The Breakfast Club - KeKe Palmer Interview

Episode Date: May 4, 2015

KeKe Palmer stops through to chat about her new film Brotherly Love, growing up in the industry, her talk show, how her mom has embarrassed her and much more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

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Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you. Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you?

Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other.

So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Real people, real celebrities, real talk. Join the Breakfast Club. Black stuff in your ear. Weekday mornings, 6 to 10. real people real celebrities real talk join the breakfast club morning everybody it's dj envy angela yee charlamagne the guy we are the breakfast club we have a young lady who came here this morning no security no press she got her mama with her no management no nothing she was out there i didn't know who she was she's with her mama her mom wasn't even here. She beat her mama here.

No, my mama was here. And she's standing right behind you. I didn't see mama there earlier. I know. That's the best security. She's not young no more, by the way. She's 21. Miss Kiki Palmer.

Would you like some Remy? We got Remy? You better not. Mama's in here. I'm not going to play with y'all. It's too early for this. Oh, you're not in front of mom? Oh, okay.

She's got work to do today. It's early in the morning. Okay, my bad. What's going on, Kiki? Nothing much. Just working out here promoting Brotherly Love. I saw it. By the way, I love that movie.

You did? Yes, I thought it was great. Awesome. I'm so glad. I'm so glad. You did a fantastic job in that movie. Thank you. Thank you.

I feel like, I know you've been doing a lot, though. You've been super busy. You got your own talk show, Just Kiki. You making some money out there. And you got a TV show coming. Screen Queen on Fox. Yeah, Screen Queen's on Fox, yeah. Fox giving black people shows like it's the 90s again.

Yo, I retweeted you when you said that because they had me cracking up. Did they do that after Empire or you had that already in motion? No, it was after Empire, but it's Ryan Murphy. Yeah, it was after Empire. But the show is not like Empire at all. It's very different. It's Ryan Murphy, so they do a lot of business with him. So it just was, you know, ironic.

It's like a horror movie, a horror TV show or something. Yes, it's like American Horror Story, I would say, mixed with Mean Girls. So you get, like, a little bit of the girl cattiness, comedy from that type of film. And then also you get the gore from, like, American Horror Story. So you're killing people? No, I mean, I don't know if I'm the killer. I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going to happen. They don't know what's going, I don't know what,

you know, what's going to happen. They don't tell us. They don't tell us either. It's crazy. I'm always trying to figure it out, but Ryan don't tell me nothing. They just using you for promos.

They're going to kill you first episode. You black. You die in horror movies and TV shows. That's not what happens now with black individuals in movies,

in black movies. Well, yeah, with the success of Empire, they will keep you around. I'm not about to say, with the success of Empire, you will have a long-lasting life. It'll be a long journey.

Right. Yes. Now, let's talk about brotherly love. We didn't see it, but we're hearing it's pretty good. Yes, we did. Well, one of us did. Yeah, one of us did, yeah. Yeah.

No, I was very, very surprised. I was like, I didn't know. You were surprised, huh? No, I didn't know what the movie was going to be about. Number one, I was surprised because it's the first time seeing Quincy act in a movie, so I didn't know how that was. Didn't he kill it? He did a great job.

Because I didn't know he could act either. When he called me and told me, I said, oh, this movie about to... I didn't know what to expect. I'm not going to lie, because you're like, okay... I never knew him to act in my entire... I've known him for a very... I've known him since we was kids. So I'm like, he called me and told me something. I want to introduce myself as Chris. I'm like, what the hell is he

talking about? Then I'm like, oh, he about to be in the movie. And I was like, oh, we're going to see what's going to be up with this. And then when we got there, I was for real blown away. Like, wow. He was telling me how he had started acting and really started focusing on it. I'm like, dude, you really going to. He's really good in the film.

