Comedians Nicole Byer and Devon Walker are using what they do best – comedy – to make conversations about sexual health, boundaries, and prevention feel a little less awkward.
As part of Gilead’s Up To Date campaign, the two bring humor to a topic that can often feel clinical and uncomfortable, encouraging people to talk openly, know their status, and make informed choices.
During an exclusive chat with The Blast, Byer and Walker share some insight into the campaign, as well as open up about their career milestones and more.
Gilead’s Up To Date campaign is bringing humor, honesty, and culturally relevant storytelling to conversations about sexual health and HIV prevention in Black communities.
Created as part of the company’s Care for the Culture initiative and developed with Black creatives and talent, the campaign stars comedians Nicole Byer and Devon Walker as the inner voices of a couple navigating modern dating while balancing attraction with health-conscious choices. Inspired by the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black women, Up To Date aims to make conversations about prevention, testing, and sexual health feel more natural and empowering. The campaign will reach audiences across Peacock, Urban One, BET, Tubi, and Roku, including a placement during “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” on Peacock.
Since comedy is something Devon does professionally, he feels it can be the easiest way to start any conversation, regardless of how heavy it may be.
“I think a little laugh to lighten the mood never hurt anybody,” Devon told The Blast about the comedic approach to the campaign. “And I think it’s especially helpful when getting into conversations that might be a little more challenging.”
Nicole agreed with that thought adding, “I think humor makes things more accessible. When things are clinical, it’s hard to absorb and pay attention. I think humor truly makes things digestible.”
The Campaign Brings A Startling Statistic To Light With Some Humor
The campaign is rooted in a startling statistic about Black women and new HIV diagnoses.
“The disproportionate numbers certainly surprised me,” Devon said. “That definitely caught me off guard; I didn’t know that. Especially someone with a lot of Black women in my life, I feel it’s important to protect them. It’s something that’s near and dear to my heart personally.”
Nicole said the statistic didn’t surprise her.
“Because Black women often feel left behind in healthcare, but I’m glad this Gilead campaign addresses it,” she told The Blast. “That knowing your HIV status is good. If you’re grown enough to have sex, you’re grown enough to have the convo about HIV prevention with someone. No one is saying don’t have fun, all we’re saying is have safe fun.”
Nicole added that working with Devon on the campaign was a lot of fun.
“I feel like it was fun to play the inner thoughts — one more eager and one more cautious — because that’s how my thoughts work most of the time,” she told The Blast. “And working with Devon is easy and a blast. He’s such a treat and so funny.”
Both Nicole and Devon hope that the campaign helps start difficult conversations a little easier with less awkwardness.
“I hope that they know that getting tested is the first step. I think it’s just really important to know where you stand and your status. I think that’s always important no matter if you are white or Black or any other community,” Devon said. “I am hoping that people know it’s just a good step to know and there is peace of mind that comes with knowing your status.”
Devon added that he hopes people who see the campaign see the “comedic tone of it” and it helps to “spark a conversation.”
Nicole hopes the campaign sheds light on having safe sex and talking about the topics that might be tough to talk about.
Devon Walker On His Career And What’s Next
Devon has built his career on making others laugh, and his comedy has evolved from his early years to now.
“I think when I started out, I was doing more of a character. I think I was being like a version of myself that was further out than it probably is now,” he said. “I feel like with each passing year that I get into comedy, I try to get closer and closer to the real life version of me.”
Devon quickly became a standout on “Saturday Night Live,” a part of his journey that he said was “huge.”
“I come from a stand-up background so I had very little sketch comedy experience,” he said, before comparing it to being great at baseball in high school and getting a golf scholarship. “Now you play at the best golf school in the country, the most famous golf school, and you’re good at swinging, and good at something similar, but get ready to learn this brand new thing. So it was a very big challenge, and just learning how to do live television, learning how to do sketch on live television, learning your cues and to read the cameras. They kind of just toss you in there. There is not really a training process.”
He added that it’s something he is really proud of and something he will carry with him moving forward. “I think if I can do that, then it feels like anything is possible,” he shared.
When asked if “SNL” was a “pinch me moment” in his career journey, he said he’s had a lot of those, and “SNL” is certainly one of them. Other standout moments include advancing in a comedy competition, getting on Comedy Central, writing for “Big Mouth,” and many others.
As for what the future holds, Devon would love to create a TV show with his friends. He’s currently working on a project he can’t talk much about, so there are some fun things in the works.
Nicole Byer Said All Her Projects Have Been ‘Special’
Nicole’s grateful for her comedy journey and said all the projects she’s done have been “special and incredible” and each one has been a “building block” in her career.
When asked if there’s one particular project that sticks out to her as one she couldn’t believe she was doing, she said, “everything.”
“Every time I’m on set or drive onto a lot, when I hear ‘action,’” she shared. “Walking onto the stage feeling the lights. What I get to do is so f-cking cool.”
What is Nicole looking forward to doing next? “Be Storm in an ‘X-Men’ movie,” she said.
