{{Short description|American Twitch streamer (born 1997)}} {{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} {{Use American English|date=February 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = Fanum | image = Fanum 2021.jpg | caption = Fanum in 2021 | birth_name = Roberto Escanio | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|8|22}} | birth_place = [[The Bronx]], New York City, U.S. | occupation = {{hlist|[[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] streamer|YouTuber}} | twitch_handle = Fanum | twitch_years_active = 2016–present | twitch_genre = {{flatlist| * Gaming * Just Chatting }} | twitch_game = [[GTA Online]] | twitch_followers = 3.6 million | youtube_handle = Fanumlive | youtube_display_name = Fanum Live | youtube_years_active = 2013–present | youtube_genre = [[Comedy]] | youtube_subscribers = 3.77 million | youtube_views = 3.2 billion
| stats_update = May 25, 2026 | website = {{URL|fanumsupply.com|Fanum Supply}} |education=Bronx Early College Academy [[New York City College of Technology]] (dropped out)}}
'''Roberto Escanio''' (born August 22, 1997), better known online as '''Fanum''', is an American streamer and content creator. Fanum emerged online around 2016. He is known for originating the term "Fanum tax".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-09 |title=Fanum Is Your Favorite Celebrity's Favorite Streamer |url=https://www.gq.com/story/fanum-is-your-favorite-celebritys-favorite-streamer |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=GQ |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210212808/https://www.gq.com/story/fanum-is-your-favorite-celebritys-favorite-streamer |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Amay |date=2023-07-30 |title=Who is Fanum? Popular AMP-affiliated streamer's online career explored |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/who-fanum-popular-amp-affiliated-streamer-s-online-career-explored |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us |archive-date=2023-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210212808/https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/who-fanum-popular-amp-affiliated-streamer-s-online-career-explored |url-status=live }}</ref> He won "Breakout Streamer of the Year" at the [[13th Streamy Awards]] and the "Best [[Role-playing game|Roleplay]] Streamer" of the year award at the [[2022 Streamer Awards]] and [[2023 Streamer Awards]]. He is a member of the streamer group [[AMP (streamer collective)|Any Means Possible]] (AMP).
==Early life== Roberto Escanio was born on August 22, 1997, in [[The Bronx]], New York City, to parents from the [[Dominican Republic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |date=2025-01-28 |title=How Fanum Built an Empire Streaming Much More Than Video Games |url=https://www.gq.com/story/fanum-gq-hype |access-date=2025-08-04 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref> He has a younger brother who has appeared in his videos.<ref name=":0" /> He speaks English and [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite magazine |title=Fanum Answers The Web's Most Searched Questions |url=https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-fanum-answers-the-webs-most-searched-questions/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |magazine=WIRED |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214052359/https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-fanum-answers-the-webs-most-searched-questions |url-status=dead }}</ref><!-- This is an interview, but it mostly to support the BLP (Roberto name). --> After graduating from Bronx Early College Academy, Fanum enrolled at the [[New York City College of Technology]] but left to focus on earning money for his YouTube equipment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fanum on Growing Up in The Bronx, Joining AMP, YouTube Hustle & More |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=srrk2JhxJpI |website=Youtube | date=July 31, 2022 |publisher=No Jumper |access-date=27 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Press-Reynolds |first1=Kieran |title=How Fanum Built an Empire Streaming Much More Than Video Games |journal=[[GQ]] |date=28 January 2025 |url=https://www.gq.com/story/fanum-gq-hype |access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref>
== Career == [[File:Fanum.png|left|thumb|204x204px|Fanum in 2019]] Fanum began streaming on [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] in November 2016 and made his YouTube channel, JustFanum, in May 2017. He posted his first video in February 2019. He streamed ''[[NBA 2K]]'' and later expanded to [[Vlog|IRL vlogs]], which often drew upon his experiences in New York.