And then Eric Hill was really good. I never knew Eric. Yeah, he's kind of new too. Eric Hill, he's one of the main characters also. And that's why I feel like everything with the movie was just fated to happen that way because everything that wasn't supposed to happen, happened. We were able to get out there to start working. We know who's going to have the funds.

Then we found all the right characters. The casting was done properly. Shout-outs to Kim Hart. I mean, everything went so, so fluently. And it was in Philly. You guys filmed in Philly. And how long did it take to do the whole movie? Oh, we filmed it very quickly.

Maybe like 26 days or something. That's crazy. Yeah, it was a quick shoot. It was a quick shoot. But we all had such a good time. It felt like we were out there having like a little party. And I never knew Philly was so cool to like be in and chill in. It's not.

I like Philly. I used to do radio there. But you was just in the right place. You go to the hood, you got shot. Not necessarily. Kiki was not getting shot in no hood, okay? Hey, there's been much more innocent people than Kiki. But you know what's great?

They did really have some nice little, like Ishka Bibbles, y'all was talking. They mentioned that. Black Thought was in the movie. Yeah, and we was trying to use like little words, you know, like join. Join. They use join a lot.

Young Bull. All this stuff like that. We tried to make sure we gave it that authentic Philly vibe because the director and the writer is from Philly, and we were in Philly. So we wanted to make sure, even though we weren't from Philly, that we made it, you know, put our best foot forward. Is it weird, like, making out with Quincy and stuff

since y'all were friends since you were little? It was very weird. It was very weird to us. It was very weird to us because, you know, especially when you're cool with somebody, you don't want to be looking like you're doing too much on screen. You don't want to be, like, you know, doing too much. You don't want to be like, you know, doing too much. So we tried to find a balance between making sure we had that passion,

but still was laid back and cool in it. Did he put his tongue in your mouth? Yes. No, did he? I seen it. Did he? No, I'm kidding. I'm like, girl, I didn't remember that.

Were you excited? Because Lyskin is back now. Were you excited about that? Because Lyskin is back. I can't say that I was excited, but I definitely was. Like, shout out, Queens. You got me. You know, you got me a nice looking dude. Right.

Because Quincy is not bad on the eye. How was it in those scenes, though? Like, do guys get, like, hard? Sorry, Mom. No, she don't care. But do guys get, like, hard? Do you get moist? You know, this is the thing about it.

You would think in your mind, naturally, like, you know, even when I did TLC with Evan, I used to have the biggest crush on Evan. I mean, I was obsessed. Hold on, hold on. He's married now. You know you got in trouble for that before. Oh, man.

Tell me about it. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC.

TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. TLC. But finish that first story first. You know, I had the biggest crush on Evan, right? And it was just so funny because clearly I had gotten over that crush as I grew up and, you know, had my own life and my own relationships. And when I did TLC movie, I'm like, wow.

I even called my sister like, girl, you remember all them years I loved Evan and now I'm actually about to do all the, you know, make out scenes with him and all this type of stuff. And I didn't get wet one time. Because it's too awkward. You got people looking at you, you know, you in each other's face, pose, trying to make sure you getting the right thing going.

I remember your line. It's weird. You still lying to mama, telling her you're a virgin maybe. She said, my mama know I ain't no virgin. Yeah, my mama still. Me and mama talk about everything. And you had a living boyfriend before all this anyway. So clearly.

Baby girl living her life and doing her thing. You had a living boyfriend before all this anyway. Yeah, exactly. So clearly. You had a living boyfriend. Baby girl living her life and doing her thing. You had a living boyfriend? She talked about it when she was up here. I talked about it in my essence. You see all of this liquor? I drink heavy. Y'all don't be remembering this stuff.

I'm not about to say what she is. But now you're single, right? Yeah, I'm single now. Okay. She's single. Oh, man, I got a good F Mary kill for you, too. What's this? Okay, okay. Who is, okay. And this is how I'm going to really tell because everybody's like,

oh, she's dating this person. No, she's not. She's dating this person. No, she's not. So now I'm going to really be able to tell where your head is at, okay? Okay, let's do it. All right, F. Mary kill. Lil Durk.

