All photos courtesy of @Bennydrama.
After a three-year hiatus, the Coachella Music Festival made its return to Palm Springs this weekend. In the sea of Euphoria extras and space cowboys in ass-less chaps was one Benito Skinner—known to his 1.4 million followers as @Bennydrama—the Instagram comedian known for his spicy, spot-on celebrity impersonations. After a few days of seratonin-fueled antics, we caught up with Skinner, our girl on the ground, at H&M’s Hotel Hennes for a chat about sunburnt girlies, The Amex Experience, and his festival essentials.
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INTERVIEW: Where are you?
SKINNER: I’m at the Hotel Hennes—in Desert Springs? Is that where I am? Does anyone know? Oh, Indian Wells. It’s so nice here that I didn’t want to leave to see any music. I’m just here to get my full nine hours.
INTERVIEW: What was your festival look?
SKINNER: I gave Creamy Desert Daddy. I have egg yolks on my nails. People either think they’re cute or disgusting. My dolls at Gloss Nails in Silverlake did the art, but they were very confused when I asked.
INTERVIEW: Who did you see at the festival?
SKINNER: Carly Rae Jepson, City Girls, Maggie Rogers, and a bit of Omar Apollo—we love. It’s been a long time since I was in a crowd that size, so I’m taking a deep breath now. But I got to meet some dolls who watch my videos. It was really fun! I wandered the serene VIP rose garden and met some fans.
INTERVIEW: When was the last time you danced?
SKINNER: Truly danced? I saw Charli XCX at the Greek. I did some pretty filthy choreo at that. My biggest moment was Meg thee Stallion this weekend though.
INTERVIEW: What was in your system this weekend?
SKINNER: There is a nasty Starbucks drink ripping through my system at any given moment of any given day. Also sparkling water, tequila, and sliders.
INTERVIEW: What’s in your pockets?
SKINNER: You mean my cute little purse? My hotel key, and [Laughs] a Laniege lip mask. If you don’t have your lip mask in the desert sweetie, think again.
INTERVIEW: Who did you have your eye on?
SKINNER: I came with my boyfriend, and he’s a total dreamboat, so I’ve got my eye on him. He’s a king.
INTERVIEW: Who’s got their eye on you?
SKINNER: Oh, my, god. Where to begin? I did make a scene in the pool on Saturday, so I would guess that I’m being watched by the hotel security, staff, et cetera.
INTERVIEW: What was the Coachella 2022 girl giving?
SKINNER: Definitely Maddie from Euphoria. So many rhinestone-covered pants, lots of eyeshadow—I would have liked to see it blended a little bit better, but I love my girls for trying. Go off. Also a lot of Kacey Musgraves lookalikes as well, a lot of chaps. This festival is an excuse for straight people to give, and I celebrate that.
INTERVIEW: Coachella has too many…
SKINNER: I don’t want to say “people,” because that makes me sound like a boomer. Coachella has too many bracelets. What is all of this? My boyfriend is like, “Take that shit off.” They fucked up my look. I remember people coming back from Coachella in college with all the bracelets. I pretended to judge it, but secretly I was like, “You guys are iconic.”
INTERVIEW: Coachella doesn’t have enough…
SKINNER: I feel like they could have a few more activations, like a few more Amex Experiences would be great. [Laughs] That was a joke. I need a little bit more sunscreen out there next time. I’m seeing my babies getting burnt. Let’s protect that skin in 2023, boos.