A Royal Evening with Brittany Broski: UU Exclusive Interview & Show Recap
Article by Catie Blackman, University Union Editorial Board
Director | Photo by Asia Lising
For one night, Syracuse University welcomed royalty to a sold-out Goldstein Auditorium. ‘A Royal Evening with Brittany Broski’ packed an excited audience for a moderated Q&A, live comedy, and the kind of unfiltered honesty that has defined Brittany Broski’s internet personality, and its complementary cultural commentary.
The evening balanced humor with intellectual conversation, thanks to University Union’s own Kyle McMahan, who moderated with confidence and charisma. Brittany moved through the event with amusing bits and passionate discussion, sharing both the hilarious persona we see online and the authentic self she loves to share alongside it.
The structure of her series, Royal Court, presented itself almost instantly, as the roles reversed and she was put on the spot. From the set design and spotlight to the various rapid-fire questions and the overall commitment to the bit, Brittany finally learned what it was like to be a guest on her own show. When asked about her own execution of Royal Court, she shared that, unlike other traditional interview formats, she intentionally begins with high-intensity, disarming questions before transitioning into more mature, relevant topics related to the guest’s current projects and beliefs. The goal, which she explained, is to humanize her celebrity guests; something that becomes more complex when a guest exists beyond the realm of a typical “celebrity” in her eyes.
For Brittany, that guest was Harry Styles, who recently made his first appearance on Royal Court, and is notably one of Brittany’s long-time idols. She described her experience of interviewing him as surreal and out-of-body, stating, “It was difficult for me in a lot of ways. But mainly just the process of…oh, you are not only real, but I have a job to do.” Despite the personal pressure of toning down her fangirl persona, she called it “the best experience of my life,” and was honored to be trusted by his team with the opportunity.
At one moment in the night, Brittany stepped back and acknowledged her deeply curious personality, emphasizing her interests in diving into academia, yet still keeping comedy intertwined in her content. She acknowledged her unique “Fart History” segment, mentioning the challenges that come with balancing what viewers want to see versus discussing her cultural interests. It is this awareness that distinguishes Brittany from other creators; her understanding of viewer consumerism in comparison to her educational endeavors places her at a higher level of versatility than most other creators. She still cares about literacy and education, and mentioned she will continue to share this side of her “if [she has] the ear of the younger generation.”
Photo by Troy Conner
I was ecstatic to sit down with Brittany before the show, experiencing her electric yet intellectual disposition. Here’s what she had to say:
The Universe: Every guest on your Royal Court draws their “crest”. What would you put on yours?
Brittany: “I would have a dragon. I would have the Irish Flag. I would have a 4 for Beyoncé, and it would probably have the Broski Nation symbol.”
The Universe: Is there something you like to do in your free time that is completely separate from media and technology, since you spend so much time surrounded by these things on a normal workday?
Brittany: I read a lot. My favorite book of all time is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I’m currently reading The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis. But I’ve been super into the Brontë sisters lately, I’m doing my whole gothic horror thing, I’m still in it. I also recently taught myself to sew, so I’ve been embroidering…A lot of what I do [in my free time] is just in my house, because I travel so much.
The Universe: As you’ve grown more comfortable interviewing special guests, which, I know, Harry must’ve been a big one, how did you adapt your comfort level and interviewing capabilities as you’ve increased the virality of the guests you’re bringing on Royal Court?
Brittany: Stanley is a major part of that. He’s my right-hand man. He’s very in the weeds with me on like “Hey, this question didn’t work. Let’s think about why” or “I ended up having to cut this bit when I was editing. I don’t want to do that. How can we make it work?” It’s a total evergreen and consistent collaboration between me and him. You don’t get these guests by staying at the same level of “okay” host. Asking people to meet you where you are, that’s not how it works. You were nice enough to come on my show, I’m gonna meet you where you are. It’s a constant give and take and push and pull. It’s been a slow, linear process. I think that the Harry of it all exponentially put Royal Court on the map, but I’ve been doing it consistently for the past three years.
The Universe: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given by someone in the entertainment/media industry, and what advice would you give the students at Syracuse pursuing this industry?
Brittany: I don’t know if this is advice, but celebrities are weird. They’re normal people who live such a privileged life, so how do you swat away the greenery and pull back the curtain on the person versus all the smoke and mirrors? I don’t know if anyone ever told me that, but the longer I do this, and the more I talk to my fellow host friends, we all agree on this. It makes this easier to do. When I’m talking to you, not as Harry Styles but as Harry, I want to know what Harry from Cheshire is like. It removes this fangirl lens, which I can put back in at any moment, sometimes involuntarily…but you have to walk in and take the job seriously to get the best product out of it. As for any advice I would give, you need to be prepared that people make this industry more miserable than it has to be. Remember to be the joy, and remember it’s not that serious. We’re making fun stuff. Hollywood is about art, creativity, and entertainment.
Photo by Asia Lising
Beyond the structured back and forth of the conversation, what resonated with the crowd the most was Brittany’s ability to easily connect, reflect, and display pure authenticity to the hundreds of fans there to listen. With the limited time she had on stage, she put a smile on every face in the room and shared heartfelt sentiments that gave everyone something meaningful to leave with. Even when looking back on her own college experience, she shared a piece of advice that shifted the crowd’s energy: you will never again be as physically and emotionally close to your friends as you are right now. It was a heavier moment, but one that stuck.
By the end of the night, this royal evening felt less than just a moderated conversation and more like a shared experience for all who attended; one built on both humor and genuineness. For most, it was a reminder of why Brittany Broski’s content continues to resonate: not because she’s hilarious (which she, undoubtedly, is), but because she knows when to be serious, too.