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Press-Reynolds |first=Kieran |title=The new Gen Alpha slang 'fanum tax' has even stumped Gen Zers, who worry they're too old to keep up |url=https://www.insider.com/fanum-tax-gen-alpha-gen-z-millennials-confusing-slang-2023-10 |access-date=2023-12-10 |website=Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224183156/https://www.businessinsider.com/fanum-tax-gen-alpha-gen-z-millennials-confusing-slang-2023-10 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Fanum - Night Talent |url=https://www.night.co/talent/fanum#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20funniest%20creators,Award%20for%20Best%20Roleplay%20Streamer. |website=[[Night (company)|Night]] |access-date=29 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129160859/https://www.night.co/talent/fanum#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20funniest%20creators,Award%20for%20Best%20Roleplay%20Streamer. |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2023, he won "Best [[Role-playing game|Roleplay]] Streamer" at the [[2022 Streamer Awards]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last1=Snavely |first1=Adam |date=12 March 2023 |title=Streamer Awards 2023: All results and winners for every category |url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/streamer-awards-2023-all-results-and-winners-for-every-category |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312013138/https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/streamer-awards-2023-all-results-and-winners-for-every-category |archive-date=12 March 2023 |access-date=6 February 2024 |website=[[Dot Esports]]}}</ref> On August 27, 2023, Fanum won "Breakout Streamer of the Year" at the [[13th Streamy Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |title=MrBeast, Kai Cenat, Dylan Mulvaney win big at 2023 Streamy Awards |url=https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/mrbeast-amp-dylan-mulvaney-win-big-at-2023-streamy-awards#:~:text=Fanum%20won%20breakout%20streamer%20and,speech%20for%20the%20lifestyle%20award. |website=[[CBS News]] |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206144252/https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/mrbeast-amp-dylan-mulvaney-win-big-at-2023-streamy-awards#:~:text=Fanum%20won%20breakout%20streamer%20and,speech%20for%20the%20lifestyle%20award. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Tinoco |first1=Armando |title=Streamy Awards 2023 Complete Winners List: Dylan Mulvaney, MrBeast, Michelle Khare, Dream & Leo González And More |url=https://deadline.com/2023/08/2023-streamy-awards-winners-list-1235529332/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |access-date=6 February 2024 |date=28 August 2023 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128211825/https://deadline.com/2023/08/2023-streamy-awards-winners-list-1235529332/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Fanum has been featured on the music video for [[Offset (rapper)|Offset]]'s September 2023 single "[[Fan (Offset song)|Fan]]" alongside [[Kai Cenat]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Zemler |first1=Emily |title=Offset Announces New Album 'Set It Off,' Drops Music Video for 'Fan' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/offset-set-it-off-album-music-video-fan-1234825828/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=5 February 2024 |date=15 September 2023 |archive-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024015141/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/offset-set-it-off-album-music-video-fan-1234825828/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Duran |first1=Anagricel |title=Offset announces upcoming LP 'Set It Off' and shares video for 'Fan' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/offset-announces-upcoming-lp-set-it-off-and-shares-video-for-fan-3498737 |website=[[NME]] |access-date=5 February 2024 |date=15 September 2023 |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004220838/https://www.nme.com/news/music/offset-announces-upcoming-lp-set-it-off-and-shares-video-for-fan-3498737 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February 2024, he won "Best Roleplay Streamer" at the [[2023 Streamer Awards]].<ref name=":4" /> On June 2, 2024, he played in a soccer charity match hosted by British YouTube group Beta Squad and American YouTube group AMP at [[Selhurst Park]], London, England, where he played for team AMP. The event raised money for The Water Project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayo |first=Marc |date=2024-06-02 |title=Beta Squad vs AMP: Charity match abandoned after pitch invasion - LIVE! |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/beta-squad-vs-amp-live-stream-2024-latest-score-result-watch-tv-team-news-b1161552.html |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref> Later that month, he appeared as a contestant in the [[Sidemen]] reality competition series ''[[Inside (reality show)|Inside]]''. The series features 10 guests who compete in challenges to secure a prize fund totalled at £1 million, with everything they buy or do costing money from the prize fund. He was in the show for seven days and finished in 4th place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sidemen take on Love Island with £1m YouTube reality show Inside |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ceddjj3dgl8o |website=BBC |access-date=17 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Byford |first1=Celine |title=YouTubers launch new reality show featuring Love Island stars and Made in Chelsea OGs |url=https://www.realitytidbit.com/shows/meet-sidemens-inside-contestants-leah-halton-liv-bentley-castillo-and-more |website=Reality Tidbit |access-date=17 June 2024 |date=3 June 2024}}</ref> Later in December 2024, he was nominated for "Best Roleplay Streamer" at the [[2024 Streamer Awards]].<ref name=":5" />
