Meet Former MTV VJ Haitian Canadian Ben Quddus Phillipe
January 8, 2013
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4 Min Read
I’m sure I’m not the only one who had no idea this gorgeous man was Haitian.
“Quddus” was a host of MTV’s “Total Request Live” and most recently, the host of the reality singing competition, “Duets.” The Haitian-Canadian fella is the son of a Dutch mother and a Haitian-born father, and the two met while his mother was in Haiti doing charity work, trying to start a rural school project.
TV personality Quddus is best known from his days as the host of MTV‘s Total Request Live and ABC’s singing competition show Duets. Quddus’ professional career in broadcasting began in 2000 as a host and co-writer of VOX, a groundbreaking youth culture show on TV Ontario which went on to win a Gemini Award (Canada’s version of the Emmy®). This led to his big break – hosting Total Request Live on MTV. As host of MTV’s biggest show, Quddus conducted daily interviews with stars such as Will Smith, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jake Gyllenhaal, Alicia Keys, Ben Affleck and Denzel Washington, and his work on Total Request Live led to both Usher and Britney Spears requesting him to host their Showtime concert specials.
Quddus won a 2003 Favorite TV Personality nomination at the Teen Choice Awards. In 2005, TV Guide named him one of TV’s Hottest New Stars, USA Today featured him as a “young hunk worth watching,” and Teen People named him one of the “50 Sexiest Men Ever.” In 2008, the New York Times called him “the Ryan Seacrest of the Hip-Hop generation,” while The Associated Press declared him “the coolest guy on television.”
Since leaving MTV, Quddus has hosted TV One Access and Nickelodeon’s Dance on Sunset. He was also a correspondent for Access Hollywood and has appeared on CSI: Miami, the CW’s Half & Half, Girlfriends, as well as the indie film Life is Hot in Cracktown.
On the music front, Quddus made his impact felt as an A&R consultant for MySpace Records, where he discovered and signed R&B sensation Mateo. He has gone on to direct music videos for Mateo and rising star Erin Christine. He’s also taken on the Internet in a major way by hosting The MySpace Music Feed, AOL and the Jonas Brothers’ joint venture, Cambio Connect, and creating his own website and video series, TheQside.com.
Quddus also lends his time to the non-profit organization Generosity Water, volunteers at “A Place Called Home” in South Los Angeles, and recently went to Haiti on an aid mission. – source
Enrique Iglesias with hosts Molly Sims and Quddus during MTV’s Fashionably Loud Presents Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2002 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. 2/19/02 [Getty Images]MTV VJ’s Brian McFayden and Quddus backstage during MTV Spring Break 2002 at the Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancun, Mexico. 3/15/02 [Getty Images]MTV VJ Quddus, P. Diddy (Sean Combs) and Paris Hilton attends MTV’s TRL at the MTV Time Square Studio on September 9, 2004 in New York City, New York. [Getty Images]Rapper Kanye West appears on MTV’s Total Request Live at MTV Times Square Studios September 22, 2004 in New York City. [Getty Images]Jennifer Love Hewitt and Quddus during MTV All Access Week on TRL at the MTV Beach House in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. 7/18/02 [Getty Images]Singer Jessica Simpson and VJ Quddus appear on stage during taping for MTV Spring Break 2004 on the beach deck at “The City” March 13, 2004 in Cancun, Mexico. [Getty Images]MTV VJ Quddus (L) and music group Black Eyed Peas make an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live August 13, 2004 in New York City. [Getty Images]
