Who is Scumbag Dad? What to know about the Florida native behind viral TikTok parody account
One of TikTok's rising stars is a scumbag, only going off of his username. And he's a Florida native.
Scumbag Dad has been referred to as the "internet's anti-father figure," seeing millions of views for darkly humored pieces that mock trending videos on social media.
Who is the comedian behind the moniker Scumbag Dad? And why does he go by such a vulgar name?
Who is Scumbag Dad?
"Scumbag Dad" is satire character portrayed by Brad Podray, a viral influencer who is uses the online skits to parody other popular internet creators.
Ever seen a cringey trend on TikTok take itself too seriously? Or social media creators who build a brand on elaborately giving money to random people? Maybe you've also grown tired of the reaction video that feature … little to no reaction? He's found a way to poke fun at it all.
As Scumbag Dad, Podray boasts 5.8 million TikTok followers, around 3.5 million YouTube subscribers and more than 500,000 Instagram followers. He has cultivated a fanbase that appreciates his sense of humor and commentary.
Oh and he's also an orthodontist and music composer, according to his website.
Where in Florida is Scumbag Dad from? Where does he live now?
According to his orthodontist's office biography, Podray is originally from Boynton Beach, which is 33 miles outside of Fort Lauderdale.
"He moved to Pennsylvania in order to attain his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Scranton. On completion he decided to pursue the Art of Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Dental Medicine," the biography says. "After earning his Dental Degree, Dr. Podray moved on to Temple’s Kornberg School of Dentistry where he completed his Orthodontic residency and his Master Degree in Oral Biology."
In an interview with the Des Moines Register, he revealed Ankeny, Iowa is now his home.
"I never say I'm not from Iowa. I'm always like, 'I'm an Iowan. That's where my family is. That's where I practice. This is our home,'" Podray told the Register.
What the origin behind the Scumbag Dad account?
Podray retold the story of when he and his wife, the visual artist Hannah Sung, were attending a party four years ago. Sung, who is Korean, said she loved "Your Korean Dad," the compassionate internet character played by coffee company owner Nick Cho.
"She was like, 'I love Korean Dad. He's so kind and wholesome and sweet.' and I'm like, 'You know, it'd be funny is if you were evil and you were a more relatable, more realistic dad,'" Podray said to the Des Moines Register about Scumbag Dad's inception.
Podray created a career combatting TikTok characters known for their compassion with Scumbag Dad, a super mean version of the internet's father figure. He wanted to make a mockery of the viral sensations.
“Scumbag Dad represents a way to sneak in social commentary under the guise of weird jokes,” he said.
'Can I get an angel shot': See some of his top TikTok skits
What's next for Scumbag Dad?
Podray told the Des Moines Register he hopes to bring his creativity to the silver screen with a show on Hulu, Netflix or cable. However, it would mean possibly altering his content for a more family-friendly audience.
“That's sort of like the artistic goal is to see if we can get to that level because I've been trying this since I was 15 years old,” Podray said.
As for now, he’s focused on being a Scumbag — and real — dad. He's also still seeing patients once a month.
Where to find and follow Scumbag Dad, Brad Podray
For those interested in Podray and his skits, you can find him at:
TikTok: @TheScumbagDad
Instagram: ScumbagDadOfficial
YouTube: @ScumbagDad
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Scumbag Dad: The influencer parodying annoying internet trends