On February 14, 2025, Fanum participated in "Match for Hope 2025", a soccer charity event hosted in [[Doha]], Qatar, as a player for team [[AboFlah]] & [[KSI]], facing off against team [[Chunkz]] & [[IShowSpeed]]. The match ended with team AboFlah & KSI's 6-5 victory over team Chunkz & IShowSpeed. The event managed to raise more than $10.7 million for charity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Jacob |date=2025-02-14 |title=USMNT boss Mauricio Pochettino coaches team Chunkz x IShowSpeed to narrow 6-5 loss vs. team KSI x AboFlah at Match For Hope charity game |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/usmnt-boss-mauricio-pochettino-coaches-team-chunkz-x-ishowspeed-in-thrilling-6-5-loss-vs-team-ksi-x-aboflah-at-match-for-hope-charity-game/blt3fc2dbe393375935 |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=GOAL |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Ethan |date=2025-02-14 |title=Match for Hope 2025's full lineup of football legends and celebrities |url=https://www.football.london/premier-league/match-for-hope-2025-lineup-30991243 |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=Football London |language=en}}</ref>
On March 8, 2025, Fanum participated in the [[Sidemen Charity Match#2025|2025 Sidemen Charity Match]], held at [[Wembley Stadium]] in London, United Kingdom, playing for the YouTube Allstars team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zeqiri |first=Daniel |date=2025-03-08 |title=Sidemen vs YouTube Allstars result: Speed scores winning penalty in nod to Cristiano Ronaldo |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/03/08/sidemen-vs-youtube-allstars-live-score-charity-match-2025/ |url-access=registration |access-date=2025-03-10 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
=== AMP Group === Fanum is an original and prominent member of the American content collective known as Any Means Possible (AMP). He contributes to the group's collaborative challenge videos. Fanum invited popular streamer Kai Cenat to the AMP group. In August 2023, Kai Cenat was arrested following a [[2023 Union Square riot|meet-and-greet in Union Square Park]] he hosted with Fanum that resulted in at least 2,000 people crowding the park. The event resulted in property destruction and several injuries. While no charges were placed against Fanum, Cenat was charged with inciting a riot.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mier |first=Tomás |date=2023-08-05 |title=Streamer Kai Cenat Charged With Inciting a Riot After Chaotic NYC Giveaway |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/twitch-streamer-kai-cenat-giveaway-chaos-nyc-1234801203/ |access-date=2023-12-10 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210212808/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/twitch-streamer-kai-cenat-giveaway-chaos-nyc-1234801203/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== ''Fanum tax'' == '''''Fanum tax''''' is an [[Internet slang]] term describing taking/sharing someone's food.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Glaze |first=Virginia |date=2024-01-22 |title=What does 'Fanum Tax' mean? Viral Kai Cenat meme explained |url=https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/what-does-fanum-tax-mean-viral-kai-cenat-meme-explained-2341160/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=[[Dexerto]] |language=en}}</ref> The first usage of ''Fanum tax'' referred exclusively to Fanum, who jokingly "taxed" snacks by taking bites of food from fellow [[content creators]] during live streams.<ref name=":0" /> The term circulated among the YouTube collective AMP in late 2022 and was popularized especially during Fanum's Twitch streams with popular American YouTuber [[Kai Cenat]], when Fanum took Cenat's cookies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanford |first=Kaitlin |date=2023-10-17 |title=What is 'Fanum tax'? TikTok song of Gen Alpha slang has Gen Z feeling like the new 'cringe' generation |url=https://www.intheknow.com/post/fanum-tax-sticking-out-your-gyat-for-the-rizzler-tiktok/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=In The Know |language=en-US}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'', Fanum defined the term:
<blockquote>Let's say your friend having a meal, he's having a good meal, and you just want a piece of that meal. Like, you know what I'm saying? You need a share. That's your friend and the friend's share, right? Get you a little piece of the meal. It's the Fanum tax. You just go ahead and just like, lemme get a little bit of 5%, 10% of the meal, maybe 20%.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-10-26 |title=Fanum Answers The Web's Most Searched Questions |url=https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-fanum-answers-the-webs-most-searched-questions/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101155214/https://www.wired.com/video/watch/google-autocomplete-inverviews-fanum-answers-the-webs-most-searched-questions |archive-date=2023-11-01 |access-date=2025-04-05 |magazine=[[WIRED]] |language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>
