For years, tens of thousands of people laughed, cringed, shared, and sometimes even argued over a little Instagram page called The LA Basics.
What most people didn’t realize is that behind the memes, the commentary, and the chaos was just one person.
Me, Bruno Onoles.
And after nearly a decade of holding up a mirror to gay culture in Los Angeles, I’m finally stepping out from behind it.
The Page That Accidentally Started Conversations
When I created The LA Basics, it was never meant to become what it did.
It started as something simple: observations about the culture around me in Los Angeles and the world. The funny moments. The ridiculous moments. The painfully relatable moments that so many of us experience but rarely talk about out loud.
Suddenly people began sharing the posts everywhere.
What began as jokes turned into conversations about dating culture, body image, nightlife, social media validation, and the sometimes absurd dynamics inside the gay community.
At its peak, the page was generating millions of monthly views and opening doors I never expected. Brands began advertising. Publications covered it. Influencers reposted it.
What most people never knew is that the entire thing was built single-handedly.
No team.
No agency.
Just me and my observations about life in Los Angeles.
“Wait… Are You The LA Basic?”
When I finally started appearing publicly, some people had a reaction I didn’t expect.
They thought I was the stereotype the page made fun of.
But the joke was always more self aware than that.
The entire premise of The LA Basics was that I was smart enough to laugh at the culture I was part of. If you live in Los Angeles long enough, you realize that we are all a little bit of the joke sometimes.
The page was never about attacking the community.
It was about reflecting it.
And judging by how many people shared the posts, a lot of people recognized themselves in it.
Why I’m Leaving The LA Basics Behind
The truth is simple.
I created The LA Basics in 2017.
And since then, my life has evolved.
I’m not the same person I was when I started posting memes about LA nightlife and dating apps.
Over the last several years I’ve built a marketing agency, worked with celebrities and brands, and spent thousands of hours studying what actually captures attention online.
I’ve also developed passions that go far beyond memes.
Health.
Fitness.
Wellness.
Personal growth.
Building a life that actually feels good to live.
And at some point I realized something important.
The most honest content I can make now is content as myself.
The Power of Stopping the Scroll
Let’s be honest about one thing.
On social media, attention is currency.
And whether people admit it or not, certain things stop the scroll.
A great body.
Good lighting.
Confidence.
Personality.
As someone who works professionally in marketing, I understand exactly how the game works.
And if a six pack and a well groomed man helps capture attention long enough to share something meaningful, then I’m absolutely going to use that to my advantage.
Consider it one of the many tools in my arsenal.
What You Can Expect Now
The new chapter is simple.
Instead of hiding behind a meme account, I’m building a platform around who I actually am.
That includes:
Fitness and health
Positive living
Lifestyle and travel
Personal growth
A little humor (because I will always be funny)
And occasionally the same sharp observations that made The LA Basics popular in the first place.
But now they’ll come directly from me.
Why This Matters
The LA Basics was never really about memes.
It was about authenticity.
It was about being honest about the culture we live in and having the courage to laugh at it.
Now I’m applying that same philosophy to my own life.
No more hiding behind an account name.
Just the man who created it.
So Yes, The LA Basics Is Ending
But something better is starting.
If you followed the page for the humor, the honesty, or the occasional chaos, I hope you’ll join me for the next chapter.
Because the truth is…
The guy behind The LA Basics was just getting started.
You can follow the next chapter here.