F is in fornication. Lil Durk, YG, and August Alsina. Okay, Lil Durk, Mary. Oh, so okay, okay. He want to get shot in Chicago. Because I just seen him the other day. Mary killed. I ain't got that many choices.

Mary, Lil Durk, okay. Who was the next person you said? August Alsina and YG. Who you killing? Ooh. You know, we need another option. I have to kill them? You have to kill one of them. Not kill in the literal sense. Just, you know, you another option no no i have to kill them you have to kill one of them not killing the literal sense just you know you're dead to me okay okay okay okay you're dead to me

yeah well this person's not dead to me but this is the only choice that i have man who oh god gone okay i'm dead to me i guess it would have to be yg i don't mean this but this is the game the game so maybe that won't So maybe that won't be killed. Well, he's about to have a baby any day now. I know. We don't want nobody coming for you. Right. Was y'all kicking it?

Wasn't you and YG kicking it at one point? Yeah, we're really cool friends now, but it's not like that. Romantic. You know how Hollywood always try to make whoever you hanging with, that's got to be the person you dating. You're with them.

Y'all ride or die. Y'all got a full dang on love story that you never even knew before the end of the week. So for me, it's just like, you know, every now and then I do a little dating here and there, but I don't do a lot of dating in the industry. Right. Because it's not as relaxed as people think it is.

People don't immediately think, let me date my, you know, successful counterpart. Because you can't go anywhere without being harassed and in pictures and people commenting. It just seems like I'm waiting for more people to be in the business. You posted that picture with August and he makes some great chicken. People went crazy over that.

But I will admit, that was a little bit funny, though. Ain't no man just frying no girl no chicken now. You ain't gonna fool me with that one. Okay? No, but he's from New Orleans, y'all. He's from New Orleans. You know how guys fool me with that one. Okay? No, but he's from New Orleans, y'all. He's from New Orleans.

You know how guys in New Orleans be. They be cooking. They be ready to show off. Okay. And you screamed marry Lil Durk immediately. She sure did.

I mean, he's telling you lovey-dovey stuff. No, but I tell you, that means he's telling you lovey-dovey stuff. For real. Lil Durk against him. I tell you why.

Because he's a real dude. Not that the other guys aren't a real dude, but, you know, Dirk is not petty. He's not gossipy. He's not, I mean, anytime I have a conversation with him, he's just about doing right for his kids, staying focused. Right.

And all the time, like, God bless you. Like, he's just really. He's very chill. He's very chill. He's a nice person. And we're both from Chicago. So I think maybe we both see, you know, maybe we have the same mentality. I don't know what it'd be.

Okay. But he's a real good guy. So there's some potential there maybe. I'm not sure. You know what I always say? Never say never. There we go. Brandy.

Good answer. So what's up with you and Tia Mowry, man? She want your fate? You know, I really don't know what happened with that, to be honest with you. I think a lot of times with social media, again, people will see one little sound bite or one little thing and they'll immediately add something to it. Who knows what somebody could have sent her and showed her. She probably didn't see the interview personally and then she went

back and looked at it and was like, okay, it wasn't like what people made it seem like. Yeah, exactly. And for me it's just like, I'm not the type. I mean, look, you can't prove yourself to people. So when stuff like that happens, what can you say? I'm not trying to steal nobody's husband. That looks crazy. First of all, you can't steal nobody's husband. If he ready to go, he's going to go.

And that's another thing. And plus, let's be real. I grew up watching Sister Sister. So, you know me, even if I was this crazy type of hussy or whatever you want to call it, I wouldn't be trying to steal one of my inspiration's husbands. At least somebody I don't grow up watching. I love her. She did just put out a statement.

