The following is a historical list of the first famous individuals (and pop culture references) who have created, attempted, experienced, or discussed ASMR/ASMR triggers (2014-2021). Click any link to view or learn more about each ASMR reference.
See a missing reference? Just send an email to Dr. Richard via asmruniversity@gmail.com with a link to the celebrity or pop culture-related ASMR reference (pre-2022). Thank you.
2014
- May; Molly Shannon (as guest with Conan O’Brien) (Actor)
- Jun; deadmau5 (Musician: Terrors in my head song includes vocals of Maria Gentlewhispering)
2015
- April; Russell Brand (Actor)
- June; Will Wiesenfeld/Baths (Musician)
- July; Would I Lie to You? (BBC Game Show)
2016
- May; Nikki Glaser (Comedian)
- July; Cara Delevingne (Actor)
- Aug; Eva Longoria (Actor)
- Aug; Juno Temple (Actor)
- Dec; Zara Larsson [Article] (Singer/Songwriter)
2017
- Mar; Ashley Graham (Model)
- April; Kate Hudson (Actor)
- May; Gilbert Gottfried (Comedian)
- June; Zara Larsson [@27m:20s] (Singer/Songwriter)
- July; Alistair Deverick/Boycrush (Musician)
- July; Glass Vaults (Music group)
- Aug; Penn Badgley (Actor)
- Sept; Emma Stone (Actor)
- Sept; Kathy Bates (Actor)
- Oct; Margot Robbie (Actor)
- Nov; Tosh.O (Talk Show)
- Dec; Chloe Sevigny (Actor)
- Dec; Dakota Fanning (Actor)
- Dec; Elle Fanning (Actor)
- Dec; Gal Gadot (Actor)
- Dec; Jake Gyllenhaal (Actor)
- Dec; Julia Garner (Actor)
- Dec; Sadie Sink (Actor)
- Dec; Sadie Sink, Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Julia Garner, Chloë Sevigny (Actors)
2018
- Jan; Salma Hayek (Actor)
- Feb; Emily Ratajkowski (Model, Actor)
- Feb; Ask Me Another [@32min] (NPR Game Show)
- Mar; Aubrey Plaza (Actor)
- Mar; Jeff Goldblum [@2m:0s] (Actor)
- Mar; Lucy Hale (Actor)
- Mar; KEMME (Singer-Songwriter)
- April; Jeff Goldblum (Actor) Extended version
- April; Melissa Benoist (Actor)
- May; John Goodman (Actor)
- June; Amandla Stenberg (Actor)
- June; Camila Mendes (Actor)
- June; Olivia Munn (Actor)
- June; Alessia Cara (Singer-Songwriter)
- June; Bebe Rexha (Singer-Songwriter)
- June; Zaytoven (Record producer)
- June; Wiz Khalifa (Rapper)
- June; Tierra Whack (Rapper)
- June; Zaytoven (Record producer)
- July; Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl (Sound editors for movie, “A Quiet Place)
- July; J.I.D. (Rapper/Songwriter)
- July; Dizzy (rapper)
- Aug; Jimmy Kimmel, (Talk Show)
- Aug; Nick Kroll (Actor)
- Aug; “Quincy” Taylor Brown (Actor, Recording Artist)
- Aug; Diggy Simmons (Rapper, Singer, Actor)
- Aug; Dizzy Wright (Rapper)
- Aug; IDK/Jay IDK (Rapper; Record Producer)
- Aug; Janet Jackson (Singer-Songwriter)
- Aug; Mya (Singer-Songwriter)
- Sept; Awkwafina/Nora Lum [1], (Rapper, Actor)
- Sept; Elizabeth Olson [@1m:28s] (Actor)
- Sept; Jennifer Garner (Actor)
- Sept; Amara La Negra (Singer)
- Sep; Awkwafina/Nora Lum [1], [2] (Rapper, Actor)
- Sep; Hayley Williams [#1], (Singer, Songwriter, Musician)
