Creator Campaings
Discover +10 Million creators across all industries and niches.
Get Al-Powered and activable insights around creator's profiles.
Manage influencers effortlessly at one place.
Reach out to millions of creators directly on the platform.
Social Media Insights
Favikon for Creators
Grow as a creator on social media
Grow
Get Noticed
Blogs Articles
Methodology & Rankings
About Favikon, rankings, tools & much more.
Methodology
The recipe behind Favikon's viral & coveted rankings.
Free tools to power your influencer marketing workflows.
The people & mission that fuels Favikon.
Get access to all Favikon rankings.
Become a select Favikon Partner
Become a select Favikon Affiliates
Featured Rankings
Highlighting the most influential creators on X, shaping global conversations and trends
Showcasing top creators in the sales niche, driving innovation and engagement across the U.S.
Recognizing global leaders on LinkedIn for their impactful thought leadership and professional insights.
Who is Emmanuele Massarelli aka Unknown Smug?
Emmanuele Massarelli, known online as Unknown Smug, is a gaming content creator who combines humor and gameplay commentary, with a particular focus on NBA 2K. Based in the U.S., he uses satire, voiceovers, and short skits to connect with an audience of gamers who relate to his lighthearted critiques and in-game jokes.



Justine Castany, a student at ESSEC Business School and currently working at Favikon, shines with her love for marketing and dedication to communications. As a dynamic young professional, she serves as Marketing Manager at Favikon, where she brings her expertise to craft and execute cutting-edge strategies. With her creativity and keen eye for trends, Justine stands out in communicating brand messages effectively and making waves on social media.
Check Brand Deals
Emmanuele Massarelli aka Unknown Smug: Blending Gaming Humor and NBA 2K Commentary with Personality
Emmanuele Massarelli, better known as Unknown Smug, is a U.S.-based gaming content creator who made a name for himself through comedic NBA 2K videos. His content often highlights broken game mechanics, awkward animations, and strange in-game events, all delivered with his signature humor. Rather than relying on gameplay excellence, Emmanuele focuses on personality and commentary. His fanbase connects with the frustration he turns into entertainment.
He started creating content after noticing a drop in quality across major titles like NBA 2K, Fortnite, and Call of Duty, which became a running theme in his videos. His commentary is often sarcastic, sometimes exaggerated, but always based on real in-game situations. He speaks from the point of view of an active player, not a detached reviewer, which makes his content relatable. Many of his jokes are built on niche frustrations only long-time 2K players would understand.

Emmanuele’s Instagram, unlike his video platforms, shows a more curated side of his creator identity. He uses it to preview skits, post thumbnails, and share casual photos, keeping his gamer persona intact without overproducing his image. His posts often carry gaming references, inside jokes, or nods to viral gaming culture. This consistency across tone and content type makes his account feel aligned with his video presence.
He avoids branching into lifestyle or personal branding and sticks to gaming as his core identity. His content doesn't feature vlogs, product hauls, or unrelated trends—everything centers around games and the humor built within them. His creative direction is clear: entertain gamers by being one. This self-awareness and discipline have helped him stay focused and distinct in a crowded creator space.
An Influencer Active on Social Media

Emmanuele Massarelli has a strong presence across YouTube (1.7M), TikTok (948.9K), and Instagram (145.9K). His audience is made up primarily of English-speaking U.S. gamers who follow NBA 2K and comedy-focused content. He adds personality into every video and avoids broad lifestyle themes, sticking closely to gaming humor.
Emmanuele Massarelli's Social Media Strategy Analysis
YouTube: The Core of Emmanuele’s Gaming Community

YouTube is the foundation of Unknown Smug’s content, where his 1.7 million subscribers recognize him for turning NBA 2K frustrations into comedy. His videos often mock broken game features, laggy animations, and awkward moments players experience daily. Unlike other creators who focus on gameplay skill, Emmanuele leans into storytelling, building jokes around bugs and bad mechanics. His edits include exaggerated voiceovers and punchy cuts that reflect his distinct tone.
Despite the strong subscriber base, he hasn’t uploaded any videos in the last 30 days and currently posts just once a year, making YouTube a dormant but valuable asset. His influence score remains high due to past success, but his engagement rate is now at 0%, with no measurable activity this month. However, his old uploads still gain views over time thanks to their replay value and relatability. His content doesn’t rely on trends—it captures recurring issues that stay relevant.

