YouTube’s Rob Kenny Returns to Kansas with the Dillon Lecture Series

By Hayden Hackney
Staff writer
Email: thehutchinsoncollegian@gmail.com

When Rob Kenny uploaded his first ‘Dad, How Do I?’ video on April 1, 2020, he expected to help just a few dozen people.

By the end of the next month, it came as a shock to him that millions of people around the world were thanking him for giving a taste of what they had missed out on, and labeled him as the ‘Internet Dad.’

From the basics of everyday dad jokes, to guiding people on how to change a tire, Kenny aims to help people who grew up without that father figure in their lives.

During his press conference and speech on Tuesday for the Dillon Lecture Series at the Sports Arena, Kenny talked about everything from his emotional journey of starting the channel, to the unexpected impact his videos had on millions of people around the world.

“I thought it was gonna help 30 or 40 people. I had no idea it would be what it is today,” Kenny said.

He’s not exaggerating either, the ‘Dad, How Do I?’ YouTube channel currently has over 5 million subscribers with 422 videos posted.

One of the most shocking things for him, however, was the emotional impact his videos made on people. “I thought I was showing people how to tie a tie and people are crying watching me,” he said, “How could I have pictured that?”

Kenny went on to talk about the emotions and feelings that come with having a dad, and even more so, that come with losing one. He realized that his videos have more of an impact on those who have an absent father, or who’ve lost a parent.

“I started processing it and understanding,” Kenny said, “There’s a little more to it than just showing how to.”

His uprising on social media also had a huge impact on his life as well, “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness, my face is everywhere. Everywhere I look, my face is everywhere.”

Kenny mentions that the night he realized he went viral was a very emotional one, as he was on the brink of tears with the realization that, for better or worse, his life had been changed.

“I was on my bed, and I was crying to God. I was like, ‘Lord, what have you done?’” Kenny said.

However, even with fame surrounding him, he kept true to his beliefs.

“I wasn’t looking to be famous, I wasn’t looking to make a lot of money, I wasn’t looking to change careers,” Kenny said, “I was just trying to help people, and it just took off.”

As soon as Kenny went viral, his connections immediately grew, as several publishers came to him asking to write a book. On May 18, 2021, Kenny released his book “Dad, How Do I? Practical ‘Dadvice’ for Everyday Tasks and Successful Living.”

He was also interviewed by several news sources, and was even able to interview Kevin Hart about his 2021 movie “Fatherhood.”

Through all the fame and noise, Kenny remains focused on the same goal he’s had since the beginning; encouraging and empowering people to be the best versions of themselves, and offering a sense of fatherly support to those who could never get it.

Whether it’s for a simple tutorial, or a serious and heartfelt conversation, his presence online still today gives viewers closure and peace during the intensity of the media.

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