Icecreamand at 18:08, 16 August 2023

2023-08-16T18:08:29Z

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{{short description|Indian-Canadian comedian and actor}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name = JusReign
| image = JusReign at Punjabi International Film Festival (cropped).jpg
| caption = Singh at the 2015 Punjabi International Film Festival
| birth_name = Jasmeet Singh Raina
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|11|4}}
| birth_place = [[Guelph]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
| nationality = [[Canadian nationality law|Canadian]]
| signature = JusReign signature.tif
| pseudonym = Jus Reign
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/JusReign JusReign] (Main)
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/JusVlogs JusReignToo] (Vlogs)
*[https://www.youtube.com/SnapReign SnapReign]
*[https://www.youtube.com/Just2Boyz Just2Boyz] (Podcast)
| years_active = 2009–2018
| genre = [[Comedy]]
| silver_button = Yes
}}
'''Jasmeet Singh Raina''' (born November 4, 1989), professionally known as '''Jus Reign''', is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] comedian and music artist of [[Indian people|Indian]] descent. He is most prominently known as a [[List of YouTubers|YouTube personality]], and one of Much Digital Studios' original creators.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last1=Cummins|first1=Julianna|title=Jus Reign selected for Sundance-YouTube program|url=http://playbackonline.ca/2016/01/19/jus-reign-selected-for-sundance-youtube-program/|website=Playback Magazine|accessdate=20 July 2016}}</ref>

==Early life==
Jasmeet Singh Raina was raised in [[Guelph]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]] into an [[Immigration to Canada#Contemporary immigration, 1970s–present|immigrant]] [[Indo-Canadians|Punjabi]] [[Kashmiri diaspora#Canada|Kashmiri]] [[Sikhism in Canada|Sikh]] family.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dart|first1=Chris|title=How three local comics found global fame|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/how-three-local-comics-found-global-fame/article4107501/|website=The Globe and Mail|accessdate=8 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Carrington|first1=Julian|title=The comedy ceiling: Toronto's comics of colour are ready for their close-up|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/the-comedy-ceiling-torontos-comics-of-colour-are-ready-for-their-close-up/article26551629/|website=The Globe and Mail|accessdate=8 August 2016}}</ref> When he was 5 years old, his father started paying a maestro to teach Jasmeet and his younger brother, Anmol, in [[Indian classical music|Punjabi classical music]]. Jasmeet played the [[Tabla]]. He started to dislike playing it and as he has stated in his "Draw My Life" on YouTube, he argued with his teacher to the point where he got a tabla thrown at his face. He studied at the [[University of Guelph]], where he originally studied to become a doctor to appease his parents' wishes.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bhandari|first1=Aparita|title=From University of Guelph YouTube sensations to Punjabi movie stars|url=http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/4526178-from-university-of-guelph-youtube-sensations-to-punjabi-movie-stars/#|website=Guelph Mercury Tribune|date=16 May 2014 |accessdate=8 August 2016}}</ref> Eventually, the sketches Raina was creating on the side went viral and his parents accepted that their son had found success and have since been supportive of his YouTube career.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sufrin|first1=Jon|title=Q&A: Jasmeet Raina, the biggest GTA celebrity you've never heard of (unless you've heard f Jus Reign)|url=http://torontolife.com/city/qa-jasmeet-singh-jus-reign-youtube-vine/|website=Toronto Life|date=28 January 2015|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref>

==Career==
Singh’s upbringing and his [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] roots have provided material for his viral videos (his most popular being ''THE SWAG SONG''). Most of his work contains pop culture parodies, while others provide commentary on race and his struggles with racism.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sufrin|first1=Jon|title=Q&A: Jasmeet Singh, the biggest GTA celebrity you've never heard of (unless you've heard of Jus Reign)|url=http://torontolife.com/city/qa-jasmeet-singh-jus-reign-youtube-vine/|website=Toronto Life|date=28 January 2015|accessdate=13 May 2016}}</ref>

