The Comment Section with Drew Afualo - I LOVE TUNA MELTS. Ft. Hayley Kiyoko | Episode 226

Episode Date: June 17, 2026

The icon herself Hayley Kiyoko joins Drew on the show this week!! Drew and Hayley talk about her new film Girls Like Girls, and how its namesake music video shifted the lives of young queer people everywhere, Hayley’s teenage girl group, being a child ice skater, her lifelong obsession with tuna melts, and so much more.Hayley IG: https://www.instagram.com/hayleykiyoko/?hl=enHayley Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hayleykiyoko?lang=enFollow The Comment Section on IG! https://www.instagram.com/thecommentsection/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we twins? I'm freaked. If I's on my hair blonde, you better watch out. Yeah, I'm freaked out. Drew's coming for me. Drew's like, I'm Haley Kioka. And welcome back to another episode of the comment section show. Sorry, me, your favorite.

Everybody knows me, who cares about me. On to the guest, today we have the iconic, the legendary lesbians. Let me fucking hear ya. Haley Kiyoko! Whoa! Oh my God. I could hear the lesbians screaming. They even, they're strapping up and they're ready to go.

I honestly I've been conquering lesbian mountain lately like I just had lucidacus on oh my gosh you're just taking us one by one like Thanos I'm taking a one by one collecting y'all I love it I'm so honored to have you here thank you I'm so much for coming thank you before we jump into it okay I do have to tell you something because there has been a running bit about you but not in at expense oh my gosh what's been happening behind my back it will be at the expense of my lesbian sister Dason she's not here currently, but I do have to tell you because I've talked about it on the show for now years, that you were my sister's lesbian awakening, if you can believe it, from Lemonade Mouth. Wow.

Yeah, she was really into that movie, and it was very confusing to me at the time because she hated musicals, and she didn't really care for the music, so I was kind of confused. I was like, why do you love this movie so much? Because she be gay. Yeah, she be gay. Wow. As hell. Her name's Jason?

Her name's Jason, yes. Love you, Jason, Determinate. Be heard, be strong, be proud. And I did ask for her permission to bring it up to you. And she said yes. And then she said, I'm glad I'm not going to be there. For when she was. Normally she's at every recording I do.

Oh my gosh. Really? Yeah. So I had to get this out of the way. Wow. Yeah. I had to tell you that you were, you were pivotal in her awakening. And I'm grateful to you because I'm really glad my sister is gay.

Thank God. Yeah, that's, thank God for you. There's only room for one. We're the best. And I filled the shoes. We can only have one. Yeah, we can only have one. In the family.

Yeah. But I'm honored to have you. You are Ledge. Thank you so much. And I really want to get into what you've been up to lately because obviously you have some really exciting project coming out soon. Yeah. It's basically the most important project of my life. Yes.

It's called Girls Like Girls. Yes. The movie. The movie. The one. The only. The one, the only. I was saying earlier, like, it's so weird.

I don't recommend working on something for over 10 years. You don't think? No. I literally look insane. But it's been 10 years of trying, you know, Girls Like Girls came out in 2015. It was a song, music video. I wanted it to be a film. It wasn't working out.

I wrote into a book. And then years, years later, it got greenlit. And now the movie is going to be in theaters, which I also, when we were shooting this movie, I was like, I hope someone sees this film. Even the lead actress was like, I don't, like, where is it going to be? I was like, I have no idea. And so to actually, like, be in movie theater. theaters nationwide June 19th is it's mind-blowing and to be able to know that we're like weeks

out it's such a odd feeling yeah I'm sure it's like it's been something I've been working on for so long that I haven't been able to share with people and so now I'm just giving it I'm giving it away yeah the next generation does it feel like completing the circle a little bit totally it feels like I'm completing the circle and also like start like people were like oh does it feel like the end. And I'm like, no, it really feels like the beginning because I've just been desperately wanting a film like this to exist. And like, how come it takes 10 years to get a film made like this? No, for real. Two girls falling in love, ending in hope. And I'm like thinking about being able to buy tickets to go see a movie like this in theaters to see myself like represented

having two Asian leads and like all of it. There's a lot going on. And it's API month. And it's A-A-I month, it's Pride Month. Yeah, it's Pride Month. There's a lot going on. There is so much happening and all at the perfect time. I know, and it's so funny because some people would be like, oh, like, you're so niche or like what you do is so niche. And I'm like, how is it so niche?

We've got Asian Americans, which are like predominantly everywhere. Right. We've got queers. We've got women. It's like, this is mainstream. Yeah. What are you talking about? Yeah, what are you talking about?

We need this. Especially I feel like Girls Like Girls in the music video, I feel like has had an a resurgence with younger gays, the new generation of gays, in the last like five years. So if anyone needs it, it's that. Totally. And it's, it's been really wild to meet people because I didn't realize how young my fan base was when I released the music video in 2015. Like, some of them were nine.

Like, they come up to me. They're like, they're like, they're like, oh, I watched that music video when I was nine years old. Which is crazy. Which is so crazy. That's insane. And, and so it's just like, so, I'm so excited for the new generation. to get to experience it and also like have every generation experience it like even I was

saying like even though it's called girls like girls it's such a universal story because whether you're straight or queer every single person has had that experience where you've had to go up to someone and be like do you like me or not right is this going somewhere or not right which is terrifying that feeling of being like either like happy or obliterated and like getting your heart broken. Everyone's experience that. Especially at that age where you're like everything is life for death. Yeah, you're 17. You're like, I'm going to marry this person. Yeah, like everything is the most serious thing in the entire world. Yeah. I think that's beautiful. Thank you. So that's like the experience of girls like girls when they see. It's like they are young, but like it's through the lens of more of a

mature lens because when you're 17, you think you're 35. Yeah, it's true. You literally feel like this is it. Yeah. Do you ever get questions like that from younger people, especially when And they're like, I feel like I'm so far behind. I feel like, and they're like 19 years old. And you're like, oh my God, you have so much time. Well, my lead actress Maya DeCosta was 18 when we shot this movie. Oh my gosh. And I, I felt ancient.

