"I laugh at a lot of things nowadays."
The world fell in love with Kordell Beckham on Love Island USA Season 6 as he stole the heart of Serena Page, and every fan watching. Well, we caught up with the reality star to talk about life outside the villa, nabbing a new deal with Cheez-Its, balancing work and relationships, and so much more!
Paul Archuleta / Getty Images
BuzzFeed: Fans, including myself, were so hype when your Cheez-Its deal happened! Talk about manifestation. What was it like creating your own flavor combo? And is there still a flavor you’d love to see them adapt?
Shae Feldman
Kordell Beckham:When they asked me to come up with a flavor, right then and there, I already had something in my mind. I told them the spicy white cheddar. As far as the new flavor, we're in the works of making something soon. Maybe it's coming, maybe it's not. We don't know yet, but fingers crossed. We want to give the fans what they want. You want to give the supporters what they want. I know they want to see another Kordeezy Cheezy...[laughs] but I probably won't be naming it that.
You’re about to drop a new partnership with Cheez-Its as the new CFO (Chief Fantaseez Officer). What will be your first order of business?
Shae Feldman
My job is to find whoever's feeling the Cheez-iest and we're going to make their fantasies come to life, just like Cheez-Its made my fantasies come to life. Whether you want to get married on a football field or if you want to report from the sidelines in a big old Cheez-It bowl, we're gonna do it all. We're waiting to see what the fans submit and we're gonna make it happen.
When it comes to Cheez-y submissions, what exactly are you looking for?
Arturo Holmes / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
I'm looking for the craziest things that they can think of. Fantasies get wild, fantasies get crazy, so that's what we want — we want something that you'll never forget. We want something that'll be talked about...something I've never seen before.
But that’s not the only collaboration you nabbed recently. Summer Walker tapped you and your girlfriend Serena Page for her “Heart of a Woman” music video. How did that come about?
Presley Ann / Getty Images for Bumble
Summer Walker's team hit up Serena and my team and asked if we wanted to be in her music video. I was excited! I listen to Summer Walker, I'm not gonna lie. I be bumping her music sometimes. And obviously, my girl loves Summer Walker, so it was a big opportunity for us. When we filmed it, we had fun the entire shoot. Everybody from her team was so cool. Sometimes we forgot we were even working because we were having so much fun — lots of laughs, lots of enjoyment. While we were getting motivation for our scenes, I was hyping Serena up. I was saying these things so she could get into that mode to get angry. Well, not angry, but like, you know, get in that mode for the scene.
What were you and Serena actually saying to each other during those scenes?
Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for IHG
Half the time, I was just coming up with a whole monologue [laughs]. I only remember some of it, but other times it was on a whim. I remember specifically when we sat on that couch when we started arguing, I said something about numbers and stuff — "Why would I use numbers? I'm not even good at math." [Love Island USA fans, if you know you know.] So I started saying things like that, but I was also making her laugh. Half the time we couldn't even look at each other because she would start laughing, but it was so fun. It was very exciting!
Even though your relationship started off as public because of Love Island USA, now that you’re out of the villa the public’s accessibility to your relationship has grown even more. How has it been navigating that, and do you and Serena have boundaries in place to ensure some aspects of your relationship are still private?
Peacock
Yeah, we keep what we keep private. There's things we let the fans see and then there's things that we don't. It's interesting, because sometimes when we don't post, they'll start coming up with things. The mind is creative, I tell you. They come up with the craziest things. One time, they said we broke up because we didn't post each other for, like, a day. It's been a day! Our first time coming out the villa, we finally got our phones back, like three days after the show ended. The first comment I saw was, "Why isn't he posting Serena? Are they still together?" I'm like, we just got our phones. But it's funny...I don't mind them. I laugh at a lot of things nowadays.
You guys have been very playful with your fans as well, and I've always admired that. You've found a way to keep us involved while also establishing distance. It's a nice dynamic. You even let fans be a part of your moving journey with your new LA apartment.
The Hapa Blonde / GC Images / Getty Images
I'm actually kind of updating it in a day or two [from when this interview was conducted], when I get back home. I showed them a little something, something. But now that I got everything ready...well, almost everything, I can really do a proper tour for them.
Oh, congratulations! Now that it's officially ready for your fans to see, how would you describe your decorating style?
Theo Wargo / Getty Images
I have two types of styles I'm going for because I have a downstairs and upstairs. The downstairs area will be more homey and comfortable, kind of modern mixed with a little vintage. The upstairs is straight modern, especially with all the technology. I have my whole little home theater. Upstairs is an open space and then downstairs there's the main room and the kitchen. I have a big old fluffy cloud couch, a projector, and a surround sound system upstairs, too. It's like a whole movie theater. So, yeah, I gotta show [the fans] that. They're gonna like that.
What has been the biggest lesson that you've learned about yourself since leaving the Love Island USA villa?
BuzzFeed Celeb
Hmm...you got me with that one. I'm patient. I've been very patient. Managing everything with work and our relationship, I found out that we can make it work. It's not that hard, you just gotta make time, and that's what we do, especially because now we have busy, busy, busy schedules. Half the time, we won't see each other 'til late at night, but we make the most of it on those late nights. But hmm...I don't know. You got me on that question [laughs]. That's a good one.
What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to being a celebrity?
Peacock / Jocelyn Prescod/Peacock via Getty Images
[Thinks of one and then laughs] I'm not going to name that one. I don't mind people coming up to me, asking questions, and talking to me. I'll chop it up with them like I've known them my whole life. I like that. I'm very interactive with the fans, so I like speaking with them. I guess I really don't have a pet peeve...at least when it comes to fan interactions or anything like that.
Did your brother Odell Beckham give you any advice to ensure you were prepared to take on this newfound fame?
Kordell Beckham / Instagram
Yes! He's actually been giving me advice way before I even reached this point. I've been with him during this whole journey, and he's always put me on game to everything that he's doing and how to go about it. Things like how to talk to the cameras, without the cameras, who to look out for, who to have around you, business moves, and all of that — him and my pops, they put me on a lot. So, I always took that into consideration because I always knew that my time would come, eventually. Whether it was five years ago, two years ago, or now — [their words were] always going to be with me, and I was going to utilize them.
And when it comes to brand partnerships and business deals, what things do you look for before signing a contract?
Shae Feldman
I like to make sure that I'm still able to be me, and that we're able to have fun together. I want to create some type of bond with myself and the brand, so it doesn't feel like just business. It would actually be more like a partnership, that way we all can have fun with it, laugh, and enjoy the creative ideas we come up with together. That's one of the main things I look for. And before I sign, I always read [the contract] twice.
Do you feel like you see your friends eating more Cheez-Its since you've partnered with the brand?
Paul Archuleta / Getty Images
I think my buddy Jason introduced me to white cheddar in school. I was like, "Why are your Cheez-Its white?" And he was like, "These are white cheddar." Then he let me try some. I ain't even know him at the time, but that's how we became friends. See, it brings people together. Back then, I didn't know they had other flavors besides the original.
Lastly, are there any upcoming projects we should know about?
Peacock / Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images
I'm going to start a YouTube channel, so I'll be vlogging and doing a little gaming. I'm also starting a clothing brand. Then hopefully movies and TV shows. Oh, I'm also doing more modeling. I love to model. I love clothes.
Actually, I have a fashion show coming up on {Nov.] 30th with the same people I walked my first runway for. It's like a full-circle moment.
I'm so happy for Kordell and Serena, and for all of the opportunities that have come and will come their way!
If you want to enter to have your fantasy come true thanks to Kordell and Cheez-Its, clickherefor all of the sweepstakes info.