- Sept; Lloyd/Lloyd Polite Jr (Singer-Songwriter)
- Sept; Taylor Bennett (Rapper)
- Oct; Aparna Nancherla (Comedian, Actor)
- Oct; Caitlin Kimball (Comedian, Actor)
- Oct; Cynthia Erivo (Actor)
- Oct; Fred Armisen (Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer)
- Oct; Jenny Slate (Actor, Comedian, Author)
- Oct; Mitra Jouhari (Comedian, Actor)
- Oct; Sasheer Zamata (Comedian, Actor)
- Oct; Cardi B [#1], (Rapper, Singer, Songwriter)
- Oct; Hayley Williams [#2] (Singer, Songwriter, Musician)
- Oct; Madame Gandhi (Producer, Singer, Activist)
- Oct; Phora (Rapper)
- Oct; T Pain, [#2] (Musician)
- Oct; Kidding (TV Show)
- Oct; MTV (Promo)
- Oct; Ralph Breaks The Internet (Promo)
- Nov; John Goodman (Actor)
- Nov; Sarah Silverman [1], (Comedian, Actor)
- Nov; Sarah Silverman [2 @3m50s] (Comedian, Actor)
- Nov; Sheinelle Jones (Host of NBC Today show)
- Nov; Afrojack (DJ, Producer)
- Nov; EXID (Music group)
- Nov; GWAR [Caution: explicit] (Heavy Metal band)
- Nov; Kodie Shane (Rapper)
- Dec; Gigi Hadid (Model)
- Dec; James Corden [#1 @8m30s] (Actor, Comedian, TV Show host)
- Dec; Paris Hilton (Model, Actor)
- Dec; 21 Savage [song titled “ASMR”, includes whispering] (rapper)
- Dec; Buddy (Rapper)
- Dec; Cardi B [#2 @8m30s], (Rapper, Singer, Songwriter)
- Dec; DaniLeigh (Rapper, Singer)
- Dec; Vic Mensa (Rapper)
- Dec; Late Late Show [@8m:30s], (Talk Show)
2019
- Jan; Lala Kent (Actor, Model)
- Jan; Cipha Sounds (DJ, Actor, Producer)
- Jan; Rita Ora (Singer-Songwriter)
- Jan; Tinahse (singer/songwriter)
- Jan; Ellen Degeneres, (Talk Show)
- Jan; Ryan Seacrest (Talk Show)
- Feb; Ally Brooke (Singer)
- Feb; Cardi B, [#3] (Rapper, Singer, Songwriter)
- Feb; Dreezy (Rapper, Singer, Songwriter)
- Feb; Kap G (Rapper)
- Feb; Noah Centineo (actor)
- Feb; Morgan W Reynolds (performer)
- Feb; Morgan W Reynolds (performer)
- Feb; Morgan W Reynolds (performer)
- Feb; Morgan W Reynolds (performer)
- Mar; Chloë Grace Moretz (Actor, Model)
- Mar; Courteney Cox (Actor)
- Mar; James Corden [#1 @8m30s] [#2] (Actor, Comedian, TV Show host)
- Mar; Troye Sivan (Actor, Singer)
- Mar; BTS/Bangtan Boys (Pop group)
- Mar; Drumma Boy (Producer, Rapper)
- Mar; Mustard (producer)
- Mar; Madison Beer (Singer, Actor)
- Mar; Tayla Parx (songwriter)
- Mar; SAINt JHN (rapper)
- May; Moby [@5m43s] (Musician)
- April; Bella Thorne (Actor)
- April; Dani Thorne/COM3T (Actor, Music Producer)
- April; Armin Van Buuren (EDM DJ)
- April; Caroline Vreeland (Singer-Songwriter, Actor, Model)
- April; Charlotte Adigéry (Musician)
- April; Jerry Jones (NFL: Owner, Dallas Cowboys)
- April; Amari Cooper (NFL: Wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys)
- April; Kiernan Shipka (actress)
- April; Smokepurpp (rapper)
- April; Bryce Vine (rapper)
- April; Wale and Lio (rappers)
- April; Boogie (rapper)
- April; Morgan W Reynolds (performer)
- April; Stephen Colbert [@2m:0s] (Talk Show)