I'm not old, but I felt ancient. And I was like, don't worry. And I felt like the classic person of like, you know, things will work out. And once you turn 30, things will start getting clearer, you know. Yeah, unfortunately. 10 years plus away from you. Give yourself about 10 more years. You'll figure it out.

Totally. Well, this is like, okay, so this project is huge, obviously, but it's also like a directorial debut. My directorial debut. So I would love to know, like, how was it directing? How was it, like, existing in that art form, making your own piece of art? It was, like, coming home. I have been fighting so hard to just be able to have an opportunity to do what I thought I would love to do and to be able to do it and be like, oh, my gosh, this is it. Yeah.

Has been amazing because, you know, I grew up acting. I did lemonade mouth. You know, and I also was a musician and I realized I'm a storyteller. I like building worlds. And so to be able to have the opportunity to build a world and cast and also like write the music and have an album coming out inspired by the film, like all the things that I've grown up loving to do, I get to do all at once as a director. And so it really feels like I'm coming home and I finally found, oh my gosh, this is what I want

to do forever. Like this, yeah, like this is. it like I want to make hopeful queer content I want to direct films direct TV shows and then I want to write music for those projects and I'm like that's it how is the the preparation process does it differ from like directing versus like writing an album or even acting like is the process completely different is it one in the same how does it feel for it's so different yeah I mean for I mean also just as the creator and the director it's like the process of just finding someone to finance the film people believing in the project, believing in you.

Like that was the first seven years of the journey. And then to be able to get on set, all of a sudden you have 50 plus people who are professionals and their individual line of work. And then, you know, I don't think people understand and honestly, I didn't really understand how involved the director is. Like the spoon that you see on screen,

that was a decision. Yeah. Like the napkin. Like we would be, I'd be making so many decisions on set And people will be like, do you want this class or this class? This and this and it's just like, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba. And also, too, when you're making a movie this size,

you've got 23 days, 23, 24 days. And so a lot of the times you have like five or 10 minutes to get a shot. Yeah, and every second counts. Every second counts. Every single second counts. You were rolling. And it's so while, like, some of my most favorite scenes of the movie when, like, Cully's just, like, typing and, like, on her AIM and stuff like that

are my favorite scenes, and she had, like, 10 minutes. to do like three of those and it was just so wild yeah you just as an audience member you don't get to see any of that and you don't really know how intense that is and that's what makes actors incredible because yeah they are having to perform at such a high level with so much going on yeah yeah in such a condensed time frame and space so it's definitely different like when I'm writing an album like you are on your own time time isn't money to a degree You could be writing music and then scrap the whole thing and start over. And what I learned about films is what makes the miracles is you have to make the best film possible with the time that you're given and the tools that you're given.

And that is the challenge. And when you're doing an album, you can start over as many times as you want. That's so deep. And so with the movies, you can't. And it's like it is what it is. And then you're trying to improve it or adjust with the time that you're given. And it's just like a ticking clock of like when you turn it in. That's so interesting to think about too.

I feel like, well, I love that you talked about world building. I think that's so wonderful. Did you like, did you watch anything or find yourself consuming anything when you were like preparing for it to make this movie? Like anything that helped you build your own world like in your own head or were you kind of just blank slate I want to build from scratch? I mean, I had seven years to like really marinate on what the world was going to be. Yeah.

When I, the movie actually got greenlit. I actually didn't consume art. I stayed very focused. And I was also similar to albums. Like a lot of times you'll listen to music for influence. Yeah. But then when you're actually writing the album, you're only focused on what you're doing.

Yeah, you don't want to outside influence. Right. And so I think it's similar when you're preparing for the film because you're trying to build a world that you haven't seen before. And it's like, what does this look like? And again, what's so crazy is you also don't pick your location. I don't know if you know this, But like, I mean, I'm sure like Marvel movies I can, you know.

But like for movies like mine, you know, you are kind of like assigned a location depending on tax credits and whatever. And so get this. I'm on this journey and I get a call and they're like, hey, we're going to shoot this movie in Colona, Canada. Have you heard of it? Have you heard of Colonna? I have not. Yeah. Nobody's heard of Colonna.

I do know a lot of people filming Canada though. Yeah. Yeah. So it's east of Vancouver. Okay. Most people don't know about it. And I'm like, are you kidding me? My grandparents are buried there.

And I grew up going to Kelowna, Canada. Oh, my God. What are the odds? The universe. It's so powerful. I literally had, I was like, oh. I got chills. I was like, are you kidding?

And I hadn't been there since pre-pandemic when my grandparents were alive. And they're also a big part of this journey has been connecting to my Japanese side. And it's my mom's side, which is my Japanese side. Yeah. And so I'm literally on this tiny rickety plane landing in Colonna Canada, the small airport where my grandma and grandpa used to pick me up. We shot the movie like two streets down from my grandparents' house. What the hell?

It was like out of everywhere. And the movie sat in Oregon, but like out of everywhere in the world for that to happen and to have like this homecoming. Yeah. It definitely like people go, you know, timing is everything. Trust the process. And, you know, year after year, this movie was not getting made. It was so hard to, like, hold on to that light.

Right. And so for that to happen, I was like, oh, my God. Oh, my God's so spiritual. And that is totally, I was like, I'm not a religious person, but I'm starting, God. Like, I literally was like, oh, my gosh. The gayest thing about your movie is the spirituality of that. If you really think about it, yeah. Only lesbian movie could be made that way.

Exactly. That is very true. I have the lesbian, like, magic. My ancestors are magic. That is true. Looking out. Looking out, is that freaking? Oh my gosh.

