Overcompensating star Benito Skinner was ‘worried’ about Charli XCX cameo in queer comedy
Charli XCX appears in Benito Skinner’s new queer comedy Overcompensating (Prime Video).
Charli XCX appears in Benito Skinner's new queer comedy Overcompensating (Prime Video).
Benito Skinner, aka Benny Drama, aka the queer comedian behind new queer comedy series Overcompensating, has explained why he was initially hesitant about Charli XCX making a guest appearance in the show.
In March, the first teaser trailer for Skinner’s new Prime Video show Overcompensating arrived, teasing a storyline about closeted college student Benny (Skinner) going to extreme lengths to fit in with the school’s super-masc jocks.
In addition to teasing The White Lotus star Adam DiMarco as an unbearable stud, incredibly awkward sex scenes, and an identity journey that is as hilarious as it is moving, the new Overcompensating trailer showcasing “Apple” singer Charli XCX in the first of her many upcoming acting roles.
Charli XCX plays herself in the scene, which sees her turning the diva dial up to ten thousand as she screams in the face of student Grace (Mary Beth Barone).
“Do you think I wanna play f**king ‘Boom Clap’ in a fucking college?” she yells, referencing her most commercially successful but least favourite hit to date.
The Grammy Award-winning pop superstar – and major LGBTQ+ ally – appears throughout the remainder of the episode, while bagging tickets to her college show becomes a major point of contention for the season’s characters, particularly Carmen (Wally Baram) and Hailee (Holmes).
Shooting for Overcompensating took place during last autumn, in the months following Charli’s mammoth Brat release and the culture-shaking ramifications of Brat Summer.
Speaking exclusively to PinkNews, Benito Skinner – who plays leading man and closeted queer college student Benny – explained why he was “worried” about whether Charli XCX would be able to be in the episode.
“I think as a friend, I was both worried about her because I’m like, ‘How are you going to shoot?’ She was in scenes and she just kept being like, ‘Yes, I’m shooting it. I’ll see you there.’ She shot her scenes in Toronto in between Sweat Tour shows,” he explained.
At the time, Charli’s join Sweat Tour with Troye Sivan was one of numerous obligations she was balancing, as she was also gearing up to release the remixed sister album to Brat, entitled Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat.
Despite the “360” hitmaker experiencing the biggest year of her career, Skinner wasn’t “intimidated” about having her join the project, as they have been fans of each other’s work for several years.
Skinner is also in a relationship with photographer Terrence O’Connor, who is one of Charli’s closest friends and collaborators, and was enlisted as one of the creative directors of the musician’s Brat campaign.
“I think this summer was this like unbelievable moment where I got to shoot this show that has been my dream and my entire life for six years, and meanwhile one of my best friends is finally getting the flowers that she has deserved for 10 plus years,” Skinner reflected.
“I think it actually just gave us all even more energy, at least me. I don’t know how she does it, and the fact that she still came to work, killed it acting in the show, performed her songs, and helped make the music of this show what it is.”
In addition to appearing in an episode, Charli XCX served as one of the executive producers on Overcompensating, and helmed the show’s musical direction. Her songs feature heavily throughout, as do songs from some of her favourite music stars including Lorde, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears. “I think it’s one of the things I’m most proud of the show,” Skinner added.
In addition to Charli XCX, Overcompensating features a horde of other guest stars, including Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Lukas Gage, Connie Britton, and Kyle MacLachlan. Yet each of them – besides from Charli XCX, and a particularly eye-popping cameo from Megan Fox – are playing fictional characters.
Charli plays herself, though a much more hammed-up version complete with temper tantrum and pure brat-titude.
“I was like, I actually maybe this will be cathartic for musicians to watch,” Skinner joked.
“I actually got inspired to have her do that watching her one time perform ‘Track 10′. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen Charli XCX perform “Track 10’.”
“But just thinking of someone buying merch while she’s singing her heart out on stage… just thinking of this iconic pop star having to perform these songs while college kids are on Molly, and it’s like their heart, their soul, their blood, sweat and tears are in these pop songs.”
The pop superstar was “immediately down” to play a sort of pop monster, Skinner added, as “she is brilliant and so funny”.
“I love those scenes so much. I wasn’t in them, obviously, so I got to just watch Charli freak out and be with Mary Beth. [It was] the best day on set.”
Overcompensating is released on 15 May on Prime Video.
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