About
Franchesca Ramsey, also known as Chescaleigh, is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and public speaker whose work uses humor and social commentary to explore race, culture, identity, and social issues. She created and starred in MTV Decoded and has worked across television, digital media, publishing, and podcasting.
Biography
Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Franchesca Ramsey built an online following through comedy and social commentary. Her 2012 video “Sh*t White Girls Say… to Black Girls” became a viral hit and helped establish her as a prominent voice in digital comedy and commentary.
Ramsey created and starred in MTV Decoded, an award-winning digital series addressing race, identity, culture, and social issues through comedy. She later worked as a writer and correspondent on The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore and expanded into television writing, producing, and acting, including work on the iCarly revival and appearances on Superstore and Survival of the Thickest.
Her memoir, Well, That Escalated Quickly: Memoirs and Mistakes of an Accidental Activist, was published in 2018. In 2024, her debut feature, co-written with Kaitlin Fontana, was selected for Sundance labs. Ramsey currently co-hosts Lemme Fix It! with De’Lon Grant.
BQW Impact
Ramsey’s work connects Black identity, comedy, digital media, social commentary, and bisexual representation. Through MTV Decoded and her broader writing and performance career, she has used humor to make conversations about race, culture, gender, and identity accessible to mainstream audiences. Her public discussion of bisexuality has also contributed to visibility for Black bisexual women in popular culture.
Selected work
“Sh*t White Girls Say… to Black Girls” (2012)
Viral video that helped launch Ramsey’s wider career in digital comedy and social commentary.
MTV Decoded
Award-winning digital comedy series created and hosted by Ramsey addressing race, culture, identity, and social issues.
The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore
Comedy program on which Ramsey worked as a writer and correspondent.
Well, That Escalated Quickly (2018)
Memoir examining Ramsey’s experiences with race, identity, activism, and online culture.
iCarly
Paramount+ revival on which Ramsey worked as a writer and producer.
Lemme Fix It!
Current YouTube show co-hosted by Ramsey and De’Lon Grant.
Sources
Franchesca Ramsey Official Website
Official biography, projects, and current work.
Current show co-hosted by Ramsey.
Verified public social account.
Profile details
- Fields: Media & Journalism, Screen & Stage, Literature
- Roles: Commentary, Podcasting, Acting, Producing, Television, Nonfiction, Memoir
- Gender Identity: Woman
- LGBTQ Identity: Bisexual
- Nationality: American
- Ethnicity: African American
- Topics: Comedy, Cultural, Digital