Yeah, that is crazy. I still have chills. Like, Loki thinking about it, I still have chills. I think that's so powerful. That's so incredible. How was it in the casting process for your movie? Like, being able to cast the two leads. The coolest.

It's so wild. And, I mean, you've written in book, too. But, like, when you're, like, envisioning characters, it was so interesting to be, you know, prepping for this film and being like, there's a girl out there that is, living and has no idea that she's going to be the lead of my film. Which is so fun.

You know, and I'm like, who is she? What does she look like? Where does she live? Yeah. And so it was such a beautiful experience. We had over 4,000 tapes come in. And Maya Dacosta, who plays the lead, Koli, she was actually the very first tape I watched. Really?

I was in New York. I was doing work. And they were like, oh, we just got a bunch of tapes. Do you want to see it? Yeah. She's the first tape I watched. That's cool. And I watched her.

Again, spiritual. Again, again. Right, the touch, the feel. I watched her, and there was a moment where she was doing this scene in Sonia's bedroom, the other lead, and she sits on the bed, and everyone's tape would end there, and she just let it roll for like 20 seconds, and she was just sitting in the space. And I, like, all of a sudden saw the whole movie around her, and I was just like, oh, my gosh, she's going to be the one to be.

And so she ended up getting the role. Very cool. 18, half Asian, from Canada. and is so just like authentic and real. Like she is Koli. Yeah. How did it feel getting to cast Asian women specifically? Because I feel like it's so liberating and how beautiful to be able to cast people who look like you.

Especially people like us growing up the media we've been fed and consumed like hardly ever do they look like us. I know. So how did that feel for you? It was so healing because she got to play a role that I dreamed of getting an opportunity. I dreamed of getting like an email saying like half Asian queer lead you know exactly to the T and I never got it. Yeah and so to be able to give that space an opportunity for for someone who who is very similar and authentic to my experience and also she really connected to the book. It just so healing. I was like oh my gosh this is like what life's all about is like being able to help people and create space and lift women up. Yeah and keep the door open so good. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's incredible. I'm like I'm writing right now I'm in the process of writing fiction books. Oh cool. Yeah, but I'm writing like fantasy romance kind of deal. Love. But it's,

I'm basing it like the themes in it are like Polynesian like mythological lore. I'm already I've already bought it right. I was literally when I was writing and as I was like writing it with because I'm writing it with someone and she's black and she's like Jamaican so we were talking a lot about characters what they look like that kind of thing my goal is to get it made into something 100% eventually I was thinking guess what no whiteies yeah not my book nowhere to be seen nor where to be found girl sorry and if they are I'm going to kill them oh my god I'm kidding I can't wait to read this book I'm so excited I'm like when I cast everyone it sounds like a horror film oh my God when I cast everyone Like everybody's going to look just like me.

Everyone's going to look like me. And I think it's a beautiful thing. Well, I think that's the whole point is like it's like to know that I'm part of the club of 5% of women directors in the industry. It takes so long for us to be able to just have the opportunity, let alone tell stories that have characters that represent us. And that's what's been so beautiful about this journey. Like, you know, the music video was just like a piece of the story. And then every evolution got me one step closer to my authentic truth and having a half Asian lead that looked like me and reflected who I was. And that's been a journey for me as well, is embracing my culture and my background.

And I think it's been really cool that the fans have gotten to see that evolution as I've gotten closer to my authentic truth and as I've gotten closer to my confidence. Like I remember singing Girls Like Girls in 2015 for 15 people in Michigan. And there was no green room. And I'm like sitting in a minivan like in the back. And I remember singing Girls like Girls and I'd be like shaky. I'd be like girls like looking around seeing like if there was any homophobic people. And to come 11 years later to be able to be on stage knowing that I've waved the rainbow flag to thousands and thousands of people. and I can sing that song with absolute confidence.

I think that also kind of mirrors the journey of Girls like Girls and the evolution from the song to the music video to the book, now the film. Well, and I want to rewind to Girls like Girls like the music video and the track itself, like the inception of it. Like why did it feel important to put it out at the time you did? Because you're right. At the time, it was nowhere near where media is now, especially with the acceptance of gay people. And if you can even call it that at this point.

Yeah. I mean, we're kind of back at the same. Right. Exactly. So it's like, but art persists, right? And art is driven on the shoulders of gay people and women and most often times. So like how was that putting it out at the time? Like, why did you feel it was important to put it out at that time? I think anything important is kind of scary.

Right. And it was very scary. I'd finished my EP, The Side of Paradise. And last minute, I decided to put Girls like Girls on. And that was the first song I had. co-written where I came out to the songwriters. And I remember Lily, my co-writer was like, what is the thing that you're most scared of?

And I like cried to her and it was like, I'm gay! And she was like, well, let's write a song about it. And I was like, I wish I was confident. I wish I could steal a girl. I wish I could do this. And so the song, Girls, the Girls is actually really cocky. And I wasn't that at the time.

And so it was almost like manifesting who I wish I was at. that time. Totally. And, and then here I am now. Very confident. Yeah. About being a lesbian.

Hell yeah. So sometimes you have to like convince yourself that when you don't, when you aren't that person yet. Absolutely. You know? A fake it till you make it kind of do. Exactly. And honestly, and you made it, girl.

Period. Thank God. I made it to the other side of the rainbow. Thank God. I'm here. When my sister, my sister is obviously, as I said, a lesbian. But when before she was like, I don't know, yeah, I think, I think I'm a lesbian, even though the only serious relationship she ever had was a woman at the time. I think after a while, like,

a couple years ago, we were talking about it and I told her, honestly, I think you are a lesbian. And I think you're a lesbian. You're, you're diagnosed. Yeah, I was like, I think we should stop pretending. I think it's over for you. And then she, like, laughed as she was like, yeah, you're right. Because I was like, I didn't. Yeah, I was like, there's only room for, for one straight, annoying girl. I took that. Right. So unfortunately, you have to be a lesbian now. It's the law. I love that for you.

