Aidan Park
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Aidan Park | |
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| Born | April 5, 1985 South Korea |
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Aidan Park (born April 5, 1985), "The Yay Guy," is an award-winning comedian, international keynote speaker, and best-selling author renowned for his work, "The Art of Being YAY: The OMG NSFW Memoir and Guide to Authentic Joy," featuring a foreword by Margaret Cho. He is also the visionary founder and executive director of The YAY! Foundation.
Early life
Aidan was born in South Korea and was raised by his mother in the absence of his father. He learned English by watching movies like Sister Act and reciting lines from the movie to his mother and her friends. At the age of nine, he and his mother relocated to San Fransisco, California. In his early adulthood, Aidan moved to Los Angeles, California.
Life and Triumph over Adversity
Aidan has faced significant challenges in his life, including poverty, homelessness, and an HIV diagnosis at the age of 19, as well as the loss of his spouse at a young age. Despite these hardships, he has found success as an entrepreneur, stand-up comedian, and advocate for overall well-being.
Career
Aidan Park began his entertainment career in musical theatre, participating in various productions across California, including performances in "Miss Saigon".
In 2012, he transitioned to comedy and regularly performed at venues such as The Laugh Factory in Hollywood[1], Hollywood Improv and The Comedy Store. He has used his stand-up comedy platform to convey messages of joy and empowerment. His comedic skills have led to the release of two comedy specials on platforms like NBC's Peacock[2] and Amazon Prime[3]. Notably, in 2022, Aidan made history as the first openly HIV-positive comedian to perform on a major network[4]. He has also been interviewed twice for the LA Times and featured on ET Canada.
The YAY! Foundation
In 2022, Aidan founded "The Yay! Foundation." which aims to empower and uplift underserved individuals negatively impacted by mental health issues including addictions, suicides, depression, and hopelessness. Through humor, and storytelling, the organization seeks to bring hope, strength, and healing to these individuals, enabling them to overcome adversity and thrive. The Core Programs in the foundation are; The Art of Being YAY! Joy Journey Project, The Art of Being YAY! Workshop, and YAY! Comedy for a Cause.
Aidan has lead The YAY! Foundation in creating and delivering curriculums for well being and joy for NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), New Economics for Women, Special Olympics, American Cancer Society, Widow’s Camp and Keep a Child Alive.
Inspiring the World
Aidan Park's journey from adversity to achievement, combined with his unique sense of humor and commitment to spreading joy, has shaped his influence and career. Through comedy, literary contributions, and the initiatives of The YAY! Foundation, Aidan is dedicated to effecting positive change in many lives. His multifaceted career and dedication to uplifting others have made him a respected figure in the fields of comedy, literature, and social advocacy.
For more information, please refer to the following external links:
References
- ↑ "Laugh Factory". www.laughfactory.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
- ↑ "Watch Comedy InvAsian Season 2 Episode 3: The Art of Being Gay on Peacock". @peacocktv. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
- ↑ "Aidan Park: Movies, TV, and Bio". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
- ↑ "Aidan Park (The Yay Guy) - GP Entertainment". gpentertainment.com. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
External links
This article "Aidan Park" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.