She cleared it up, though. She said y'all didn't have no beef. Oh, good. I didn't even see that. But,'t just put out a statement. She cleared it up, though. She said, y'all didn't have no beef. Oh, good. I didn't even see that. But, I mean, we definitely probably, like, you know, always have talked and always been cool. So, when that happened, I'm like, yo, sister, you know, at the end of the day, I got love for you and everything like that. So, we, you know, talked about personal things. When I saw Corey Hartnett, I wanted to ask him about it, but he scared me so much in the movie, I didn't want to ask him in real life.

Yes, Corey definitely can put on this demeanor thing. You be like, oh, let me back. Let me back back in the movie. Yeah, I was like, I don't even want to do it. No problem. Girl, girl in that life. Yes, Corey definitely can put on this demeanor thing. You be like, oh, let me back, let me back, back in the movie. I was like, I don't even want to do, no problem. Girl,

girl in that movie, he really did, he really did the thing in that movie. I feel really cool because people get to see a side of him that they never seen before.

Right, that's what he was saying. You usually get to see him in the, you know, action flicks or whatever like that. You never get to see him

He said he don't get to do no black movies really, is what he said. And Brotherly Love to me, I will be honest, it's all black class, but to me it's not like just a black movie. It has such a strong message to it, you know what I mean, that could relate to anybody of any race, of any environment, setting, whatever you want to call it.

If you're a fan of sports, that's something that you could watch. You want to be falling in love. You're trying to make sure your family is taken care of. Everybody could relate to those type of issues. Right, middle class, upper class. Absolutely. Was you surprised at the ending? I definitely was, and we can't say nothing about it

because they told me to not even say there was a twist. But I guess there is. But I told them to go see it. I mean, it's a little Shakespearean, you know, hood love. Now, Kiki, you haven't slowed down or taken a break at all, and you've been doing so much since you've been how old? Nine. Nine, ten years old.

Do you ever say, okay, whew, I'm exhausted. I just need to, you know. You know, sometimes I do say that. Sometimes I do say that, but then in my heart it's like, look, baby, we got to keep on moving. We got to keep on moving. You got ideas in my mind. I'm always thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking about different things.

And so for me it's like I just want to put all that out into the world and just use my gifts you know I'm saying use them up give them away as much as I can and so you know it's important to take a break every now and then because you got to recharge and stuff but you know I do find it to be hard for me because I I do have a high you know drive right music acting and then having a daily talk show that had to be really exhausting yeah just I'm getting ready to start that May 15th. We start shooting in L.A. All right, now, you know what else I was thinking about? Huh?

You was about to say something? I'm just looking at your feet. I know, I took these shoes off. Yeah, you took your shoes off. No, they don't hurt. I just hate shoes. I'm with you. I ain't got none on neither.

She is doing shoes off. I ain't got none on neither. You wrestle with your boyfriends and fight them. I can tell that's what you do. If they want to. Do your shoes off. You know, it's really true. I've always been very heavy-handed. You wrestle with your boyfriends and fight them? I can tell that's what you do. If they want to. You know, it's really true. I've always been very heavy-handed. You got to show the camera your feet.

I can tell. I've always been very heavy-handed. I've always been very aggressive. That's so funny that you say that. I really am. I can tell. But you know what? People tell me that's a Chicago chick thing.

I'm like, is it? I have no idea, but I'm very like, if I like somebody, I'm like, so what you doing? You just punching, man. I can tell. But you can tell she do this all the time because she don't just got them off. She got her feet gripping the bottom of the chair like a monkey on a limb.

Baby girl chilling. Moving to the other side. Bicking back and being boo. Now, what's it? Oh, you the YG. That's YG right there. I was waiting for you. You know your blood.

What is that? Bicking back being, oh, yeah, you a blood? You a blood? You are a hood chick. Mama, you know your? You a blood? You are a hood chick. Mama, you know your daughter was a blood? Mm-hmm. That's why she's a hood chick. I'm not about to say that.