Yeah, so I'm really happy that she is. Honestly, she's made me cooler. And that's how I feel about you. I feel that way about most lesbians. Honestly, like my friend Caleb describes lesbians as the purest of us all, which I agree. Thanks, Caleb. And I feel like, I feel like lesbians are so, obviously,

so removed from male validation for so long. And they're on that tip way sooner than many, many, many other people. So I feel like that's why I gravitate towards lesbians specifically. That's the truth. That's why I'm conquering Lesbian Mountain. That's the whole truth. Yeah.

We're already at the top. We're at the top, that's why I met you up here. That's how I was like, and I honestly, I was just joking about this the other day with my friend because I was telling them how, first of all, my gay friends forget I'm not gay quite often and I know it's because I'm not annoying. So I take it as a compliment.

I really do. I take it as the highest. Yeah. But specifically with lesbians, I'm like, I've told my girlfriends who are like token straights, like that's me. I'm like, you should wear it as a badge of honor lesbians are notoriously picky.

They are very picky on who they like and do they don't. We have a small group. Yes, they are very, very picky. And if they think you're funny and they think you're cool, take your chips and leave the casino. I'm learning a lot about myself through you. And honestly, like, that's why I want to talk to you about that specifically because I really do feel like you were one of the first people I saw consistently talking about how important it was to be authentically who you are.

And I think it's a beautiful thing. And I think you being so young at the time that that song, and that music video came out, it makes you so incredibly courageous to me. And I think that's so powerful. The fact that it's had standing power for the song, I mean, it's proof, obviously, that you're so brave and important. But I just have to give you your flowers for that moment. I think it's imperative.

Thank you so much. Especially at the time. Yeah. I mean, it was, when going back to what we were talking about, releasing the music video was really scary because no one raised their hand to premiere it. And that's when I knew I had something special because nobody wanted to be a part of it. They were all afraid of your genius. They were just scared of the storyline, to be honest.

And so that really shows the evolution, right? And I ended up releasing it a couple of days before same-sex marriage became legalized in the country. And so there was a lot of really interesting. And then it was like we were leading into the first Trump era. There was a lot going on during that time. Yeah. But, you know, the reason Girls Like Girls Exists is because I needed that kind of music video. I needed to be able to watch something and see two girls falling in love and making out.

And like, I needed that representation. And so I think as creatives and artists and people, we tend to try to take up the space that we wish we had represented growing up. Totally. And I was lucky enough to see a screener of. Oh, you saw a movie? Yes, I was lucky enough. You didn't tell me that. I was lucky enough.

And I'm not going to spoil anything. What? But I will say there are many parallels between said movie and music video for the fans. For all the fans who are excited, it's even better. Also, you have a little cameo. Love. Look at that. Okay, you're making it bigger.

I'm literally in the movie for a point. Well, I noticed. One half seconds. So clearly. Because that shoot was so crazy. I was like, wait, I have to be in it. You forgetting? I should probably be in this.

Yeah, I was like. But yeah. Okay. So I have seen it. I don't want to spoil anything. Oh, wait. This makes it so much more fun. Yeah, but I do.

I do want to say, though, that I would love to know what you hope people take away from it. Like, what you hope people after they watch the film? Like, what do you hope they leave with, if anything? Well, I definitely recommend seeing it in theaters because I really hope that anyone that goes to see this movie in theaters feels the love and support from their community wherever they live, knowing that those people showed up. That's a safe space for them. But I hope people feel seen.

And I hope they feel seen by others or themselves. self-love understood and represented. I hope they feel powerful to chase their dreams and live their authentic truth. And I think that's what Girls Like Girls has been for me is like it's been a journey. I haven't always been accepting of myself. I haven't always felt like self-love and self-worth. And you see Collie's character going through that and we have a lot of parallels. She's a fictional character, but like a lot of what she goes through is what I went.

through when I fell in love and was saying all of juice to my crush and all these things. And so I hope people just, I hope it's just like a big hug and people feel like they have their cupful, you know, and they're able to chase their dreams. Like to know that I survived 10 plus years of nose. Yeah. And I got the yes. Yeah. And now we're in theaters. Like don't give up on your dreams and like it can feel absolutely impossible. But and even like self love can feel absolutely possible. And so I hope it just represents that to know that you can get to the other side. Like I've found the love of my life. I'm engaged. Like I'm chasing my dreams. Like, don't give up on yourself. Especially, especially now. Yes. Oh my gosh.

Yes, we need clear joy. Yes, we need exactly. And that's like we have so many wonderful films that cover other, you know, subjects and like validates trauma. But like, we also just need some like lightheartedness and like clear joy. There's just as much beauty as there is trauma. Yes. And like I've said this many times. A world without gay people as a world I do not want to have been. Oh my God.

Can you imagine? And we're fighting for our lives on here. And well, and that's like I think the most beautiful part is that it's even when your music video and the track came out was that is such a tumultuous time like politically. And now your film's coming out at another tumultuous time. But it's imperative. Like it's imperative that queer art persists and continues to be loved, supported and made. Yeah.

Even in the face of adversity. which is like unfortunately a hallmark of being queer anywhere in the world but I just think it's so important that a movie like this comes out now. Thank you. And the coloring is also fantastic. I think it's so cute in summary. You love the world. I love that it matches a music video. Yeah, very warm tones.

That's kind of my vibe. I like people to feel safe watching like, you know, plot lines that are kind of like quite tense and you're on the edge of your seat. And I just, I love feeling safe, honestly. And I feel like warm tones, even like if it's a cool night summer scene, it's still warm. Absolutely. So that was definitely a combo I had with all my HODs on set. It's like it's in 2006, but we're not like shoving it down people's like, you know, throats. Like it's like we're in 06, but it's also nostalgic.

