Ruba Wilson is Giving Us All the Celebrity Tea

Are you looking for the latest news on celebrities and entertainment? Don’t worry, Ruba Wilson’s got you covered.

Since the age of 16, Wilson has been presenting entertainment news. After catching the attention of Hollywood publicists and managers with a viral YouTube video, he has gone on to host red carpet events and interview A-list talent across Los Angeles. Wilson has presented and interviewed for People TV, Young Hollywood, Awesomeness TV, and has hosted two seasons of the game show Music Mania for the Joyride app. In addition to making name in Tinseltown, he is also the official voice of Tik Tok, where he has more than 1.3 million followers.

Now, alongside Bradford How and Sloane Glass, Wilson is a host for LIT, a brand-new live streaming entertainment news network for the social media generation. LIT aggregates the hottest stories, breaks exclusive scoops, and navigates the world of celebrity and influencer gossip with original reporting, whip-smart commentary, and upbeat conversation. You won’t want to miss a single second of it.

OUT FRONT had the opportunity to chat more with Wilson about LIT and how he fell into this crazy world of entertainment reporting.Hi, Ruba! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me. Can you please begin by telling us more about co-hosting the brand-new entertainment news network, LIT?
Oh my god; LIT is everything and more. At the end of the day, it’s a new celebrity and entertainment news network that’s basically helping audiences navigate through the never-ending social media news cycle. It is constantly moving and shakin’. Social media does not stop; it never sleeps.

How did you get involved with LIT?
Well, thank God for my agent. She brought the opportunity to me, and I went through a series of auditions. We had to do a screen tests and chemistry tests with so many other hosts, and what’s really funny is that one of the other hosts that I am currently working with, Bradford How, during our chemistry test, we were all kind of in waiting rooms, I just gravitated towards Bradford. Like, we talked for so much time. Obviously, I didn’t know he was going to be on the show, but our energy just definitely gelled. The first week of March was when I did the screen test, then found out the following week that I booked it, then COVID happened. It was definitely a blessing in disguise, for sure.

Has it been easier or more challenging to broadcast remotely while in quarantine?
It has been such a challenge in the best way possible. I mean, I have been hosting since I was 16 years old, so I have had my fair share of working with producers speaking to me in my inner ear and things of that nature, but doing an entire show remotely, especially with two other hosts that you have to gel with, there can be a slight disconnect with FaceTime or Zoom. So, we really have to listen to each other and really be in that moment. It has been a challenge, but it has been such a great challenge.

Why should we check out LIT? What is the number-one reason?
The reason why you should watch LIT is because it is always moving and shaking when it comes to the celebrities that we love. We talk about everyone from Hugh Jackman, Addison Rae, the Hype House, TikTokers—we talk about it all. I would say watching our show is like eavesdropping into some FaceTime conversation that they’re having with their friends. Bradford and Sloane, I love them so much. I make fun of Bradford; he makes fun of me, and it’s the same with Sloane. We just have a good time. It’s not stuffy; it’s exactly what the name of the show is. It’s lit!

How can we tune in?
It is so simple. You can check us out every single day, Monday through Friday, at 10:00 a.m. PST on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It’s a great time, so make sure to check it out.

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Many people believe that being too involved with entertainment and social media can be harmful to one’s mental health, especially today’s youth. What is your opinion, and has this ever been an issue for you?
Yes. I would be lying if I said that social media hasn’t affected my mental health. It has. You know, we all find ourselves in positions where we are comparing ourselves to a guy who has a freaking 20 pack, women, and people like that. I have definitely had my fair share of it, but one thing I will say to kind of bring it back to LIT, we talk about all of those things. Just recently, we had a conversation about how much face tuning is too much face tuning. We look at the Kardashians, and we were just being totally transparent. I mean, we have all nipped and tucked our pictures. Again, that’s what I love so much about this. We’re not praising these people for these nips, tucks, and Photoshopped pictures. We are just laying it out exactly how it is.

Like you said earlier, you have been hosting and presenting entertainments news since you were 16 years old. Has this always been your passion?
You know, it’s so interesting. Hosting was never my passion because I always looked at it and was like, oh my god; that’s so easy. It’s so simple. Little did I know, it was a lot of freaking work! It takes a great host to make something look effortless. So, I have always wanted to do music and acting, but I ended up doing hosting, and I am so thankful and grateful for it.

From Red Carpet events to major award shows, you have met and talked with several A-list celebrities. What do you enjoy the most about interviewing them?
The thing that I enjoy the most about interviewing these A-list celebrities is the interaction. I have done so many different interviews, so many different Red Carpets, so many different events, and what I have noticed is that so many different outlets or hosts will ask the talent the same questions over and over again. For me, I get bored.

I’m an Aries, I get bored very quickly. You got to keep us on our toes. So, I want to have a solid moment with these people, and that’s exactly what I do. I interviewed Kevin Hart, I actually worked with him for The Secret Life of Pets 2, and it was such a great time just having that interaction with him. It was great to see how he works, and I live for a great moment.

Which celebrities would you say have been your favorite to interact with?
Kevin Hart, for starters. Once again, he is such a professional. He says he’s a professional, but he also likes to have fun and get the job done. DJ Khaled, he is one of the dopest producers that are out right now, and his energy, he is just such a great guy and so down-to-Earth. For me, it’s so refreshing to see these A-listers be so down-to-Earth. It’s beautiful because you sometimes hear crazy things about celebs, and I feel like I am getting a closer inside look on these people. I have had great experiences with them.

Care to mention any least favorites?
You know, honestly, I have had such a great run with hosting and interviewing celebs. I have had a great experience with so many different artists; I haven’t had a negative experience. I am so thankful. In addition to being an entertainment host and presenter, you are also a social media influencer. What do you hope followers and viewers take away from your content?
What I hope that my followers take away from my content is the energy of inspiration. I came from humble beginnings; I knew what I wanted to do, and I made it happen. I just hope and feel like I am inspiring a lot of people, especially LGBTQ and LGBTQ youth of color. Somebody will hit me up on social media and be like, ‘Oh my god; thank you so much for being you, and so unapologetically you. So, I hope to continue to inspire.

As a black, gay man, what more do you hope to accomplish with your platform?
Once again, I just hope to inspire people. I hope that they understand through seeing me and seeing me do what I do that literally anything is possible. Growing up, I did not see anyone that looked like me doing what I am doing right now. So, all I can do is just continue to be me, and I truly believe that the rest will follow.

Have you ever encountered any racism or bigotry while working in this industry?
In the moment, I didn’t realize that I did experience it, but stepping away from it, like oh my god, that’s what that was. It is what it is, but I think it is important to just continue to push forward and be the best person you can possibly be.

What’s next? Do you have any other upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?
Let’s just say I have a lot in store, but you guys are definitely going to have to wait and see! Until then, make sure you check out LIT Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m. PST on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram!

Find out more at litnews.com, and stay up to date with Wilson on Instagram and TikTok.

Photos Courtesy of LIT Entertainment News