Discovering the Empowering and Candid World of ¡Hola Papi!
Seattle’s Scared Shitless found solace in the midst of their climate change fears and sexuality shame when they turned to the popular online advice column, ¡Hola Papi!, in 2022. The response they received from Papi was both loving and precise, reassuring them that while fear is valid, it doesn’t have to define their existence.
Every ¡Hola Papi! column is a raw and honest reflection of life, blending humor, pathos, love, sincerity, and even the occasional food reference. Papi fearlessly delves into topics like threesomes, friendship woes, being a weekend boyfriend, dealing with energy vampires, and confronting our shared existential dread.
Behind the pseudonym Papi is John Paul Brammer, a former closeted Catholic school kid from rural Oklahoma. Growing up in a small town where his mother even taught him English in ninth grade, Brammer always felt the urge to escape. After college, he found himself in DC, writing clickbait articles for content mills. Despite the lackluster job, he honed his skills in capturing people’s attention in the digital chaos of the internet.
In 2017, Brammer seized the opportunity to launch ¡Hola Papi! amidst a period of freelance struggles. His unique voice and knack for engaging readers quickly made the column a hit. And soon, he became known as the Chicano Carrie Bradshaw, courtesy of his contributions to the LGBTQ+ editorial website, Into, from Grindr.
Today, Brammer wears many hats – as an author, illustrator, and essayist. From his apartment in Brooklyn, New York, he continues to share his insights on doubt, cynicism, and the reasons behind his undying love for Twitter. Join him on his journey of empowerment and candid conversations through the pages of ¡Hola Papi!