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Entertainment • Television Host

Sean Evans

Sean Evans is an American television host, interviewer, and producer best known as the co-creator and host of the YouTube interview series Hot Ones.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Sean Evans is an American television host, interviewer, and producer best known as the co-creator and host of the YouTube interview series Hot Ones. Since 2015, he has hosted celebrity interviews over progressively spicier chicken wings, helping turn the show into a widely recognized digital media franchise.

Early life and education

Sean Evans was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1986. Sources also describe him as having grown up in the Chicago area and studied broadcast journalism.

Hot Ones

Evans co-created and began hosting Hot Ones in 2015. The format pairs celebrity interviews with a wing-eating challenge featuring sauces that increase in heat over the course of the episode.

Recognition and media profile

Hot Ones has been nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards, and Evans has received further recognition through media coverage and inclusion on Time’s TIME100 Creators list in 2025.

Business involvement

In 2024, Evans was among the investors in the purchase of First We Feast from BuzzFeed for US$82.5 million. This made him not only the host associated with the brand, but also part of its ownership group.

Key facts

  • Best known as host and co-creator of Hot Ones, a celebrity interview series built around increasingly spicy chicken wings.
  • Co-created Hot Ones with Chris Schonberger in 2015.
  • The series has received Daytime Emmy Award nominations.
  • Named to Time's inaugural TIME100 Creators list in July 2025.
  • Became part of an investment group that purchased First We Feast from BuzzFeed in December 2024.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sean Evans?
Sean Evans is an American interviewer, producer, and YouTuber best known for co-creating and hosting Hot Ones.
What is Hot Ones?
Hot Ones is a celebrity interview series in which guests answer questions while eating chicken wings coated in increasingly spicy sauces.
When was Sean Evans born?
He was born on April 26, 1986.
Where is Sean Evans from?
He was born in Evanston, Illinois, in the United States.
Did Sean Evans co-create Hot Ones?
Yes. Sources identify him as a co-creator of the series alongside Chris Schonberger.
Has Sean Evans received major recognition?
Yes. Hot Ones has received Daytime Emmy Award nominations, and Evans was included in Time’s 2025 TIME100 Creators list.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Evans_(interviewer)
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, occupation, years active, co-creation and hosting of Hot Ones, Daytime Emmy nominations, TIME100 Creators recognition, and 2024 First We Feast purchase involvement.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8797195/
    Supports: Birth date, birthplace, and screen credits including producer/actor listings.
  3. South China Morning Post — https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3310440/meet-hot-ones-host-sean-evans-illinois-native-has-interviewed-likes-jennifer-lawrence-margot-robbie
    Supports: Background on growing up in Illinois, studying broadcasting, and involvement in the First We Feast purchase.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/sean_evans
    Supports: Biographical summary, Hot Ones hosting, broadcast journalism education, and industry recognition.