Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The ASL Interpreter For Eminem's Firefly Concert Is Giving Us So Much Life Right Now đŸ”„

The ASL Interpreter For Eminem's Firefly Concert Is Giving Us So Much Life Right Now đŸ”„
(ViralHog/YouTube)
Make us preferred on Google

Thanks to remarkably skilled American Sign Language interpreters, the hearing impaired can enjoy various forms of entertainment ranging from theaters to concerts.

But occasionally, an ASL interpreter's lively presence on stage can upstage the performers they're interpreting –– and we're not mad about it.


Kate Starr Fillingame posted an impressive video on Facebook after being captivated by Holly Mariatty, an interpreter who signed Eminem's performance of "Rap God" at the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware.


In the video that has now gone viral, Maniatty is seen bouncing along to the beat of the music with animated expressions, distinguishing her as no ordinary signer. Her charisma is infectious, and she's a force.



The well-established interpreter already has a solid resume that includes signing for other reputable artists, a list which includes the likes of Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Wu Tang Clan, and the Beastie Boys.

She came to prominence after a previously viral video where American rapper Waka Flocka confused her for a dancer.

He's not that far off in his assumption. Maniatty is a performer in her own right.



Maniatty shared her experiences about her online fame and her notoreity for "performance interpreting" with CBC.

It's an interesting experience because, as a professional, you're up there totally focused on making sure that the show is accessible and the deaf patrons are having as great a time as everybody else. And then you go to sleep and two days later, you wake up and it's all over the Internet. So it's kind of a surreal experience. I had no idea somebody was filming me and I was fortunate that it was a super successful moment and people were really into it.




After matriculating at the Rochester Institute of Technology and becoming a certified ASL interpreter, her big break came when she was given the opportunity to demonstrate her skills at a Marilyn Manson concert.

She described the preparation process for interpreting hip hop concerts.

There's a lot of cultural references references to the person who's writing the song their life and their experiences. So, I do a lot of research about if they're talking about a specific kind of car or an event. For example, when I was getting ready for the Wu-Tang show, they talk about riots in the street.

Maniatty associated the lyrics to the Ferguson riots which were starting to wind down at the time, but after taking a moment to research when the song was written, she realized the rapper was probably referring to the L.A. riots.

And then think about something that's more iconic about the L.A. riots in terms of visual accessibility and kind of build your interpretation that way to make it as as authentic and close to the meaning of the person who wrote it. You just want to make sure that you're providing the most authentic interpretation you can.

People are noticing her authentic interpretations and giving her props.









H/T - CBC, Twitter, YouTube

More from Trending

Sir Patrick Stewart
Just For Laughs/YouTube

Patrick Stewart Delivered His Own Eulogy 11 Years Ago—And It's Hilariously Raunchy

The entertainment world lost one of its all-time greats on October 28 when Sir Patrick Stewart passed away at 86.

The actor, best known for playing Captain Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in the X-Men film series, along with innumerable appearances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, passed after a battle with Alzheimer's disease and lewy body dementia.

Keep ReadingShow less
Randy Rainbow; Mitch McConnell
Randy Rainbow/YouTube

Randy Rainbow Hilariously Drags Mitch McConnell's Unlikely Senate Return With 'Mitchcraft' Parody Video

Singer and satirist Randy Rainbow has been parodying politics since the first presidency of MAGA Republican President Donald Trump. But Trump isn't the focus of Rainbow's latest comedy music video.

Instead, the performer—whose name really is Randy Rainbow—set his sights on the mysterious 92-day disappearance of Kentucky MAGA Republican Senator and former Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell. In June, the 84-year-old lawmaker reportedly fell at his home and was taken to the hospital.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Abdul El-Sayed; Donald Trump
Minhaj Doesn't Know; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Abdul El-Sayed Brilliantly Breaks Down Exactly What 'Idiot' Trump And His Cronies Are Actually Doing In Pitch Perfect Rant

Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed told comedian Hasan Minhaj on Minhaj's podcast that Americans "are being actively bullied by the dumbest people in the room," explaining that the leadership of President Donald Trump and other administration officials is rooted in deep-seated insecurity and fragility.

El-Sayed appeared on Minhaj Doesn't Know to discuss his experiences amid the ongoing Islamophobic attacks Republicans have leveled at him in the final days of the midterm election cycle. El-Sayed, a democratic socialist, has faced accusations he is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of James Talarico
@TeamTalarico/X

James Talarico Was Just Asked If He's The One To 'Turn Texas Blue'—And His Answer Is A Masterclass

Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico had people cheering with his response to a supporter who asked if he is going to be "the one to turn Texas blue."

Ahead of the early voting deadline in Texas, news outlets reported the findings of the latest poll by Quantus Insights showing that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Talarico's GOP opponent for the U.S. Senate, holds a razor thin lead over Talarico. 48.7% of respondents backed Paxton, while 47.6% backed Talarico. Other polls show Talarico ahead.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Image of Timothée Chalamet from Dune: Part Three.
Warner Bros. Pictures

We Just Got Our First Look At AMC's New 'Dune: Part 3' Popcorn Bucket—And They Really Went There

Remember when a Dune popcorn bucket sent the internet into a collective meltdown? Well, AMC Theatres apparently looked at all that chaos and thought, “Cute. Let's double it.” The popcorn bucket madness continues with Dune: Part Three, and this time, the sandworms are coming in pairs.

AMC is pitching its new Double Sandworm Collectible as a way to make sharing popcorn easier. A thoughtful gesture, really, although the two gaping, tooth-lined mouths suggest the design team may have had a little too much fun with the assignment.

Keep ReadingShow less