It's timeless. And I don't want it to be distracting to the story because it's really about the two girls. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's very evident, first off. but I am so excited for everybody to see it. I don't want to say too much anymore. I feel like you said too much. We haven't even said anything at all.

It feels like we've said a lot, though. And even so, I will say, too, on a somewhat serious note, my sister has told me many times that the hardest person to come out to was herself. And that's kind of a theme I feel like in this movie especially, was she's talked quite frequently with me at length about how she was the hardest person to come out to, even if you do have an unfortunate coming out experience with someone else, like herself was the hardest person. And that's the theme I felt throughout watching.

I definitely feel like that was my journey as well. It's like you are your hardest critic and you hold yourself back. And so you follow two characters and the other character, Sonia played by Myra Malloy, you're watching her struggle and she's really holding herself back. Even though there's so much societal pressures and kind of like almost. was an unspoken thing. Like, I grew up in Los Angeles. Yeah.

I had such a hard time being gay. Like, I knew I was a lesbian since I was like six. Yeah. And I grew up in L.A. Yeah. You know, and so it just says so much about society and, like, being able to read a children's book and seeing two moms, like, there's so much lack of representation that we're slowly getting better at.

But all of those little pieces. Play a role. Play a role of the narrative of who you're supposed to be. Even if you're surrounded by people. that, you know, might be accepting. Your self as, you know, yeah, the one. The one that you have to break through. And you definitely see that with Koli and her journey.

Totally. And navigating that with Sonia. Yeah. And I think there was no one better to tell the story than you. I'll be honest. No one better than to tell her story. Sure. I was like, I have to tell this.

I was like, if I can't tell this story, no one can. Because this is so hard. It's so hard to get a movie made. No, for real. You're just knocking on so many doors. And just like focus features has been amazing and so supportive. And again, like going back to the parallels of the music video, people not raising their hands to then be able to have the opportunity to be in theaters. So please go see it.

Yeah. Because like all of our shows get canceled. Right. Like the suffix, we're we need representation. No, for real. We don't have as many. And consistent representation, mind you. Exactly.

I agree. It shouldn't be every 10 years or we're like only getting one season of anything. I agree. So we have to show up for, you know, and show Hollywood that we exist. And we're not just niche. We're mainstream. Yeah. Hello.

We're everywhere. The gays are everywhere. And you want the gays to support you. You need to make gay things. Yes. Hello. Yes. Also, you did mention to pivot to queer joy.

You did mention you're engaged. How is that? I'm engaged. Congratulations. Thank you. It's awesome. How has it been for you? It's so cool.

I get why. you know when people get engaged or they get married they're like always posting photos which are borderline annoying oh my god i know i got it like i never understood it but now i do i get it just like get obsessed with each other and you're just like oh my god this is so cool that we're getting to do this like societal traditional norm that we don't even really like care about care about or like align with you know what i mean like we never like it was never like we have to get married but there was a moment where i was like i want to ring on my finger and yeah i want to like get get to do the things that other people get to do.

That's exactly how I felt too. And I want us to like make it our own and like do it the way we want to do it. And so it was so cool to get to propose to her and have her proposed to me. She surprised me in Japan and like, oh my gosh. I love Japan. Obviously it's like my dream. And yeah, it's just been a really cool, beautiful season. Oh my gosh.

How has wedding planning been going for you? It's been nonexistent. Yeah. That's how I was. When did you get engaged? Well, I proposed to her in July And then she proposed to me in December So I would say July

Love, okay T I've been engaged for two years My wedding's coming up this year Oh my gosh, exciting Yeah so I get it Like I was like I'm cool to chill here Yeah we love being engaged I also have like the movie coming out

Because like once I get through Girls Like Girls Universe Yeah Then we'll start That's good chill being engaged Yeah we're still having combos But we're not in a rush And that's how I feel too

I just love the engagement season It's so fun It's so fun. It's always like this old thing. Oh wait, let me see your ring. I've seen it. Oh, that wait. Wait. Wait, hold on. Let me see. Princess cut. Okay, T. Look at us. But it's slightly different. Yeah. They're both squares, but mine's on the side. Oh, T. It's like a Tuamois. Is it kind of like turned? It's called an Asher Cut in East West. That's beautiful. Thank you. Yeah, we're twinses. Look at us. Literally. Can you believe a man picked this out? He did an incredible job. I know. That's a good fine. Sometimes, I know, especially when... Only women can do that.

That's what I know. I agree. There are so many things that I know women can do. You found a good one. Yeah, for real. Honestly, yeah, I did. Because when I got engaged, a lot of people were like, oh, you picked such a beautiful ring.

I think it's because it's, I wouldn't be surprised that most women are like, this is the exact ring I want. I didn't look at anything. I didn't look at cuts. Oh, that's fun. I just knew, like, the year. year because we'd been together for seven years and then we got engaged. Oh my god, same. No way. Oh my God. Are we twins? I'm freaked. I'm freaked out. If I's out my hair blonde, you better

watch out. I'm freaked out. Drew's coming for me. Drew's like, I'm Haley Kioka. I'm going to adopt a real you kind of thing going on. Well, yeah, I when I got. I'm so excited for you. Thank you. Look at us year seven. Look at us. But I was never in a rush just like you. I felt the same way, about especially about, I feel like most marriage, anything, is within white organized religion. It's just so traditional. Yeah. I know. That's how I felt too.

So even our wedding is super non-traditional in the way that we're doing almost everything because I just don't want any of the, I just want to get married. And I feel like you feel that way too. Like I'm very excited to get married. And I want to do the dress and I want to do the ceremony and all that. But there's many things I cut because I was like, nah, don't eat it. Yeah. Well, I think the perspective that you, when you find your person and your person,

and your partner and you're starting to build a life, you realize you're like, oh my gosh, every single generation, every single person has been trying to build the life that they wanted to build. Whether it was big or small, whether they ended up staying exactly the way their parents were or branched off. It's like you're always trying to make it your own.

