Mind Reading: Corey O’Brien’s Greatest Re-Creation Is Himself

“You can ask my family and I can share some baby photos. I knew, we knew, instantly. I was telling my parents I had a crush on a boy when I was 4.”

Corey O’Brien—he of the hilarious video re-creations that have caught the attention of A-listers including Dua Lipa, Lizzo, Justin Timberlake and the Spice Girls—is reminiscing about when he first knew he was gay. To visit with him now, a rising star who’ll stage his first stand-up show June 30 in LA at the Comedy Chateau, it’s hard to imagine the anxiety and depression he experienced growing up in small-town Pennsylvania, and the addiction that ensued. But those formative years are never too far in the rear-view mirror, and have made him a vocal LGBTQ+ advocate for sobriety and mental wellness…