While attending the University of Guelph, Singh first met Rupan Bal and invited him to be in his YouTube video 'A-1 Shopping Cart Driving School'. Singh was impressed by Bal's natural comedic skills and decided to incorporate Bal further into his YouTube videos, creating the fictional character of Jus Reign's stereotypical Indian mother. The two worked together in a number of YouTube videos and later co-starred together in the Punjabi film 22g Tussi Ghaint Ho.<ref>{{Citation|title=Exclusive RUPAN BAL Interview {{!}} On Jus Reign, Stardom, & Future Plans {{!}} Amin Dhillon (Ep. 11)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXb6IowNXOc|language=en|access-date=2021-04-08}}</ref> This was Singh's only acting credit in the Punjabi film industry.

Singh is also one of Much Digital Studios' original creators, among a roster of various other online influencers.<ref name="auto"/>

In 2015, he was the red carpet correspondent for the [[IHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards|Much Music Video Awards]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Yeung|first=Lisa|title=Just A Few Of The Times Jus Reign Owned The 2015 MMVA Red Carpet|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/06/22/jus-reign-mmva-2015_n_7633872.html|publisher=Huffington Post}}</ref> Singh also starred in the web series Dhaliwal '15<ref>{{cite web |title=Dhaliwal '15 |url=http://www.Dhaliwal2015.com |website=Dhaliwal '15 |accessdate=July 12, 2019}}</ref> where he played Bobby Dhaliwal, the first candidate of colour to run for prime minister in the 2015 Canadian federal election.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bobby Dhaliwal Wants To Be Prime Minister. Here's Our Exclusive Interview With Him |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/08/18/bobby-dhaliwal-interview_n_8000370.html |website=Huffington Post Canada |date=18 August 2015 |accessdate=July 12, 2019}}</ref> The series was created and directed by Canadian filmmaker Amita Zamaan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3727604/|title=Amita Zamaan|website=IMDb|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref>

In June 2016 Raina was featured as a guest writer in [[24 Hours (newspaper)|24 Hours Toronto]]'s daily city snapshot "The Six in Toronto", highlighting hot spots to eat and hang out in Toronto.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Reign|first1=Jus|title=THE SIX: Jus Reign makes his pix|url=http://www.toronto24hours.ca/2016/06/15/the-six-jus-reign-makes-his-pix|website=24 Hours Toronto|access-date=2016-07-07|archive-date=2016-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616181608/http://www.toronto24hours.ca/2016/06/15/the-six-jus-reign-makes-his-pix|url-status=dead}}</ref> In summer 2016 Raina was included in The Bay St. Bull's "Power 50" list of most influential Canadians for his entrepreneurial skills and online notoriety.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bay St. Bull Power 50-Jus Reign: Youtuber, Comedian, Much Music Digital Studios creator|url=http://www.baystbull.com/home/2016/7/19/nh9gscmbb8wcz7wkb59yu8sm1ly5nu?rq=jus%20reign|accessdate=8 August 2016|archive-date=26 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126051831/http://www.baystbull.com/home/2016/7/19/nh9gscmbb8wcz7wkb59yu8sm1ly5nu?rq=jus%20reign|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 19, 2016, he co-hosted the [[iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards]] red carpet, speaking to stars like [[Shemar Moore]] and [[Tyler Posey]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stevenson|first1=Jane|title=MMVAs: The best sound bites from the red carpet|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2016/06/19/mmvas-the-best-sound-bites-from-the-red-carpet|newspaper=Toronto Sun}}</ref>
In 2016, Raina was featured in [[Playback Magazine]]'s ''Top 5 to Watch''. Also in 2016, he had co-hosted the [[Scotiabank Giller Prize]].

Jus Reign made an appearance on ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]'', in a creator edition of the show's [[Jimmy Kimmel Live!#Mean Tweets|Mean Tweets]] segment in June 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kimmel|first1=Jimmy|title=Mean Tweets - Creator Edition|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t5tzDxgwQY|website=YouTube}}</ref>

In 2017, he and fellow comedian Wahlid Mohammad had started a podcast called ''Just 2 Boyz''.

