One of the biggest viral stars of the year is set to perform at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and it’s someone who may look a little familiar to some viewers.
When the parade’s list of confirmed musical and dance guests was first announced, eagle-eyed fans couldn’t help but notice the name “Mr. Fantasy” as one of the performers slated for the November 27 parade alongside household names like Cynthia Erivo — who is scheduled to kick off the festivities — Gavin DeGraw, and the Radio City Rockettes.
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So…who is he? Keep reading to find out.
Who is Mr. Fantasy?
Believe it or not, Mr. Fantasy is likely the musical alter ego of 28-year-old New Zealand actor KJ Apa, who played Archie in his breakout role on Riverdale for seven seasons. Although neither Apa nor Mr. Fantasy has ever confirmed they are the same person, fans quickly pieced together the clues. The two stars share the same tattoos and, well, the same body and face, too. Onlookers have noted that Apa dons a brunette French bob wig, false teeth, and a British accent to fully transform into this quirky persona.
In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mr. Fantasy shared the origins of his career, citing his grandmother as his muse. “Well, it started with a woman. And that woman is my nan, my grandmother. She is my reason, and she fostered this gift that I had been given by the gods to create music,” he revealed.
The up-and-coming singer has two official songs out: the self-titled “Mr. Fantasy” and “Wayuwanna”. Reviews have been glowing, with one fan commenting, “This has Jamiroquai, Tuxedo, and Daft Punk all rolled into one and it’s so damn sexy.” Clearly, he’s making waves in the music scene.
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At any rate, Mr. Fantasy is a bona fide viral sensation as his songs have blown up on TikTok over the past few months. Scheduled to perform live during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, viewers can expect this rising star to captivate his largest audience yet on November 27. Not a bad gig for an alter ego, right?
Mr. Fantasy Talks About His Overnight Social Media Success
During a September 2025 chat with Teen Vogue, right after his debut track took off on TikTok, Mr. Fantasy opened up about his newfound fame. “The aftermath of my new single ‘Mr. Fantasy’ left me absolutely floored,” he confessed. “The most fabulous part about it all is that I seem to be bringing an immense amount of joy to people’s hearts. I love TikTok. I love seeing people smile, and it proves something I have believed all my life — that music is the great connector. A colossal language capable of bringing people of all shapes and sizes and colors together.”
As for future projects? Mr. Fantasy is keeping his cards close to his chest. “Everyone is asking me when more music is coming,” he reassured fans. “My plans for future music will remain classified at this time, but just know this: this is what I was born to do, and I won’t disappoint you. Open your hearts and dare to see, that I can be your Mr. Fantasy. Now… as you were.”
Fans will be able to catch Mr. Fantasy’s first-ever live performance on NBC and Peacock during the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at 8:30 a.m. across all time zones on Thanksgiving morning, November 27.