Y'all know I'm from Robbins, Mudville, stand up. Bella. What number are you from in Chicago? 200, 300? 708. So it's a 708? Oh, you talking about what street? The gang, yeah.

Oh, no, get out of here. I'm from the south suburb, so I'm not from the city. You from Englewood? Got you. No, I'm from Robbins. They're like Harvey. It's real country town. Oh, no, get out of here. I'm from the south suburb, so I'm not from the city. You from Englewood? You got you. No, I'm from Robbins. They're like Harvey. It's real country town. Okay, well, now let's talk about that talk show,

because I feel like when you started doing that, that's when people really started just responding so much more to you as an adult. But I'm sure for you, your opinion held so much more weight than it used to. And then you had to really defend yourself a lot, did you feel like, when you started doing that show? I feel like in general, you know, first of all, whenever you're an entertainer, celebrity, whatever it is, whatever you get popular for or whatever people start noticing you for, they want you to stay.

It's just how the human mind works. We want whatever we know something to be, we want it to always stay that way. But especially for me, because I started as a kid, I can't stay that way. It's impossible for me to keep playing children roles if I'm a grown woman right and so it came a point in my life where it's like look I want to make sure it's a slow and easy transition I'm not trying to be like okay doing the most you know different thing from what they know but I want it to be a slow gradual

climb that's like films like brotherly love or with joyful noise or whatever it was I always wanted to try to show myself coming of age in the film so it would be a gradual thing. When I did finally, you know, people would finally be able to see that, okay, I'm not a kid anymore. You know what I mean? I am a grown woman. But it's been a different transition for me.

You know what I mean? Like you put a picture up and you had a piercing and people are like, oh, she's a thot. And I'm like, how is she a thot? And that was so interesting to me too. That was so interesting to me too because for because for me, it's like, I'm not doing anything that any other normal 18, 19-year-old would do. I like piercing.

So, yeah, I'll get my eyebrow pierced. I get my nose pierced. I get my tongue pierced. Whatever I wanted to do, I'm going to do that. It's the way I express myself. And people also don't understand, I'm an actress, so I don't ever get to be myself. Right. Especially when I was doing Broadway at that time. I spent the whole entire four months being Cinderella. stuff and people also understand I'm an actress so I don't ever get to be myself right especially

when I was doing Broadway at that time I spent the whole entire four months being Cinderella I'm talking about eight shows a week two uh four two shows on some days you know I'm saying like it was a crazy schedule so when I when I wasn't sleeping I was on stage being somebody that wasn't me and that can be stressful right so when you're done with that yeah you're gonna break loose you're gonna have some I wanted to get my nose I want to get this done i want to get my hair you know so it's like you have to live your life for you and i had to really that was a really big time for me of understanding what that meant because it did hurt my fellows when people said it's like y'all don't see me do i'm always professional show up on time punctual take care of my career and everything

like that i spell really well i spell really well. I spell really well. Right. You know, and it's like people still want to find a way to change it or whatever it is they want to do. But it has nothing to do with you. You know, it has something to do with them. It seems like you get a lot of flack when you speak out about social issues, like issues affecting the black community, especially during the Mike Brown situation. Why do you think that is?

I think it's just like your family members, right? So you have, I think a lot of times people see me as that because they've seen me grow up since I was, you know, they see me grow up. So for them it's a situation like if you know little T.T., little T.T., little T.T., what you know about this? What makes you an authority? You young. Exactly, and I think that's all that it is.

It's like people just have to get used to me not being a kid anymore. And that's not nothing I can force anybody to do. It's just over the course of time, you see the work that I do, you'll be able to see, you know, whatever it is you choose to see. So for me, like, that's why it's so important for me to just focus on what I'm doing and not worry about that stuff because that is what it's like. It's like people see their little niece or their little cousin or their little sister, like, she don't know.

And not only that, you know, I think, you know, people say, well, damn, she's been a star for a while. That too. She ain't grow up in the struggle. She don't know what it feels like to be in the hood. So, you know, how is she speaking for us? And that's really important to me too. That's why I'm writing my first book right now.