In December 2018, Raina took an indefinite hiatus from social media, including [[YouTube]]. Reasons for his departure are unknown.

In October 2019, Raina (along with other Canadian actors) starred in an interactive web-documentary by the [[National Film Board of Canada]] called ''Supreme Law''. Raina plays the role of former Canadian Prime Minister, [[Pierre Elliott Trudeau]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supremelaw.nfb.ca/|title=Supreme Law|website=supremelaw.nfb.ca}}</ref>

In 2020, it was announced that ''Late Bloomer'', a comedy series produced by fellow [[Indo-Canadians|Indo-Canadian]] comedian [[Russell Peters]], about Raina's rise to fame, was in development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/global/russell-peters-jus-reign-late-bloomer-1234830005/|title=Comedy Star Russell Peters to Executive Produce YouTuber Jus Reign's 'Late Bloomer'|date=12 November 2020}}</ref> In 2023, it was announced that the show will premiere on [[Crave (streaming service)|Crave]] and it is currently filming in [[Hamilton, Ontario]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2023/global/news/jus-reign-late-bloomer-crave-pier-21-1235590610/amp/ | title=Canadian Comedian Jasmeet Singh Raina Sets 'Late Bloomer' Series with Crave, Pier 21 Films (EXCLUSIVE) | date=21 April 2023 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
Raina has developed a strong connection with his [[Sikh art and culture|Sikh heritage]], during his visits to [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[India]] with his family and friends (as he portrays in his videos).

===Turban controversy===
On February 22, 2016, Raina was forced to remove his [[Turban]] at [[San Francisco International Airport]], an hour before boarding a flight to [[Toronto]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Krishnan|first1= Manisha|title=Toronto YouTube Star Jus Reign Was Forced to Remove His Turban at a California Airport|url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/toronto-youtube-star-jus-reign-was-forced-to-remove-his-turban-at-a-california-airport|website=Vice News|date= 23 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kilkenny|first1=Carmel|title=Jus Reign forced to remove his turban at airport|url=http://www.rcinet.ca/en/2016/02/23/jus-reign-asked-to-remove-his-turban-at-san-francisco-airport/|website=CBC Radio Canada International|date=23 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Green|first1=Jason|title=No mirror available for Sikh comedian Jasmeet Raina, aka Jus Reign, during private airport screening|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/san-francisco/ci_29570568/no-laughing-matter-2008-recommendation-called-tsa-put|website=Mercury News San Francisco|date=27 February 2016}}</ref> Raina, who has a Sikh background, wears a turban for religious reasons.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian comedian asked to remove turban at U.S. airport|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canadian-comedian-asked-to-remove-turban-at-u-s-airport-1.2789642|website=CTV News|date=23 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Varagur|first1=Krithika|title=Why Are Airports Still So Clueless About Respecting Sikhs?|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sikh-discrimination-airports_us_56cf8199e4b0871f60eaca42|website=The Huffington Post|date=8 March 2016}}</ref> After being told to either remove his turban or book another flight, Raina complied, removing his turban in a private room.<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian YouTube star Jus Reign forced to remove turban to board flight|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/jus-reign-turban-1.3460092|website=CBC News}}</ref>