- May; Bill Maher [@2m10s] (TV Show host)
- May; Henry Golding (Actor)
- May; Jimmy Fallon (Talk show host)
- May; Jonas Brothers (Pop Rock Band)
- May; Miley Cyrus (Singer-Songwriter, Actor)
- May; Henry Golding (actor)
- May; Lil Skies (rapper)
- May; Ar’mon (musical artist)
- May; Jack & Jack (pop duo)
- May; Asian Da Brat (rapper)
- May; The Good Fight (TV Show)
- June; Emma Chamberlain (celeb)
- June; blackbear (singer)
- June; MoneybaggYo (rapper)
- July; Alison Brie (Actor)
- July; Gwyneth Paltrow (Actor)
- July; Ryan Seacrest (Radio & TV Host)
- July; YBN Cordae (rapper)
- July; Big K.R.I.T (rapper)
- July; Hobo Johnson (vocalist)
- July; Serayah (actress)
- July; Kalen Allen (food critic)
- July; YFN Lucci (rapper)
- July; Morgan W Reynolds (performer)
- Aug; Chynna [song titled, “asmr”] (Rapper)
- Aug; Nessly (song titled, “ASMR!”) (Rapper)
- Aug; Ugly God (Rapper)
- Aug; Natasha Lyonne (Actor)
- Aug; Young Dolph and Key Glock (rappers)
- Aug; DDG (rapper)
- Aug; Comethazine (rapper)
- Sept; Penn Badgley (Actor)
- Sept; Travis Thompson (rapper)
- Sept; Gallant (singer/songwriter)
- Sept; Chromeo (singers)
- Oct; Katy Perry (Singer-Songwriter)
- Oct; Rosalia (Singer-Songwriter)
- Oct; Shordie Shordie (rapper)
- Nov; Fred VanVleet (NBA: player, Toronto Raptors)
- Nov; Dave East (rapper)
- Nov; Casanova (rapper)
- Nov; Botched, (Promo)
- Dec; John Goodman (Actor)
- Dec; Scarlett Johansson (Actor)
- Dec; John Legend (Singer-Songwriter)
- Dec; Kelly Clarkson [1], (Singer-Songwriter)
- Dec; Mala Rodriguez (Singer-Songwriter)
- Dec; 24k Gold (rapper)
2020
- Jan; Awkwafina/Nora Lum [2] (Rapper, Actor)
- Jan; Kelly Clarkson [2] (Singer-Songwriter)
- Jan; Sub Urban (singer/producer)
- Jan; Tinashe (singer)
- Jan; Trust Me I’m a Doctor (TV Show)
- Jan; Will & Grace (TV Show)
- Feb; Gillian Anderson (Actor)
- Feb; Dallas Braden (MLB: former player, Oakland Athletics)
- Feb; Jared Carrabis (Baseball analyst)
- Feb; Ed Maverick (folk singer-songwriter)
- Feb; Rina Sawayama (singer song-writer)
- March; Billie Lourde (Actor)
- March; Blondey McCoy (Actor)
- March; Derek Dietrich (MLB: player, Cincinatti Reds)
- March; Fredo Bang (rapper)
- March; Inayah Lamis; (singer)
- March; Jade Novah (singer/songwriter)
- April; Jessica Alba [1], (Actor)
- April; Jessica Alba {2] (Actor)
- April; Damian Warner (Canadian Decathlete)
- April; Ambjaay (rapper)
- April; Aitch (rapper)
- May; Phoebe Bridgers [#1] (Singer-Songwriter)
- May; Princess Nokia (singer)
- May; Zhavia (singer)
- May; AJ Mitchell (singer/songwriter)
- June; Matty Matheson (chef)
- June; Kiana Lede (actress/singer/songwriter)
- July; Andy Samberg (Actor)
- July; J.I (rapper)
- July; Alaina Castillo (singer/songwriter)
- July; Alex Aiono (singer)
- July; Jufu (musician)
- Aug; Netta Barzilai (Singer)
- Aug; Netta (musician)
- Aug; Ann Marie ( singer)
- Aug; Nikki Vianna (singer/songwriter)