And it's like everybody has struggle. Everybody's struggle comes in different forms. What was your struggle? I mean, I grew up in a home where I was the financial breadwinner. So it's like, imagine what that dynamic was like. That's not something that anybody else. Damn, mama. You know what I mean?

That's not something anybody else. No, I mean, that's just the facts of it. You know what I mean? You know, I made so much money that there was no reason for my parents to work. So that shifts the family dynamics. Or the fact that I gave up my entire childhood to be an actor now yeah I got something wonderful in return but imagine what that might have felt like when I'm filming a movie and I can't see any of

my friends you know all most of the films I did were with adults but my real point is to say everybody has struggles in a different form. No, you don't have to cry about mine, but we can relate about ours. True. We don't have to be sad about it, but understand I know where you're coming from. A lot of these child actors end up going crazy, too. You know, and a lot of people go crazy in general, but you don't really see anybody else go crazy or, quote, unquote,

I should say crazy other than a child actor. And what is exactly crazy? Because somebody is different from what you knew them to be. You know what I'm saying? Like if I all of a sudden stopped dressing like how I do now and all of a sudden start dressing like a Lisa Bonet. Oh, but then,

you know, you do hear a lot of crazy. I think it's just different from what people see. You do hear a lot of tragic stories though, like about child stars. I mean, they do specials on it on VH1 and everything. I think because being a child actor can be a high-stress job.

You're working like... I've known how to work as an adult since the time I was 10. You are grown, though. Like, you speak grown. You know what I'm saying? Like, you seem like a grown woman. I know, but she seems very mature.

Right. I mean, even though you're sitting there barefoot and you got some makeup on your shoulders. Oh, damn, I done hit my face you sitting there barefoot makeup on your shoulder right now you could look a little crazy what that means. Cancers, I know a lot. I'm very into astrology, so I know a lot about cancers. What's your sign? I'm a Virgo girl. Beyonce, Michael, need I say more? Okay. You Virgo?

September 3rd, every day, all day, son. You know what? August 26th. I knew there was some love here. There you go. I peeped. What sign are you?

Capricorn. Oh, you know, we a perfect match. Yeah, Capricorn's pretty practical. Y'all should start dating soon. I'm married, young lady. You are? Yes.

Well, you know what? What's up with that? I never hear radio personalities talk about their lives. What's up with y'all? You don't listen to The Breakfast Club, then. You must not have known. I'm married with a six-year-old and a child on the way. And me done.

It's called the player's curse. I got two girls. Uh-uh. Not the player's curse. Why y'all been playing these women? I mean, I used to. I'm not anymore. If I was a guy, I honestly do think I might would be a player.

And let me tell you something. YG, August Alcina, Lil Durk. And if Charlamagne was a female, he would be a thot, okay? For real. No, I would be a baller because I'd be marrying a soccer player or a baseball player. Yep. He'd be a trap somebody already. His advice is always get pregnant by him, girl, and let's get this money.

What? But what if that happens to you? I't never thought about that honestly now i mean even though you've been popping for a while you ain't never was with somebody who's like yo he got it you had an aunt a mama be like hey kiki this is it you know what that is first of all that is 100 true when you are in an entertainer when you're a young entertainer or something like that, and you're around a lot of successful men, you do have a lot of older women in your life like, girl, you need to change your life.

Or saying stuff like that, you'll be like, look, girl, I can change my own life. But I will say there is, when people say, oh, so-and-so's a gold digger, or so-and-so's only about the money, I don't think that's always the situation or the case at times because sometimes it just comes down to you wanting to feel like somebody also can sometimes take the bill or somebody can direct something and somebody can be, you know, they can lead you as opposed to you leading them.

