The internet is a weird place. One day you’re a pastor giving spiritual advice in Ohio, and the next, you’re the face of a viral phrase used by millions of teenagers who have no idea where it actually came from. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or X recently, you’ve heard it. A deep, gravelly voice asking, "Is that good?" followed by a breathy, enthusiastic "Yes, King."
It’s the kind of audio that became a universal shorthand for "slay," "good job," or "I’m proud of you." But the story of the original yes king video is way more complex—and significantly more adult—than the wholesome "glow-up" edits suggest.
The Man Behind the Voice
The man at the center of this storm was Michael Willis Heard. Most people online knew him by his handle, @LoveAndLightTv. Honestly, if you just looked at his main TikTok profile, you’d see a guy who looked like a cross between a life coach and a friendly uncle. He lived in Elyria, Ohio, and spent a lot of time posting motivational clips. He’d look right into the camera lens and tell his followers to set boundaries. He’d talk about self-love.
He had this vibe of a "highly vibrational" overcomer.
Before he was a meme, Heard actually served as a pastor and a spiritual leader. He wasn't just some random influencer; he was a father and a counselor who transitioned into being a vocal advocate for sexual wellness and "light and love." He was openly pansexual and lived his life with a level of transparency that both attracted a massive fanbase and, unfortunately, a fair share of vitriol from the more conservative corners of the web.
Where the Original Yes King Video Actually Came From
Okay, let's get into the nitty-gritty. Most people using the sound on TikTok think it’s just a funny interaction or maybe a clip from a reality show. It isn't.
The original yes king video was actually a snippet from an explicit adult video Michael Willis Heard posted to X (formerly Twitter) in early 2023. In the full, unedited clip, Heard is engaging in an intimate moment with a male partner. During the exchange, Heard asks, “Is that good?” and the partner responds with the now-immortalized “Yes, King.”
It was a private moment made public that the internet immediately did what it does best: it stripped away the context.
Someone clipped those few seconds of audio, uploaded it to TikTok, and it spread like wildfire. Within weeks, it wasn't an adult clip anymore. It was a "sound." People started using it to react to:
- Perfectly iced coffee.
- Someone hitting a new personal record at the gym.
- Cat videos.
- Academic achievements.
The phrase "Yes King" became a mantra. It turned into a way to validate someone else's "king" energy. It’s a perfect example of how "brain rot" culture or Gen Alpha slang takes something from a very specific, often mature subculture and sanitizes it into a catchphrase for the masses.
✨ Don't miss: You Really Got Me Kinks Lyrics: Why This Two-Minute Riot Changed Everything
The Tragic Update of 2025
The story took a very somber turn recently. On November 9, 2025, Michael Willis Heard passed away.
His daughter, Mykel Crumbie, confirmed the news in a heartbreaking Facebook post. She called him the "greatest man to live on this earth" and shared photos of him in the hospital. The internet, which had spent the last two years meme-ing his voice, suddenly had to reckon with the fact that "Yes King" was a real person with a family who loved him.
There’s been a lot of speculation about what happened. While the family hasn't released an official medical report to the public, reports from close associates like Dayvon Augustus suggest that Michael suffered a severe asthma attack. That attack reportedly led to a heart attack, which eventually resulted in him being declared brain dead. He was only in his early 50s.
Why the Meme Still Matters
You might think a meme born from an adult video would fade away once the "truth" came out, but it didn't. If anything, Michael’s death solidified his legacy.
Heard’s lifestyle was controversial to some—he was a former preacher turned adult content creator and polyamorous advocate—but he never seemed to care about the haters. His daughter even addressed the "detractors" in her memorial post, basically saying that regardless of who didn't like his lifestyle, he came to everyone with compassion.
That’s the nuance people miss. The original yes king video might be "not safe for work," but the man who made it spent his final years trying to tell people they were worthy of love.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating Internet Culture
If you're following these types of viral trends, here's how to handle the "Yes King" legacy and similar memes:
- Check the Source: Before you use a "funny" sound for a corporate presentation or a family video, do a quick search on Know Your Meme. You’d be surprised how many "wholesome" sounds started in very adult places.
- Separate the Art from the Artist (or the Meme from the Man): You can enjoy the "Yes King" vibe while still respecting that Michael Willis Heard was a complex human being with a family, not just a soundbite.
- Respect the Family: In the wake of his passing, many "troll" accounts have tried to post the original explicit video as a "tribute." Don't be that person. The family is grieving, and there are plenty of motivational clips on his @LoveAndLightTv page that better represent how he wanted to be remembered.
The "Yes King" era of the internet is a strange mix of accidental comedy, adult industry roots, and a tragic ending for a man who just wanted to spread a little light. It's a reminder that behind every viral 3-second clip, there’s usually a much bigger, much more human story waiting to be told.