Yeah, totally. And it just goes back to constantly trying to just evolve as people. Yeah, I agree. Because even at the beginning of planning, like when we were like thinking about the wedding as a concept, I was like, I guess I'll do like a semi-big wedding. Yeah, like what do I want? Yeah, and I was thinking about inviting people.

And then I was thinking about seating people. And I was like, that makes me want to die. I don't want to do that. I don't want to do that. So I, like, completely changed my entire wedding because I was like, no one talks about how embarrassing it is to get married in front of people. Oh, yeah. I mean, I've never done it.

So I've never done it. So that's why I'm just the thought of, like, telling him my innermost feelings and, like, my uncles right there. Yeah, right. Totally. Yeah, that actually is quite weird. So I was like, we're doing private vows. We're going to do private a lot of stuff.

close with everyone that's in the space. Exactly. The goal is that you don't have weird uncle. Exactly. Just watching. In second row. Yeah. Just kind of just hanging out there.

Totally. Totally. They don't need to be there. But I'm so happy for you all. I'm happy for you too. I hope you enjoy your engagement season. It's the best. Thank you.

No rush. No need. I'm, we're happy. We're cruising. Oh, I'm so excited for you. Anything else fun or exciting before I get into your fun facts that you want to talk about. Oh, my. Oh, that's out of your glorious movie.

What are my fun facts? Yeah. No, I just like, Becca's the absolute best. And it's, and again, I think it goes back to the Girls at Girls' Journey is like I grew up, never believing that I could find someone and have a healthy relationship and feel so loved and like seen and supported. And it's really, really special that I get to go into this Girls' Like Girls' Era as a director,

my directorial debut with an amazing partner. I know. Like that's like, just like the sugar on top. Which I didn't even expect that would happen. For real. And it's just, it's really beautiful. I love that. You're so amazing and so cool.

I can't stand it. It's honestly unfair. Okay, I do. I'm going to pivot. We're obsessed with each other. Yes, obviously because we're twins. We're literally in the same womb. Dah!

Look at us. Okay, I do have some fun facts about you. Oh my gosh. We do have just. What did you Wikipedia? I'm upset. I know. I'm already upset.

Well, you can tell me if they're fun. Okay. So you'll let me know. They're factual. Okay. Okay. So this first one says, As a kid, you got scouted by Nickelodeon at an ice rink.

I did. Ooh. So that was my dream as a kid to just be discovered. I lived your dream. Yeah. Yeah. So my mom's a very successful ice skating choreographer. Okay.

And so my childhood was very unique. I grew up in an ice rink all the time. Very cool. And so my mom was working and I was just ice skating. And they were like, we need an Asian girl. ice skate in this commercial. And they thought you were the cutest thing in the world, I bet. Yeah, I wasn't a great skater at all.

Really? But I... Well, like, I can probably do more than average. Like, I definitely was, like, when I was in high school and I, like, try to, like, ask a girl out, but not ask her out. I'd be, like, do you want to go to the ice rink? Like, during the holiday times when they had those patches of square ice with terrible ice skating rentals where you can barely skate.

But, like, I could, like, do moves. Yeah, to show off. I'd be like, oh, I have my ice skating. in the car and I'd like pull out my white skates like no game like thank god Becca asked I know how to skate thank God Becca made a move on me because I had no game whatsoever I'm like these girls are gonna love my white ice skates yeah I'm just gonna go show off at the ice rink yeah but now ice skating school I mean look at Alyssa we're we're we're on track I'm honestly not a very good ice skater at all but we'll go ice skating on our next podcast yeah yeah that's true we'll live

teach me some tips. Yeah. Okay. This says when you were five, you were in an ad advertising the internet itself. Yes. Is that true? Yes. That is dating you a little bit.

It literally the, um, the magazine, I'm just smiling and it's like, the internet is awesome or so I was like promoting using the internet. So like similar to, now we have AI. So that's your fault. It's all my fault. That's all on you, Haley. I, it's me. You and that damn ad.

This is something I carry. The weight of AI it's on your shoulders. I'm just like smiling like this. No idea what I'm promoting. That's crazy. Yeah. I don't even think I got paid either. I think that was just for free.

Yeah. Damn, you should hit up Steve Jobs. It's his fault. Honestly, were you doing a lot of commercial stuff as a child? No, I mean, those were literally the two things I did under the age of 17. And then my first acting role, I was 17. So people think I was like a child actor, but I actually just look really young. So like when I was on Wizards, I was 19.

No way. Yeah. How was Wizards? How was that set? It was cool. I had no idea that it was like a successful show. So I just was like, and I had like my spiky hair. Also, they made you gay in that show.

Well, I just was naturally gay. No, I mean like, the gazing gayness. Yeah, I guess. But I didn't know because it was just natural for me. So I was like, ah, but apparently I was like giving off the gay to Selena. But I didn't know. And I just was like. Thought I was acting.

I've seen quite a few edits of, of, like, your character on Wizards. It's amazing what editing can do on TikTok. Right, but they cut all the scenes and basically they were like, they should have written in. Was it giving? Yeah, I was giving. Yeah, I was giving. You were risen her up bad, like, in that show. I was just slowly being an activist by, like, oozing my gayness. That's your gay agenda.

All over TV shows and movies. You were just leaving it everywhere. Just traces. Speckles everywhere. sprinkles of gay. You follow the trail of breadcrumbs to the rainbow. How was it like acting on on sitcoms like that? Was that like weird or crazy or was it just another job to you?