Especially you because you've always been the breadwinner. You want roles to reverse. Right. So I do understand that. How do you feel about dating guys that you have a lot more than? Like what if there's a guy who's a struggling actor? He hasn't never had a big role, but he's really cute. You like him.

I can't keep you out of the pushback. I'm like, baby, have some. Are you down with that? Well, that's all I have really dated. You know, I never really dated anybody that, you know, maybe let's say made the same amount of money as me. Mama, come on now. Talk to your daughter now.

You're supposed to pimp the situation now. now come on because Jenna would never allow this to happen this is never this is that's that's I've never dated anybody that you know like I said like maybe had the same amount of money as me because for me it's always been important on how I vibe with somebody you know where they head at are they it's a heart in the right place and all that type of stuff but it is important is the difference between somebody that has a good heart and somebody that's working towards something. And that's definitely a lesson that I've had to learn. You can love somebody for being who they are but it don't mean that you need to be with them

and all this, that, and the third if they don't know how to... If they don't know how to... Man, just say it. I ain't dating no broken I need people on my level. Just say it. I'm sorry. Because the dynamic shifts in a bad way Right

If somebody don't have Their own thing going on They feel bad about themselves They're gonna feel bad About themselves It creates resentment In the relationship It creates codependency

There's nothing but bad That could come of it Eventually they're gonna beat you Cause they're gonna be all insecure For real They're gonna be insecure I'm tired of you Making more money than me

But it's different for women You feel like Cause women Guys can date a woman That doesn't have As much as they have, and they're fine with that. Because that's the whole thing that, you know, once again, that's a double standard and a role reversal.

You could be a boss and be sexy at the same time. That's what I love about Beyonce. You could be feminine and be a businesswoman. I think a lot of times when a woman is a businesswoman, she feels as if she's lost a bit of her femininity or that she can't be sexy and she can't be that sweet sensitive thing it's like you got to pick one or the other and it's not true and i've run against that myself as well being a young you know woman out here doing her thing it's like okay wait a minute am

i gay or you know why do i feel like it makes you feel what do you mean are you gay, you have a moment of feeling as if, like... You like vaginas? No. It has a feeling of feeling as if, why does it feel as if guys aren't attracted to that? Or they don't... Why does it feel like it's a role reversal? It literally feels like it's a role reversal. It's like, okay, the guy completely changes.

And I don't know how to explain this. Like, should I bend him over? And then they turn into the woman. It's really weird. Let me ask you a question. Don't act like your mom and I are't know how to explain it. Like should I bend him over? And then they turn into the woman. It's really weird. Let me ask you a question. Don't act like your mom and I are in the room. Do these guys start acting like this after y'all have sex? Because if they start acting like that after y'all have sex, that means he already got what he wanted to begin with.

No, it's not a situation where they stop talking to you. It's a situation where everything becomes a problem. It's an insecurity issue. It's not an issue of I don't want to call you no more. It's an issue of what you're doing, where you're going, who you're with.

It's that issue. So first they're okay with it, and then... Right, and then it's like, and then it becomes a whole thing of, you know, it's just weird. And it's so crazy,

because you feel all right. I don't feel bad that I'm making more money. Hell no. I don't feel weird about that. I'm not going to slow down. Right, I'm not going to slow down, but you, I can't help it if that's what you feel. It's you, Kiki. But what if he needs your help? No, it's her. What if he's like, can you, you know, I don't feel worried about that. I'm not going to slow down. Right, I'm not going to slow down. But you, I can't help it if that's what you feel.

It's you, Kiki. But what if he needs your help? No, it's her. What if he's like, can you, you know, I want to audition for this role, and I know you know this person. Would you make that call? You know, I'm very big on sharing. You know what I mean?