On October 2, 2023, a [[TikTok]] account under the username @ovp.9 posted a [[short video]] of a character from the online video game ''[[Fortnite]]'' "singing" to a [[musical parody]] of the 2021 song "[[Ecstacy (song)|Ecstasy]]" by [[Suicidal Idol]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=Diaz|first=Ana|date=2023-10-19|title='You're so Skibidi, so Fanum tax,' and other fun nonsense, explained|url=https://www.polygon.com/23921363/skibidi-fanum-tax-rizz-gyatt-gyat-meaning-meme-explained|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224183156/https://www.polygon.com/23921363/skibidi-fanum-tax-rizz-gyatt-gyat-meaning-meme-explained|archive-date=2024-02-24|access-date=2024-02-24|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|language=en-US}}</ref> The parody, titled either "Sticking Out Your Gyat for the Rizzler" or "You're so skibidi, you’re so fanum tax",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Torrefranca |first=Marielle |date=2024-01-03 |title=WATCH — 3 'skibidi' origin stories you may not know about |url=https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/watch-3-skibidi-origin-stories-you-may-not-know-about |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=[[CBC Kids]]}}</ref> features multiple [[internet culture]] terms, including ''[[gyatt]]'', ''[[Skibidi Toilet]]'', ''[[rizz]],'' and ''[[Sigma male]]''. The song was used in many TikTok videos, inspiring a mass creation of videos featuring ''[[Minecraft]]''-inspired games on the platform.<ref name=":1" /> The sound was used in over 195,000 videos and amassed over 321 million views on TikTok.<ref name=":8" /> ''[[The New York Times]]'' referred to the term as "the language of [[Generation Alpha|Gen Alpha]]."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kircher |first=Madison |date=2023-11-08 |title=Gen Alpha Is Here. Can You Understand Their Slang? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/08/style/gen-alpha-slang.html |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes !{{Reference column heading}} |- | 2024 | ''[[Inside (reality show)|Inside]]'' | Contestant | Series 1 | align=center| <ref name="Housemates">{{cite web|last1=Mukherjee|first1=Shreyan|title=Sidemen Inside: All confirmed influencers participating in the event revealed|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/streamers/sidemen-inside-every-confirmed-participant-far|website=SportsKeeda|date=30 May 2024 |access-date=3 June 2024}}</ref> |- | 2025 | ''[[Inside (reality show)|Inside: USA]]'' | Host | | align=center| <ref>{{cite web |title=The Sidemen Announce Huge Cast For ‘Inside USA’ |url=https://grmdaily.com/sidemen-inside-usa-cast-announcement/ |website=GRM Daily |access-date=19 September 2025}}</ref> |}
==Awards and nominations== {| class="wikitable" |+ !Ceremony !Year !Category !Result !{{Ref heading}} |- |rowspan="4"|[[The Streamer Awards]] |[[2022 Streamer Awards|2022]] |rowspan="4"|Best Roleplay Streamer |{{Won}} |align="center"| <ref name=":3" /> |- |[[2023 Streamer Awards|2023]] |{{Won}} |align="center"| <ref name=":4">{{cite web |title=Streamer Awards 2024: All results and winners for every category|url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/streamer-awards-2024-all-results-and-winners-for-every-category|first1=Nicholas |last1=Taifalos |first2=Cale |last2=Michael |website=[[Dot Esports]] |date=18 February 2024 |access-date=18 February 2024 |archive-date=18 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218025944/https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/streamer-awards-2024-all-results-and-winners-for-every-category |url-status=live}}</ref> |- |[[2024 Streamer Awards|2024]] |{{nom}} |align="center"| <ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2024-11-12 |title=The 2024 Streamer Awards: All Nominations |url=https://www.si.com/esports/news/2024-streamer-awards-nominations |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Esports Illustrated On SI |language=en-US |archive-date=January 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101101146/https://www.si.com/esports/news/2024-streamer-awards-nominations |url-status=dead }}</ref> |- |[[2025 Streamer Awards|2025]] |{{won}} |align="center"|<ref>{{Cite news |last=Connellan |first=Shannon |date=December 8, 2025 |title=The Streamer Awards 2025: IShowSpeed wins Streamer of the Year |url=https://mashable.com/article/the-streamer-awards-2025-winners-list-streamer-of-year |access-date=December 8, 2025 |work=[[Mashable]]}}</ref> |- | [[Streamy Awards]] |[[13th Streamy Awards|2023]] |Breakout Streamer |{{Won}} | align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |title=Streamy Awards 2023: Complete Winners List |url=https://people.com/streamy-awards-2023-complete-winners-list-7852449 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]] |access-date=6 February 2024 |language=en |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905092157/https://people.com/streamy-awards-2023-complete-winners-list-7852449 |url-status=live }}</ref> |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.twitch.tv/fanum Fanum Twitch channel] * [https://www.youtube.com/@FanumLive FanumLive YouTube channel] * [https://www.youtube.com/@Fanum JustFanum YouTube channel]
{{Streamy Awards Winners CSS}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Internet|Comedy|Video game|New York City|Dominican Republic}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fanum}} [[Category:American video bloggers]] [[Category:American Twitch (service) streamers]] [[Category:YouTubers from the Bronx]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Streamer Award winners]] [[Category:Streamy Award winners]] [[Category:English-language YouTube channels]] [[Category:1997 births]] [[Category:American people of Dominican Republic descent]]