18 years after ‘Shoes’, Kelly (a.k.a. Liam Kyle Sullivan) is a Pride Month star

The biggest betch of 2006 is still strutting her stuff all these years later. On June 9, 2024, comedian Liam Kyle Sullivan adopted his alter ego Kelly to perform the song “Shoes” at the L.A. Pride Parade.

Sullivan was one of YouTube’s earliest viral stars, and “Shoes” is his undisputed magnum opus. In the guise of Kelly, Sullivan sings about what she wants (shoes) and where she wants to go (to the store, to try on more shoes). With its wealth of quotable lines (“con-dams”) and Sullivan’s perfect portrayal of a stereotypical valley girl, “Shoes” vaulted its creator to internet fame. It has received more than 69 million views to date.

“Shoes” is so old that Sullivan’s video celebrating the song’s ten-year anniversary is itself approaching its ten-year anniversary. But the video’s age and its creator’s sporadic output

on YouTube haven’t blunted the cultural impact of “Shoes,” and during Pride Month, Sullivan got a chance to show that there’s still plenty of love out there for Kelly.

In recent years, L.A. Pride has become a hotbed for queer creators, and Sullivan got a spot on the docket in 2024. He (or rather Kelly) performed “Shoes” in front of a rapturous audience. On X, one attendee called the performance “the best moment of my life.”

There is little resemblance between the YouTube of 2006 and the platform as it exists today, so it’s nice to see a pioneer like Sullivan get kudos for his signature song. If the Pride revival of “Shoes” only leaves you wanting more Kelly, then I have good news for you: Sullivan’s character is available for bookings on Cameo.