Interview with Content Creator, Host, and Entertainer: Xero Gravity
Can you tell us about yourself and your work?
My name is Xero Gravity, I’m a content creator, host and entertainer with a focus on the horror, sci-fi & dark fantasy realms. I live in NYC where (as COVID allows) I curate and host nerdy fundraisers, events, and parties as New York’s spookiest MC. When I’m not on my feet, you can find me in my creepy corner of the internet where you can find my movie reviews, twitch streams, commentary and more!
What was the first thing you encountered that made you fall in love with horror?
I think this might be a little left field, but, creepypastas. I got into the horror genre a little late in the game, which was around middle school. I used to be a chronic scaredy-cat. I was afraid of everything. My fear got so crippling, that I couldn't even bring myself to use public toilets, because the automatic flushing mechanism made me so nervous. I started feeling pretty pathetic about myself, and middle school is a very impressionable time for everyone. I figured I could build up my tolerance by reading and watching as many scary videos and stories on the internet as I could (middle school logic, lol). That was my entry into the horror genre. I think it worked & I don’t regret a thing.
You’re a gamer, horror specialist, cosplayer, and content creator. How do you bring your love of horror to all of those areas?
This question is surprisingly easy to answer. I’m just a big nerd. I will forever share my nerdiness to the public. In fact, I don’t think I can help it. My content relies on my dedication to fandom and my drive to create safe and diverse spaces. I feel extremely blessed that people enjoy watching me enjoy what I love to share enough for me to make a career out of it.
Who have been some of the biggest influences on your content and love of horror?
I’ve told my community for a very long time now, that someday I will become the Black Elvira. She is such a powerhouse in the community, and I admire how horror fans trust her with their fandom. I hope I can be that pillar for intersectional horror fans someday.
Besides the obvious, Karama Horne A.K.A. The Blerd Gurl. She’s a fellow NYC creator and an absolute staple in the Blerd community. Same as Elvira, her surrounding community really trusts her with their fandom, and with that trust, she is able to really speak to her community on their level. She motivates me to keep on with the nerdy. I feel very fortunate that I have her as a supporter. There’s room for all of us.
What does the horror community mean to you?
The horror community is my escape. I think many nerds use fandom to escape from reality for a while. Life can be extremely overwhelming for most people, and for horror nerds, a great way to temporarily disconnect from that is to place yourself in a universe where everything is going wrong. When you’ve placed yourself in a dystopian universe where your biggest problem is being hunted and eaten by a malicious race of space monsters, real life doesn’t seem so awful for a short while.
Sometimes it’s best to grow & heal with people who understand you. Watching, playing, & reading horror is very therapeutic to many of us but sharing it with others who are just as excited as you to dive in can make you feel at home when you really aren’t.
What does being a Blerd mean to you? What does Blerdom mean to popular culture fans?
The Blerd world is a safety blanket. I never knew how important community was until I found other Black nerds. It really improves your quality of fandom when you are able to share your passions with people who share experiences with you outside of that fandom. It's an omnipresent space where everyone is rooting for you, and nobody asks questions.
I need to add: that doesn’t just go for Black people, it goes for any group of marginalized nature. If you're a queer horror fan, a latinx horror fan, or a disabled horror fan, I encourage you to find people who understand you in your fandom. It could possibly change your world like it did mine.
I joined the Blerd community right before its boom, so I don’t really know what Blerdom looks like from the outside to pop culture fans. What I do know, however, is that you should be here, and it's bigger on the inside. :)
Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect to see from you in 2022?
I’m very thankful to be as busy as I am this year. Looking into 2022 I’m real excited to publish my next zine project, which will be multiple volumes and in collaboration with zombie author, Sylvester Barzey. I’m also very excited to announce my new show with Afropunk “Bump in the Night”. You can watch it on Friday nights on the official Afropunk twitch channel. I guess you can say I’m ready to rock this year.