- Sept; Blac Chyna (Model, Socialite, Entrepreneur)
- Sept; Major Domo (X-Men villain)
- Sept; Jessenia (singer)
- Sept; StaySolidRocky (rapper)
- Sept; Blacc Chyna (artist and reality star)
- Sept; Internet Money (producers)
- Oct; Clever (rapper/singer/songwriter)
- Oct; Sebastian Yatra (singer)
- Oct; Beanz (rapper)
- Oct; Punchnello (rapper)
- Nov; Yung Gravy (rapper)
- Nov; Kiiara (singer/songwriter)
- Nov; Two Feet (singer/songwriter)
- Nov; Louis the Child (DJ and Production)
- Nov; Zedd (DJ)
- Dec; Kevin Bacon [@2m25s] (Actor)
- Dec; Gus Dapperton (singer/writer)
- Dec; Brother Nature (animal enthusiast)
2021
- Jan; Maggie Lindemann (singer/songwriter)
- Feb; Michael Dapaah (Actor, Producer, Rapper)
- Mar; Jenny McCarthy (Actor)
- April; Jack Black (Actor)
- April; Patti Harrison (actress)
- May; Bad Bunny (Musician)
- May; Omar Apollo (Musician)
- May; Phoebe Bridgers [#2] (Singer-Songwriter)
- May; Remi Wolf (Singer)
- May; Saweetie (Rapper)
- June; Ava Max (Singer-Songwriter)
- June; mxmtoon (artist)
- June; Feid (artist)
- June; Weezy (artist)
- July; Tara Lipinski & Johnny Weir (Figure Skaters)
- July; Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum (Gymnasts)
- July; Alessia Cara (artist)
- July; Foushee (singer/songwriter)
- July; Calboy (rapper)
- July; Sean Kingston (musician)
- July; White Lotus (TV Show)
- Aug; Fatboy SSE (rapper)
- Aug; Lolo Zouaï (artist)
- Dec: Loose Women (Talk Show)
Celebrity ASMR series
- W Magazine (most individuals should be included above)
- Fuse (most individuals should be included above)
- view all via search term “ASMR” at fuse.tv
- or, watch via YouTube playlist, ‘Mind Massage‘
- or, watch on Amazon Prime TV Show, ‘Mind Massage‘
- WAV – Dreamscapes ASMR
- Broadway ASMR (search channel for whisper interviews with Broadway actors)
Articles about ASMR & Music
- ASMR and pop music, The Independent, 1/18/21
- ASMR and hip hop, Vice-Noisey, 7/3/19
- Whispering and hip hop, XXL mag, 4/26/19
- ASMR and rap, AFP syndicated article, 3/14/19
- Whispers and rap, HipHopMagz, 11/29/18
*Curators and Contributors*
- Dr Craig Richard (Primary Curator)
- Compiled current and ongoing list of commercials/ads/promos and links.
- Ambar Hernandez (2021 Assistant Curator)
- B.A. in Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Incoming Masters Student in Social Welfare, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Confirmed or updated links, added dates, and sorted chronologically.
- Additional assistance from:
- Diego Lopez (sent link to Elizabeth Olsen, Wiz Khalifa, Aubrey Plaza, Kathy Bates, Hayley Williams x 2)
- Madison (sent link to Jhene Aiko)
- Tio Salki (sent link to Zara Larsson)
- Steven Lutz (sent link to Nick Kroll)
- Amber Darr (sent link to Stephen Colbert)
Have someone to add?
Just send an email to asmruniversity@gmail.com with a link to the celebrity or pop culture-related ASMR reference.