‘I can’t sleep either, knowing Mr. Taylor is gaslighting me’: The internet can’t tell if this inspirational viral art teacher is just Kevin James in disguise

A man who looks and sounds exactly like the legendary comedian Kevin James is going absolutely viral on TikTok, claiming to be a 4th-grade art teacher named Matt Taylor, and honestly, the internet is having an existential crisis trying to figure out if it’s an elaborate bit or if the King of Queens star has a secret twin. People are seriously convinced this is James pulling a fast one, which, to be fair, would be a hilarious prank to pull on the entire internet.

This whole situation has exploded in popularity, leaving everyone guessing whether we’re watching a genuine teacher or a new type of viral marketing stunt. Earlier this month, Matt Taylor popped up on TikTok to share his life and passion as a 4th-grade art teacher. His videos are genuinely inspirational, focusing on little tidbits about life, art, and how you can “turn messes into masterpieces.”

The whole thing feels wholesome, like his meme, which is probably why he’s already amassed over 251,000 followers on TikTok, plus another 41,000 on his Instagram account. The Daily Dot says he’s clearly connecting with people, sharing what seems like an authentic look at his daily life in the classroom.

Is this man Kevin James?

Now, if you only watched one of his videos, you might think, ‘Okay, cool, an art teacher.’ The videos are filmed in what look like actual classrooms with students, and he even shows off his art skills, which are pretty good. On the one hand, there’s a lot of evidence that this could really be a legitimate teacher who just happens to be a dead ringer for a Hollywood celebrity who likes Twilight. He hasn’t disclosed his exact location, but some of the footage features lovely fall leaves, which adds to the charming, small-town teacher vibe.

But then, you watch the video again, and suddenly, the possibility of it being a new Kevin James character feels like night and day compared to believing it’s just a random teacher. He doesn’t just look like the star; he sounds exactly like him, too.

The combination of the familiar voice and the physical resemblance is just too much for viewers to handle, and the comments sections are a delightful and chaotic mix of confusion and certainty. The speculation has gone completely off the rails, with many viewers believing the sheer refusal to address the obvious is the biggest clue of all.

A fan jokingly shared their sleepless state over the mystery, commenting, “I can’t sleep either, knowing Mr Taylor is gaslighting me, saying he’s not Kevin James.” Honestly, it’s that type of personal, frustrated reaction that shows how much the internet is loving this little mystery.