Introducing KING VADER, the online alias of Dominique Barrett, an American comedian and social media influencer. Known as “Hood Naruto,” he has gained immense popularity for his anime-based comedy videos, making him one of the few Black content creators to achieve such success. Starting on Vine, he has expanded his fan base across platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. His talent has even led him to collaborate with Netflix as an actor and director for the short film series Netflix Dreams. Additionally, he has worked with Google Pixel for an advertisement and modeled for a Naruto-inspired clothing range from Team Liquid. With 2.7 million YouTube subscribers, 1.5 million Instagram followers, and 4 million TikTok fans, KING VADER continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Dominique Barrett
- Age: 26 Years, 26 Year Old Males
- Born Country: United States
- U.S. State: Illinois
- African-American From Illinois
Rise to Stardom
KING VADER developed an interest in acting and filming at a young age, inspired by his older cousin who is now his manager. He also fell in love with anime after watching the Dragon Ball Z: Broly movie with his older brother. He started creating short funny videos on Vine in 2013 and gained popularity on the platform due to his sense of humor and comic timing. However, it was when he combined his passion for acting with his love for anime in the mid-2010s that his fan base exploded. His Naruto-inspired video and a video featuring a group of friends threatened to dance at gunpoint both went viral, earning him millions of loops and over half a million fans on Vine. Unfortunately, Vine was shut down in October 2016.
YouTube and Instagram Success
After Vine shut down, KING VADER transitioned to other platforms like Instagram and YouTube. In February 2017, he posted the first part of his multi-part anime video series called “Hood Naruto” on Instagram, which gained him recognition. He continued the series with a second part in May 2017 and a third part in March 2018, which became his biggest hit to date. The third part showcased an epic dance battle between two teams led by VADER as Naruto and fellow social media star Dan Nguyen as Sasuke. It featured viral dances set to a trap remix of “Strong and Strike” from the Naruto: Original Soundtrack and has garnered over 29 million views. The fourth part, released in July 2018, has gained more than 21 million views. VADER’s success on YouTube is attributed to the quality of his content and his friendly relationships with fellow influencers who often collaborate with him. He also has a separate YouTube channel called “WOLF GRAPHIC” with his group of influencers and comedians.
Directing His Own Netflix Series
KING VADER’s success has led to collaborations with big companies like Netflix and Google. In 2019, he premiered “Hood Naruto: The Movie” at Crunchyroll Expo and his Avengers: Endgame parody at the LA Comic-Con. He caught the attention of Google and created a sponsored advertisement for Google Pixel titled “THEY LAUGHED AT MY SUPERPOWERS”. In 2020, he signed a deal with Netflix to create a miniseries for their YouTube Channel called Netflix Dreams. This opportunity allowed him to direct and act in a series of videos that parodied popular Netflix original series such as The Umbrella Academy, Cobra Kai, Army of the Dead, and The Witcher.
Family & Personal Life
KING VADER, whose real name is Dominique Barrett, was born on April 18, 1997, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Not much is known about his family, but he has two brothers. His online alias was inspired by the character Darth Vader from Star Wars and his favorite Vine creator, King Bach. Despite his videos often featuring choreographed dance battles, he does not consider himself a dancer.