The Untold Truth Of TikToker Frankie LaPenna

What do you get if you cross an impressively thick mustache, a series of increasingly outlandish Zoom sessions, and the kind of curvy butt that would make Kim Kardashian green with envy? Well, anyone who's chronically online will already know that the answer is up-and-coming viral comedian Frankie LaPenna.

The Michigan native has racked up millions of followers across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram thanks to his attention-grabbing skits and stunts, whether it's skateboard jumping over a Pagani Huayra worth $3 million, staging a business meeting while leaping out of an airplane, or launching a custom-made booty bus. And all this from a personality who was practically unknown just a few years ago.

LaPenna has plans to expand his already massive reach, too, telling Factz, "I want to try to tackle and conquer long-form media. I don't know if I have the right personality for long-form, majority of my videos I'm not even talking." But he's still very much one of the top short-form entertainers online. From family tragedies and film school beginnings to celebrity collabs and corporate concerns, here's a closer look at the self-proclaimed "most caked up man on the internet."

In 2019, Frankie LaPenna spent three months at Point O'Pines Camp for Girls giving a masterclass in his number one talent. And it wasn't anything to do with satirical Zoom meetings or comically oversized derrières. No, the TikToker was tasked with inspiring a group of 11-15 year-olds to become videographers.

Explaining further on his LinkedIn page, an uncharacteristically sensible LaPenna said, "I shot and edited video on a daily basis, which then was compiled into an hour-long recap of the summer camp experience, I sorted and archived hundreds of files on multiple computers, and I learned how to operate according to the structure of a large-scale media operation."

Although LaPenna had yet to become the viral star we all know and love, he still had plenty of media experience under his belt. After graduating from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Cinematography and Video/Film Production, he worked as an archivist for three months at The La Penna Group, where he helped preserve various historic artifacts and interviewed war veterans.

Frankie LaPenna experienced a major family tragedy in 2018 when his older brother, Joseph "Joey" Thomas, died following a reported accidental overdose from kratom at the age of just 21.

In an interview with Wood TV, mother Peggy LaPenna said, "Joe was sweet. That would be my one word. He was sweet. He was kind. He had many friends who loved him and adored him. In fact, after he passed, 20-plus of them went and got a tattoo in honor of him ... He's a good kid who got caught up in drugs, and, I think, experimented and then it grabbed hold of him and it just wouldn't let go."

Joey, who had a technical role in the family business La Penna Group Inc., had appeared in many of his younger brother's online videos. And in an Instagram post on the day he would have turned 22, Frankie paid a heartfelt tribute, captioning a photo of his graveside and a snap of the pair as young kids: "Today we celebrate the day Joey was brought into this world. We will never know why God took you away so damn soon. All of us would give anything to be celebrating with you right now."

In 2024, underwear label Shinesty appointed Frankie LaPenna as "Chief A** Officer," a position which when said aloud sounds like he joined the corporate ladder, but certain letters being capitalized reveals it's simply a pun-tastic marketing stunt.

Yes, capitalizing on the asset — namely his derrière — that had catapulted LaPenna to viral success, Shinesty signed the TikToker to front their latest campaign. "Frankie is the perfect fit to be our CAO," reasoned the brand's CEO Chris White in a press statement. "Why? Let's just say there are two big reasons: left cheek and right cheek ... There's not a better product tester out there. We'll know within seconds if there are any inefficiencies with our stitching or stretching as soon as the underwear goes over his Rumpasaurus Rex."

LaPenna — whose first task was to design and launch a new version of the Ball Hammock Pouch Underwear — was just as cheeky when he spoke about his decision to align himself with the company. "Ever since I can remember, my inseams have been on life support when it comes to containing this ham," he wrote. "Now I know my money maker is safe, protected in a luxury fabric and supportive pouch."

Regular viewers of Frankie LaPenna's content will already be aware of Kayla Lewicki, his director/producer ex-girlfriend who occasionally popped up to join in on the madness. In one TikTok video, the pair can be seen sharing a little bit too much information about their respective stomach problems. And in another, LaPenna uses a novel method to share his snack of choice: spitting them directly into Lewicki's mouth. 

Lewicki, who also graduated from Grand Valley State University on the same Cinematography and Video Production course as LaPenna, has also gushed about her other half on her own TikTok account. "Once upon a time, a Kayla met a Frank," she captioned one montage, adding, "Just a little appreciation for my best friend." When LaPenna asked in the comments if they were getting married, Lewicki responded, "Most likely."

Lewicki's online presence hasn't yet reached the same heights as LaPenna's — although her over 10,000 TikTok followers are nothing to be sniffed at — but she has enjoyed success elsewhere. "We are honored," she captioned a 2021 Instagram post after the Grand Rapids company she worked for, Ozone Films, was recognized at a local film festival. "There is SO MUCH TALENT in West Michigan!! Once again, cheers to future greatness!" Sadly, things appear to have gone awry, as on his Facebook page, LaPenna lists himself as single.

It's fair to say that Frankie LaPenna won't be leading any protests if plans to ban TikTok in the United States ever come to fruition. The videographer may have racked up more than 8.6 million followers and 266 million likes on the platform. But he's more than happy to focus his efforts on other corners of the internet should the worst happen.

When asked about the bill that was making its way through Congress by Wood TV, LaPenna replied, "To be honest, I'm not concerned at all. I have over a million followers on Instagram and right around three million followers on YouTube. So, if they did shut down TikTok, I still have a large following elsewhere."

Should these platforms ever run into the same problems, then the Grand Rapids native will just head for their replacements: "If there is a new app that comes along, great, awesome, I'm all about it. I don't care which app it is, I just want to keep creating videos." LaPenna did express concern about the data collecting habits of such apps, however, he also acknowledged that there's little he can do. So expect to see plenty of big booty antics for the foreseeable future.

It's not exactly a huge shock to learn that Frankie LaPenna based his big booty antics on the owner of arguably the world's most famous derrière. After all, his voluptuous alter-ego is named Jim Kardashian and he appears to spend much of his time recreating the famous Paper magazine pose that nearly broke the internet. But you might not be aware that the TikToker also hopes to work with the most high-profile member of the Kardashian family.

During his chat with "The FilmUp Podcast," LaPenna admitted that he can't recall how the character — who's often surrounded by a security team dubbed the "booty guards" — came into being. But he does know that a certain Kim Kardashian was a major influence on his career.

"I'm like the lost Kardashian, Jim ... I'm like a disowned brother, disowned, just walking around, caked up," LaPenna remarked before revealing that he hopes the reality TV star is aware and appreciative of his homage. "I lay awake at night, wondering if she has seen, like, one or two of the videos." Having already worked with the likes of John Cena and Jason Derulo, don't be surprised if LaPenna ends up rubbing shoulders with his ideal collaborator in the near future.