I’m just going to say it: Mr. Fantasy is the most entertaining thing to happen in celebrity culture for months, and KJ Apa deserves an award for his commitment to this bit.
If you haven’t been chronically online the last few months, you may have missed a rising star: Mr. Fantasy. On Aug. 19, Mr. Fantasy posted his first video to TikTok, and has since gained 1.1 million followers in just a few months.
Who is this Mr. Fantasy? While he has not revealed his true identity, fans are speculating that it is famous actor KJ Apa. As a chronically online person, I knew that Mr. Fantasy was Apa in disguise.
Before we get into why Apa is taking this Mr. Fantasy thing so seriously, I’m going to discuss all the clues I have put together that confirm Apa is Mr. Fantasy.
The black bob on Mr. Fantasy isn’t hiding that chiseled jawline that Apa certainly has. From their facial hair to their height, everything is pointing back to Apa. The main thing that leads me to this decision is the matching tattoos.
The one thing that has me fooled is how Apa has perfectly straight teeth, and Mr. Fantasy has a slight gap between his two front teeth. My man is taking this Hannah Montana moment very seriously.
What makes Mr. Fantasy so special? It’s because it’s a breath of fresh air seeing a celebrity channel another side of themselves. Everything is so serious when it comes to being in the spotlight, but Apa took his fame as a chance to explore his creativity.
Mr. Fantasy has released three singles since appearing out of thin air. “Catapult,” “Wayuwanna” and “Mr. Fantasy.” Apa released an album called “Clocks” in 2021, so it’s no surprise he has a desire for making music.
Apa’s album didn’t blow up, but Mr. Fantasy’s music has already landed him in positions such as performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
The plot twist is that Mr. Fantasy’s music is genuinely good. I can tell that this wasn’t just a publicity stunt — he truly enjoys creating music and entertaining others. That passion is likely why he’ll be able to maintain this identity for a while. Fans are excited not just about the music, but the alter ego himself.
His music stands out because he fully commits to a persona that feels refreshing and distinct from other artists. He isn’t just following trends — he’s reviving sounds and styles we haven’t heard in decades. His work blends genres, mixing 1960s-influenced psychedelic rock with 1970s funk and 1980s disco, all layered with contemporary pop production.
Not only has he not broken character, but former costars are denying knowing who he is. The cast of “Riverdale,” the show Apa starred in from 2017 to 2023, has been asked in multiple interviews about Mr. Fantasy, and they typically laugh it off.
Lili Reinhart, former co-star of Apa, left a comment on one of Mr. Fantasy’s videos. When Mr. Fantasy was asked about it in an interview, he said he didn’t know who she was. Entertainment Tonight later asked Reinhart about his response, and she joked that she was “not relevant enough” for him — but maybe one day.
That is the beauty of this persona. He is having so much fun with it. I love it when individuals channel another side of themselves that people don’t get to see. Personally, if you haven’t seen any of his interviews, you need to dive into them because you’ll fall in love with his character even more.
My favorite interview is the one he did with The Edge NZ. He is so goofy in every single one of these interviews, and just plays the role so well. I see this as his opportunity to let that other side of him shine without fear of judgment from others.
No one else is putting on a captivating performance like Apa is. If anyone else came out and did this, it would look like they are doing it just because Mr. Fantasy is doing it. While Apa doesn’t own the idea of having an alter ego — we saw Hannah Montana do it — it just wouldn’t be as new or exciting.
Mr. Fantasy didn’t come to play, and I’d highly recommend checking out his content. His success is a reminder to be yourself and to try new things, even when they feel intimidating.
