Is Matt Taylor on TikTok Really Kevin James? Here's What We Know About the Viral Art Teacher
Is the viral art teacher on TikTok named Matt Taylor actually Kevin James?
While the 60-year-old King of Queens alum has not spoken publicly about it, the TikTok star @thisismatttaylor and the actor are almost certainly one in the same.
Keep reading to find out more…
Kevin wouldn’t be the first star to create a public persona recently, Riverdale‘s KJ Apa is (allegedly) doing the same thing right now with the singer Mr Fantasy.
But unlike that situation, Kevin doesn’t even appear to be hiding it. He and “Matt Taylor” look identical and speak the same way—not a wig or fake tooth in sight.
@thisismatttaylor Be great… but clean up after yourself! #teacher #arttok ♬ original sound – Matt Taylor
Kevin James is playing a character named Matt in a movie called Solo Mio
The main theory right now is that the entire account is a stealth marketing campaign dedicated to promoting Kevin‘s upcoming film Solo Mio, where he is credited on IMDb as playing a character named “Matt.” He also co-wrote the script.
“After being left at the altar in Rome, Matt goes on his honeymoon alone, discovering Italy’s gorgeous landscape, culture, and people,” is the film’s logline.
Maybe the videos were all filmed well in advance and are just now being slowly released on TikTok. So far, there are 20 videos on the account and they are mostly instructional, revolving around art, inspiration, creativity, and life updates, among other things. They are all uplifting in tone so far.
Several films have created similar campaigns. The one for Spree, a 2020 horror-comedy film starring Joe Keery, immediately comes to mind.
The actor and his team created an online presence for his character Kurt Kunkle (@kurtsworld96), a rideshare driver obsessed with going viral. Of course, in Kurt‘s case, things take a much darker turn.
(Funnily enough, the Stranger Things is also the musician DJO, and shares many similarities with Mr. Fantasy.)
@thisismatttaylor Thank God for rainy days
People love Matt Taylor
If indeed the Matt Taylor TikTok is marketing for Solo Mio, it’s pretty smart. Fans are loving the account. It has almost 800k followers and the videos have garnered a cumulative 7.1 million likes. The only account Matt follows is Ed Sheeran.
Commenters have called him similar to Bob Ross and grown attached to the character, wanting him to stick around even after the film if it’s confirmed to be a marketing stunt.
Some have joked that they don’t mind being “gaslit” because the art teacher is so endearing.
“I’m gonna miss Mr Taylor when he goes back to being Kevin James,” one person commented on a video.
“So Kevin James pulling a KJ Apa? ????” said someone else, referring to Mr. Fantasy.
Either way, people seem to be loving Matt Taylor and are in it for the long haul!
Solo Mio will be released in theaters on February 6, 2026.