After completing the security check, Raina asked if security officials could provide him with a mirror so he could re-tie his turban in private. But [[Transportation Security Administration|TSA]] agents refused, suggesting he walk across the terminal to a public restroom — his head still uncovered — and use a mirror there.<ref>{{cite web|last1=KAI-HWA WANG|first1=FRANCES|title=Sikh-Canadian Comedian Says He Was Forced to Remove Turban at San Francisco Airport|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/sikh-canadian-comedian-says-he-was-forced-remove-turban-san-n524511|website=NBC News|date=24 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Joshi|first1=Sonam|title=Sikh YouTube star JusReign asked to remove his turban at San Francisco airport|url=http://mashable.com/2016/02/23/jusreign-turban-sikh-usa/#EwHUnfiG_EqU|website=Mashable|date=23 February 2016}}</ref> Raina noted the experience was an embarrassing and sensitive ordeal, and that a simple fix, like adding a mirror to the private screening area or providing him with a handheld mirror, would have been more respectful.<ref>{{cite web|title=TSA Agents Force Sikh Man To Remove Turban, Make Him Walk Across The Terminal To Put It Back On|url=https://thinkprogress.org/tsa-agents-force-sikh-man-to-remove-turban-make-him-walk-across-the-terminal-to-put-it-back-on-f0d9eb3bceeb#.twvzhp6d0|website=ThinkProgress}}</ref>

The incident led to backlash on [[Twitter]] and garnered international headlines in ''Cosmopolitan India'',<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mubarak|first1=Salva|title=Indian-Canadian YouTuber JusReign was Asked to Walk Across the Airport Without His Turban After a Security Check|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.in/celebrity/news/a4582/youtuber-jusreign-was-asked-to/|website=Cosmopolitan India}}</ref> ''[[Seventeen (American magazine)|Seventeen]]'',<ref>{{cite web|last1=Devoe|first1=Noelle|title=Youtube Star JusReign Calls Out TSA After Being Forced to Remove His Turban at the Airport|url=http://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/news/a38393/massive-youtube-star-jusreign-forced-to-remove-his-turban-at-airport/|website=Seventeen|date=25 February 2016}}</ref> ''[[New York Daily News]]'',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Good|first1=Dan|title=Sikh comedian Jasmeet Raina says airport security made him take off his turban|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sikh-comedian-airport-security-made-turban-article-1.2540164|publisher=NY Daily News}}</ref> and BBC Asia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03kl4ml|title=BBC Asian Network - Nihal, JusReign talks about being asked to remove his turban|date=February 24, 2016|website=BBC}}</ref> While a TSA spokesperson made a statement explaining the screening processes for religious garments, they did not apologize directly for the incident with Raina. After the incident, Raina took his frustration over the issue over social media, which sparked a media outrage over TSA racial profiling in general.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jenkins|first1=Jack|title=TSA Agents Force Sikh Man To Remove Turban, Make Him Walk Across The Terminal To Put It Back On|url=http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2016/02/23/3752807/sikh-turban-tsa/|website=Think Progress}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|- Won Most Fudu newcomer
| 2015
| ''[[22g Tussi Ghaint Ho]]''
| Jus
|
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Jimmy Kimmel Live!]]''
| Himself
|
|-
| TBA
| ''Late Bloomer''
|
|
|}

===Web===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2015
| ''Anarkali''
| Shaan
|
|-
| ''Dhaliwal '15''
| Bobby Dhaliwal
|
|-
| 2017
| ''Robot Bullies''
| Robot 2
| Short Film
|-
| 2018
| ''Ultimate Expedition''
| Himself
|
|-
| 2019
| ''Supreme Law''
| Pierre Trudeau/ Himself
|
|-
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award Show
! Category
! Result
|-
| 2015
| [[Shorty Awards]]
| YouTube Comedian
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3” | 2016
| [[Streamy Awards]]
| Best Collaboration
| {{nom}}
|-
| The Digi Awards
| YouTuber of the Year
| {{win}}
|-
| Sikh Heritage Awards
| Awarded Outstanding Member of Sikh
| {{won}}
|}

==See also==
* [[South Asian Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|9566950}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reign, Jus}}
[[Category:1989 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Kashmiri descent]]
[[Category:Canadian Sikhs]]
[[Category:People from Guelph]]
[[Category:Comedians from Ontario]]
[[Category:Canadian male comedians]]
[[Category:Canadian musicians of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Canadian YouTubers]]
[[Category:Video bloggers]]
[[Category:Canadian male bloggers]]

Jus Reign - Revision history

Icecreamand at 18:08, 16 August 2023