KJ Apa isn’t just the guy who played Riverdale’s resident redhead with way too many problems—he’s literally a Samoan chief now. Yeah, like an actual title, not just some PR stunt.
The 28-year-old actor spilled the tea on the *Today* show about how this all went down. Turns out, KJ’s dad holds a super old family title called **Tupa’i** that’s been passed down for generations. When his grandfather died, his dad inherited it, and then in 2022, KJ got his own chief title: **Savae.**
If you don’t know, Savae is a big deal in the Samoan fa’amatai system (basically the traditional hierarchy of chiefs). KJ had a full-on ceremony with his community in New Zealand and described it as “beautiful.” Translation: it wasn’t just a vibe—it was culture, tradition, and respect all rolled into one.
Even though he’s technically a chief, KJ admitted he’s not exactly handling village duties on the daily. “I give all the responsibilities to my dad,” he laughed, adding that his father is the one actually stepping in when needed while KJ is off filming shirtless scenes for Hollywood.
But don’t get it twisted—he still feels like he’s doing his part. KJ said Samoans are proud to see him repping their culture on a global stage. And honestly? Becoming both a CW heartthrob *and* a Samoan chief is probably the most insane combo of side quests ever unlocked.
So yeah, KJ Apa went from *Riverdale High* to *Chief Savae*, and suddenly Archie’s whole “boy next door” energy feels way too basic.