If you’ve been scrolling on TikTok, X or Instagram in the past few days, you may have come across a viral new superstar: Chanty Beluga.
What or Who is “Chanty Beluga”?
No, Chanty Beluga isn’t a real person: it’s the brainchild of comedian Courtney O’Donnell.
There’s no real rhyme or reason to the persona going viral: it’s just a silly name, and watching Chanty Beluga engage in basic human interactions with her funny sounding name, including introducing herself at a party and picking up her coffee while introducing herself – “Hi, I’m Chanty Beluga!” – is the whole joke. It’s just absurd humor!
The Internet has run wild with Chanty Beluga, showering the character with over-the-top praise and silly lore, exalting her as a hero, causing both delight among the terminally online and confusion among those not in the know.
Who Is Courtney O’Donnell?
Courtney is a comedian, writer, and content creator, and she’s got a solo show called Planet Courtney coming to New York later this month. She also released her short film “Going Pop!” in 2025.
Per her bio, she was also the voice behind McDonald’s’ social media at Wieden+Kennedy from 2020 to 2024, and has worked with YouTube, Panera, Bud Light, Google Maps, and Coffee Mate.
See more of Chanty Beluga in action…
The post Who Is Chanty Beluga in Real Life? Viral TikTok Trend Explained appeared first on Just Jared – Celebrity News and Gossip | Entertainment.