YouTube is where Emmanuele first built his reputation, and many fans still associate him with the platform. He’s ranked among the top creators in video entertainment, showing that his brand resonates even with limited output. His long-form format allows for more layered jokes and full skit development—something harder to achieve on TikTok. That makes YouTube the most aligned platform with his storytelling approach.
If Emmanuele resumes regular uploads, YouTube has the highest chance to revive audience momentum. The platform supports his detailed commentary style and gives him space to combine gameplay, humor, and personal critique. His inactive schedule doesn’t reflect his potential—his audience is still there, waiting for more.
- Username: @unknownsmug
- Influence Score: 79.7/100
- Followers: 1.7M
- Activity: 0 videos/month
- Engagement Rate: 0%
- Growth: 0%
- Average Engagement: 0
- Posting Habits: Once a year at 7 PM EST
Recommended tools
Find YouTube Influencers
Analyze your own YouTube profile
Analyze Competitors' YouTube Profiles
TikTok: Short-Form Humor Focused on NBA 2K Fails and Moments

On TikTok, Emmanuele posts under @unknownsmugg, where he’s built a following of 948.9K through short, punchy clips. His videos often capture quick moments in NBA 2K that are either absurd or infuriating—glitches, missed calls, or sudden lags—always with a comedic spin. Unlike polished creators, he focuses on raw expression and exaggerated humor that mirrors the frustration players feel in real-time. His face and voice are often the centerpiece, not the gameplay itself.
His posting frequency is low, at 0.7 videos per week, with the last upload coming 9 days ago. Over the past month, he lost about 1,000 followers, reflecting a -0.11% dip in growth. His engagement rate is modest at 0.16%, with an average of 1.5K likes and 23.6K views per video. These numbers show a strong viewer base, but reduced activity has impacted visibility.

What sets his TikTok apart is his refusal to chase trends that don’t match his voice. He rarely uses viral audio or filters—instead, he creates original, direct commentary on gaming annoyances. His TikTok edits are minimal, often relying on facial expressions, quick dialogue, and game footage to carry the joke. This makes his account easy to identify and tied closely to his persona.
While TikTok isn’t his most consistent platform, it’s where new fans can quickly discover his humor in bite-sized doses. His style is optimized for mobile viewing: fast, expressive, and game-specific. If he increases frequency, it could become his top growth platform thanks to its algorithmic reach and his already clear comedic niche.
- Username: @unknownsmugg
- Influence Score: 71.2/100
- Followers: 948.9K
- Activity: 0.7 videos/week
- Engagement Rate: 0.16%
- Growth: -0.11%
- Average Engagement: 1.5K
- Posting Habits: Once a week at 6 PM EST
Instagram: Where Gaming Humor Meets Personal Style

On Instagram, Emmanuele uses @unknownsmug to share gaming-themed visuals, behind-the-scenes setups, and photos tied to content releases. With 145.9K followers, his strategy here focuses on visuals tied to his identity—whether it’s a YouTube plaque, creator trip, or captioned skit image. He doesn’t use Instagram for deep interaction but instead to maintain brand consistency and show what’s happening around his video drops.
Unlike YouTube and TikTok, Instagram is where he’s currently most active. He posts 8 times per month, averaging three uploads per week at 6 PM EST, with strong audience growth of +4.87% in the last 30 days. His engagement rate is 2.84%, significantly higher than his other platforms, with 4.1K average engagements and 93.8K views per post. That level of interaction shows Instagram is now his strongest engagement tool.

His posts often feature props, recognizable setups, and brief text, like his birthday shoutout or YouTube award photo. He keeps the content humorous but polished, avoiding clutter or off-topic visuals. Each post is designed to reinforce his creator identity rather than expand into lifestyle or trends. The platform acts like a digital storefront for his gaming persona.
Instagram has become his most consistent platform for staying visible between videos. It keeps his name circulating even when his main video channels are quiet. With more frequent uploads and strong community response, it currently plays the biggest role in maintaining his relevance.
- Username: @unknownsmug
- Influence Score: 86.3/100
- Followers: 145.9K
- Activity: 8 posts/month
- Engagement Rate: 2.84%
- Growth: +4.87%
- Average Engagement: 4.1K
- Posting Habits: 3 times a week at 6 PM EST
Twitch: Inactive but Aligned with His Audience’s Interests