It was just cool. I think for me, I didn't know I wanted to be a director at the time, but I wanted to be a musician. And I wanted to be a pop star. So I just was doing everything I could to have experiences and opportunities. And so acting ended up being opportunities. And a lot of the acting like lemonade mouth, I played a guitarist. Like there was a lot of like music. Involved.

Influence. Yeah, going on. And so I just, I was just excited to like be apart. I was like, oh, this is cool. There's cameras everywhere. I think that's an awesome way looking at it. And then like, you know, 10 years plus, I was like, oh, my gosh, Wizard. That was a big show.

Like, literally, because not of my friends, at the time, like, no one knew. And then later they're like, oh, you're on Wizard. I was like, oh, people watch that. That's cool. Same with Lemonadey Mouth. It's really interesting. It was like not deemed a success at all. But it was like a cult classic.

Kind of like Jennifer's body. Yes, it'd be yes. Just like Jennifer's body. The only other girls like girls movie out there. A movie that was not appreciated at its time, but it was later, as it should be. We're starving. The sapphics are starving. For real.

Honestly, I loved that movie too. Truly feed us. Okay. The sex one says that you were one fifth of a pop girl group that formed in 2007 called the Stunners. who opened for Justin Bieber. Yes. Whoa. Your lore goes crazy.

I'm all over the place. Yeah, you were a man of many hats. I was like the cool chick in the girl group who sang the bridges. But I was like, the gay one. But like in the closet. But that's also too, like when I was in that girl group, which was very short-lived. I got to experience, again, I was like, I want to be a musician. What is that like?

And I'm getting to tour and also experienced the negative sides of. the male gaze and like having to perform for these old men at these labels and like you're 16 like it's weird yeah creepy so it was good because that kind of ended and then I was able to chase my dreams and be like okay this is what I don't want to do and this is like the environment I don't want to be a part of I'm like obsessed with your attitude towards it it's very like I wanted to try it so I did I didn't yeah I fuck with that yeah I like you're just kind of like yeah that was cool yeah I love that idea that attitude

I mean, and that, I mean, Justin was, I mean, that was his, like, I think it was like never, never say never era. Yeah, yeah. So, like, that was cool. It was cool. That's how I feel about most things, you know? In this industry, especially, that's how I feel about most things. And I think it's important, honestly. I learned how to dance in high heels.

Yeah. I don't anymore. I wear sneakers. I don't need that skill anymore. I'm not flat feet, but, you know. Getting heels for life. I love how you're just so, you're so beautiful. talented that you're kind of just joining anything and then you're like yeah i don't like that dropping that

onto the next i think you're just trying i love that you know and it's like how do you become what you who you know you are and who you want to become yeah like what does that look like what does that look like how do you do you do that how do you get on tv how do you how do you have an audience like i remember watching in sync and i was like i want to be them how do you have girls screaming at you and like dance and sing with like a little mic like how do you do that yeah you're just trying stuff watching boys and going, now I need to get into that. That's what I'm trying to get into. Literally.

You all I'm obsessed. What's your sign? I'm in Aries. Oh, T. Love that. I love Aries. Libra Rising and Sagittarius Man. Oh, T. Okay. I'm Vervous Sun. Oh, fun. Cancer Moon, Sagittarius Rising. Okay. Oh. Look at us. We got some Saj. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Fire in the Big Three. We're balanced.

One of my best friends from college was in Aries. And she, I say all the time, like, I would have never had fun without her because she does everything fun anything she's down to try anything yeah and she would have died without me so i think it's a win-win okay wow so we're do want to hold hands yes there we go there we go connecting again okay the next one says in an interview in 2018 you told diva magazine that you quote have a serious obsession with tuna melts is that still true i love to her mouth man the internet really Has all the information. What's your favorite tuna melt you've ever had?

I recently thanks so much for asking. I just had one of my favorite tuna melts. It's at Apple Pan and it's dry bread with tuna. But I love just a classic tuna, like a little bit of relish or maybe a little bit of celery. Don't go crazy. Don't be adding parsley, dill. We just want basic with some cheese. They're soiling, the ancient text.

Cut in a triangle slant. I will eat a too. tuna melt with anyone. I love tuna. Like there's like when I go on tour like people would be like Haley go outside because I like am eating. I was like I'm like the tuna girl like even like at school like I would open up my thing and then have my tuna sandwich

but it'd be stinky so I'd have to like eat in the corner. Yeah because everyone had something to say about it stinking. You're representing people in more ways than one then. Yeah I am. Even stinky food eaters. Yes I am. You're like I'm doing it for us. Listen you have one life to live like eat the food that you want Like, don't listen to outside commentary.

Honestly, and have you ever had Ikes, like the sandwich shop? I've heard of it. I haven't been. Okay, they have a tuna melt. Is it good? It goes crazy bitch. It's actually fucking insane. When I think about it, my mouth water's like a dog.

See, I feel like a pipple. I love making art, but the thing I love also is food. I love eating food. Like, my dream is to just eat food 24-7 all the time. Have to. It makes me feel electric. You enter a flow state when you have a good tuna melt. I'm not kidding.

My friends, I was like, she is in her flow state. And I'm just like, oh, my God, that food was so good. You think I'm joking. I'm not. Literally. I'm glad to see the tuna melt thing has still held up over the years. It's good to have passions. Yeah, I think so.

Side quests. Okay, last fun fact is that you were a class president in middle school. I was. Is that you? I was. Did you take that title seriously? Girl, I was campaigning. So hard.

I was the student council girl. And I was in the closet, but I had spiky, flared hair, and I worn a vintage blazer, plaid blazer. And I had a boyfriend who gave me a vintage brooch. I'm painting the picture. So I am in the closet wearing a blazer with a vintage brazen. brooch with my boyfriend who's probably also gay your lavender marriage yeah my lavender marriage in middle school campaigning for ASB president right right and I won so go and drop that down and I'm such an emotional hoarder that I still have that blazer the flat blazer that's crazy it doesn't fit obviously

yeah but you're all but this is what I won the presidency and yes yes so I have to keep it and you know I will say And maybe it's coincidence, maybe not, but all of my gay friends, all of them were involved in student council in some regard. We know how to organize. Yeah. We have to. It's fight or flight. We'd be organizing for our rights, our safety.

