DJ Pryor was catapulted to national fame after a video of him and his young son went viral in 2019. It showed off his natural humor — DJ is a standup comedian — as well as an example of genuine parental love.

But DJ's own childhood was far less positive. And his experiences of abuse and pain, told as comedy, have connected with audiences just as much.

"You'd be surprised how many people walk up to me at the end of shows that had that experience and they say, 'I went through the same thing,' " DJ says.