely not. I really just started Spill Sesh because I was obsessed with internet drama and wanted to talk about it, so the fact that it’s grown into what it is now still blows my mind sometimes. But I will never forget the moment that made me realize people were actually tuning in. I had uploaded a video about Trisha Paytas calling out the Vlog Squad. She had posted this video and then deleted it not long after, but I had downloaded it before it was gone and quickly threw together a video on it literally right before boarding a flight. I edited it so fast, uploaded, and when I landed the video had over 10k views, which was the most I’d ever had at that point. I was freaking out. That was definitely the first moment where I was like, okay… maybe people are watching.

Then not long after that, I covered the whole college admissions scandal. The Olivia Jade/USC situation and that just took off. USC was actually my dream school growing up so I was already so passionate about the story, and I think that really came through in the videos. 

Given your background in entertainment, do you think there’s a unique perspective Gen-Z brings to celebrity culture and gossip?

100%, absolutely. I’m constantly checking the comments section, especially on TikTok, and I’ll even include people’s takes or TikToks in my videos because Gen-Z is the culture right now. They’re not just watching the drama unfold, they’re shaping it, reacting to it in real time, and calling things out before anyone else. They bring this sharp, unfiltered lens to everything, and I think it adds so much depth to the conversation. It’s not just about gossip anymore, it’s about context, accountability, and the way fame operates in this digital world. Gen-Z has totally changed the game.

You’ve earned a reputation for blending internet culture and sharp analysis. How do you balance staying entertaining while offering insights that go deeper than just surface-level drama?

I think the key is just genuinely caring about the stories I cover. I’m obviously here for the tea like everyone else, but I always want to go beyond the headline and really look at what’s actually going on, like why people are reacting the way they are, how this fits into a bigger trend, or what it says about the industry or internet culture as a whole. And I try to do that in a way that still feels fun and casual, like you're chatting with a friend who’s just super plugged in.

You’ve recently built out your team with UTA and Slash Management. How has this new collaboration impacted your vision for Spill Sesh moving forward?

It’s honestly been everything to have this kind of support. Last summer I was so overwhelmed, I had all these ideas and goals for Spill Sesh, but I didn’t know how to take things to the next level. I didn’t have the industry connections, and it kind of felt like I was hitting a wall. Now, with UTA and Slash on board, it’s like this whole new world has opened up. I finally feel like the things I’ve been dreaming about, whether it’s expanding to other platforms, doing more long-form projects, or just growing the brand in general are actually possible. It’s been such a game-changer.

Where do you see Spill Sesh in the next 3 - 5 years? Do you envision expanding into other media platforms or even taking on different types of content creation?

Definitely! I love YouTube and it’ll always be the heart of Spill Sesh, but I see the brand growing in a lot of ways. I’d love to branch out into podcasting or do more deep-dive, docuseries-style content.  I also think there’s a lot of potential in live content or community-driven projects that give viewers a chance to be even more involved. Spill Sesh has always been about keeping up with the internet in real time, but I’d love to also create content that lasts and gives more context to the stories we’re all watching unfold.

What advice would you give to other young creators who want to carve out their own niche in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing digital landscape?

Be authentic. I know everyone says that, but seriously people are craving realness more than ever. The internet is so saturated now, and the one thing that will always stand out is you. What makes creators memorable is when they show up as themselves consistently. Even if it feels small at first, the right audience will find you. And once they do, they’ll stick around because it’s you they’re connecting with, not a version of what you think you should be.

What’s the most rewarding part of being a trusted voice in the world of celebrity gossip?

Honestly, it feels like I have this huge group of friends I’m FaceTiming every day to talk about the tea with. That’s the best part of the community. Knowing people come to Spill Sesh not just for the drama but because they trust the way the stories are being told and feel like they’re part of the conversation. It’s such a rewarding feeling to know that something I started just out of passion has turned into this space where people feel connected, informed, and entertained all at once.