We've been organizing since we were six years old. That's all you know. It's all we know. It's our flow state. Organizing and crowdfunding. That's all you guys know. Honestly, they're good at it. Yeah.

Well, those are all the fun facts I have for you. Would you deem them to be fun? They were fun. And they were facts. There you go. Period. Everyone, give it up for the fun facts. They were fun facts.

Thanks, guys. Thanks, Amanda. Okay, just to kind of close us out, I do, first off, want to give you flowers one more time. I really do genuinely believe that you are imperative to the space. And I think that you have been so brave and so courageous for so long. The fact that your art persists is not surprising because it's beautiful and amazing, but more specifically, your consistency with it has been inspired. firing and I really do think like genuinely I thank you from the bottom of my heart for opening

my sister's third eye to be a lesbian thank God but also for a lot of people I'm sure you have been just paramount in their self-discovery and I think you are so amazing and important and the fact that you're a API alongside me is another reason I love you it adds to to the totality of why I think you're so amazing but I'm feeling quite loved I do I just have to tell you that first but it means a lot because like and I mean you're in this industry and space but we're so hard on ourselves. And it's just like you're just doing everything you can. And it feels like sometimes you're just like swimming against a current.

And you're just like, when does this get easy? And I don't know if it ever gets easy. But I'm grateful to have been swimming against the current for 10 plus years. And I have been around for a long time. And so it's been exciting to have this movie kind of start a new generation. and a new cycle and chapter. And I don't know if we talked about it, but I also have an album coming out

that was inspired by the film. And like, I think when I did this movie, I just was like, I gotta give it everything I got. We're gonna direct the movie, we're gonna co-write it, and we're gonna do an album. And we have all these amazing queer artists on the album, which I think is either out now or might be out in a couple of weeks,

depending on when this comes out. Yes, yes, it'll be out in a couple weeks. Yes. But my goal for that too is like people who may not have access to the film or you know my international fans are able to at least listen to the album and getting to experience it um but yeah i really appreciate it it's been a really hard journey yeah i've learned a lot but i'm just really proud to still be existing and to still be putting out some queer content and joy and i'm so grateful for the fans sticking with me and um hopefully you know

exploring new fans and a new era i'm excited to maybe thrive as supposed to feel like I'm, you know, swimming for my life. No, I know. For real. And that's why I think it's so important to tell you how amazing I think you are, because I do think sometimes when you do it the right way and you do it the authentic way, sometimes it takes longer. It takes a lot longer.

Like, why am I going the longest route possible? And then it sometimes I feel like feels like almost like Sherpas, when white people want to go up Mount Everest. Right. No one ever credits Sherpas for having made that trek hundreds of thousands. thousands of time to the top, but they are transporting white people up there. Right. And sometimes it takes a while to get the recognition, but it's worth it.

And that's where I think you're out right now. Yeah, I'm a Sherpa, too, just so we're clear. We're the Sherpa's on the mountain. Unfortunately, yes. But we are on the mountain. We're on the mountain and we get to the top. Exactly. And we survive and come right back down and help people up.

And then we do it again. Yeah, and I think that's far more. I feel very seen. Yeah. I've been chirping. Is that a word? I've been chirping too, girl. Yeah.

And I think that's what, like, why you stand the test of time is my point. Like, I really do believe that because it's authentic and it's true to you. And it's meant to happen in the right way and the way it's supposed to happen. And I'm just so happy for you. And I think this is such an important film and the album as well as your directorial debut. So my last question for you is any advice you may have for any aspiring queer artists in whatever. medium that they so choose because you do it all. But if you had any advice for them and they're worried about that current like,

you know, kind of pushing against them, what would you say to them? I think my biggest lesson or epiphany on this whole journey is I took the long way to get to myself. Right. And so I would say like my advice to any artist or someone who's, you know, pursuing their dreams is to don't take the long way. Just like be yourself from. day one and that it's such a hard it's such an easy thing to say and it's such a hard thing to actually

apply and do but that is truly my you know encouragement because even like this album i went back to what i used to do i had unfinished songs that i'd written when i was like 16 or 17 i finished them for this album and i'm like why wasn't i doing that from the beginning like why did i go all the way around to dry everything i wasn't to come back to who i really am and so that would be my biggest challenge for you guys is to just don't take the long way around that just just start as you yeah and embrace that because that's your your biggest power your superpower i mean looking at like my career my career started when i was truthful yeah and authentic to who i was absolutely and here i am finding my purpose and had i never done that or continue to hide or lie to myself right i would

have a very different life yeah and thankfully now you're in the perfect place at the the perfect time and you're engaged. Oh my god. I'm talking about that. Wins, wins, wins all around. Well, thank you so much for coming on the show. You're amazing. I fucking love you.

I think you're amazing. I fucking love you too, Drew. I think you're incredible. And yes, another win on Lesbian Mountain. You guys are welcome for that. So for those, I don't know, the two straight people that watch me and don't know where to find you, where can everybody find you. Oh, just Haley Kiyoko, anything.

But you can see me in theaters June 19. Yes, you absolutely can. Girls like girls. very exciting. I'll be sitting in every single screening with popcorn. Don't worry. She'll be at every single one. Ro, J-11.

Thank you all so much for tuning into this episode of the comments section. Thank you so much to my amazing guest, Haley, Kyoko. Don't forget new episodes of the comments section drop every Wednesday. Thank you so much to my amazing guest, Haley. Thank you so much for tuning in, and I'll see you next week.

Bye!