Emmanuele’s Twitch account, @unknownsmug, currently has 7.1K followers, but the channel has no streaming activity or video uploads. There are no signs of cross-promotion from his main platforms like YouTube or Instagram, and no evidence of planned live sessions. Despite the dormant status, the follower count indicates some level of early interest, likely from his existing fanbase seeking more direct interaction.
Given his personality-driven humor and gaming commentary, Twitch could be a natural fit for live gameplay reactions, unscripted NBA 2K sessions, or interactive Q&A streams. His high energy and comedic timing would translate well in a live format, but so far, the platform remains unused. Until he activates it, Twitch remains a reserved but untapped opportunity.
- Username: @unknownsmug
- Influence Score: Not available
- Followers: 7.1K
- Activity: 0 videos/week
- Engagement Rate: Not measurable
- Growth: 0%
- Average Engagement: Not measurable
- Posting Habits: Inactive
X (Formerly Twitter): Archived Presence with No Current Role

Emmanuele’s X account, @unknownsmug, has 2.3K followers and no posts in the past two years. It hasn’t been used to comment on games, share videos, or engage with trends—functioning more as a reserved username than an actual platform. With 0% engagement and no growth in the last 30 days, the channel currently holds no influence.
His last activity dates back over 24 months, and there’s no sign of reactivation. He hasn’t linked the account on his other platforms, nor has he used it to tease content or respond to fan comments. Given how central humor and video are to his style, X doesn’t match his creative approach.
- Username: @unknownsmug
- Influence Score: 6.4/100
- Followers: 2.3K
- Activity: 0 tweets/week
- Engagement Rate: 0%
- Growth: 0%
- Average Engagement: 0
- Posting Habits: Once a year at 5 PM EST
Unknown Smug’s Social Media Influence Summary

Emmanuele Massarelli holds an overall Favikon Influence Score of 3, with 8,799 points, placing him solidly within the mid-tier of gaming content creators. He ranks in the Top 1% for Video Entertainment (Worldwide) and Top 3% in the U.S., sitting at #7460 and #1081, respectively. His Instagram performance is notable too—he's in the Top 2% both in the U.S. and globally.
Learn more about the Favikon Methodology here
Content Strategy: Personality-Driven Humor for Gamers
Emmanuele’s content is structured around commentary and entertainment that reflect the current state of gaming—especially NBA 2K. Instead of long tutorials or general updates, he builds comedic skits out of patch notes, gameplay glitches, and community frustrations. His tone is upbeat but pointed, and he often mirrors real fan sentiment in his jokes.
Reachability and Partnerships

Emmanuele Massarelli is most reachable through Instagram, where he maintains steady posting and public interaction. His comments are occasionally liked or replied to, especially when fans reference his skits or gaming frustrations. Unlike his YouTube and TikTok, where interaction is limited to video formats, Instagram allows more direct visibility into audience feedback. He doesn’t use contact forms or business emails openly, which keeps outreach informal and routed through DMs.

He’s worked with brands like Bibigo, Zara, and Squid Game, but only features products that match his tone or content setting. Rather than staging product showcases, Emmanuele typically integrates partnerships into his props or set design—like brand logos appearing subtly in skits. His brand safety is rated as high, making him a low-risk option for entertainment and tech sponsors. He’s unlikely to collaborate on content outside gaming or humor, which keeps partnerships focused and consistent.
Conclusion: Builds Community Through Gaming Humor
Emmanuele Massarelli has carved a unique lane in gaming content by making NBA 2K funny again. With over 1.7 million YouTube followers and a strong Instagram presence, he mixes humor, critique, and energy to connect with gamers who feel the same frustrations he does. His content never strays far from that identity, making him a reliable source of both laughs and shared gamer experiences.
View the AI-powered profile
Also See 👀
ALEX GABOURY - COMPLETE SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYSISSHANNBAILEE - COMPLETE SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYSIS
🏆 TOP 200 INFLUENCERS WORLDWIDE
Related Articles
See all the articles
Find, analyze, and contact top influencers from a 10M+ creator database on Instagram, Linkedin, Youtube, Tiktok, and X to grow your business.
Favikon is an influencer marketing sofware. We are not affiliated, associated, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with the Tiktok, Youtube, LinkedIn or Instagram brand, or any ot ifts subsidiaries or its affliates. The names "Tiktok", "Youtube", "LinkedIn" and "Instagram" as well as related names, marks, emblems and images are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Copyright © 2025 Favikon | All Rights Reserved