I want to be able to share whatever knowledge I got with anybody. You give in abundance, you get in abundance. You know, it's a revolving door. You know, nobody's blessing revolving door. Nobody's blessing is going to take away your blessing. So it's important to me to feel like I want to be around people that I want to share with. But it's also a sticky place because I don't

want to be around somebody that only want me to just help them with stuff. And so that's when your intuition has to come in. You have to allow yourself to be sensitive to people's energies and vibes like, is this person really trying to be in my life because they want to get to know me and care about me? Or is this person just trying to be in my life because they want to get to know me and care about me or is this person just trying to be in my life because they want to come up and sometimes you may get screwed over right you might i've gotten do you go ahead i've gotten screwed over i'm just saying i've got screwed over before

but you live and you learn do you get sick of guys like do you be with guys and all of a sudden you realize like i don't want to be with you you calling me all the time you're stressing me like i think the truth is i think a lot of times at my age people feel like they want to be with you. You calling me all the time. You stressing me. I think the truth is, I think a lot of times at my age, people feel like they want to be in a relationship. But the truth is, you really don't. Like, I used to think that I should want to be in a relationship because I'm kinky. You know, I'm the good girl. Because you're kinky?

Kinky, man. Kinky. This is a fool. What did she say? I'm kinky. Or I should be the good girl. I have a boyfriend. That's what, you know, all these things are going to help me identify who I am.

And then I realized I really don't care about that. I really only care about getting out there and recording my music, being in the studio, doing Just Kiki, doing this film idea I just had, writing this book, coming up with this. That's really what I care about. And I shouldn't have to feel like I need to be defined by social necessities in order to feel like I'm being who I am. And that's really what it boils down to. You know, I really don't. Guys aren't my first idea, thought in my mind. Good.

You know, it's like my first thought in my mind is where I'm going after right now. And it must be fun to be single. I mean, you were locked down for quite some time. It's very fun to be single because you know what happens? You find yourself. You understand what it means to love yourself instead of putting all this energy and the give and tug

in a relationship because that's what happens. When you first fall in love, everything's all gravy. It's all good. It's all clean. And then you start depending on the other person

for your happiness. And then it becomes a pull and tug between your egos. You want them to go your way and they want you to go their way. And if you have that love

within yourself, you won't be looking for somebody else. So you'll be able to give and give and they want you to go their way. And if you have that love within yourself, you won't be looking for somebody else. So you'll be able to give and give and give without feeling like you need to receive because you receive it from yourself. Listen, I got questions for you and I'm going to tell you why. Because I got a six-year-old daughter, another girl on the way. And I like how well-rounded you are.

I like the fact that you got your head on your shoulders right. Did your parents put that in you young? Because I got my daughter reading Don Miguel Ruiz right now at six. You know, I got her doing a whole bunch of activities. My parents did. My parents really did. And you had a father and mother, right? Father and mom.

Been married all my life. And, you know, I say that to say, like, I always be, you know, I talk to God. I be like, what do I do to deserve just a mom and dad that love me? Besides the fact that they changed their life to help support my dreams. They just simply love me. Period. And that's something that only, only way. I think that's probably another reason why I stay so focused.

Cause I'm like, I want them to be proud. I want them to know that I'm doing something with that gift. With the fact that they were a part of my life. My mom would always been a part of my life. Even before I was in, in acting. She was there at the school. Put your lips on the mic. She was there, you know, when I was in school. If somebody said something, she'd go down there and she my life, even before I was in acting. She was there at the school. Put your lips on the mic.

She was there, you know, when I was in school. If somebody said something, she'd go down there and she'd make me feel like I was important. I was the, oh, mom, you don't have to cry. You know, I was the only black kid in my class. And my mom would come and I would feel bad and stuff like that. And she would go to, you know, you made my daughter feel bad. Tell them how they made you feel. Stop crying, mom, if you make the room cry.

Jamie, get some of those kids. That's good for the blogs. You know, she was there when my parents were there for me. So, you know, that's why I think why I have the extra added of, you know, keeping my head on straight or whatever you want to call it is because I know what they did for me. And I show that gratitude in everything I do. Tell me what daddy did. Did daddy tell you stay away from those boys?

Like, how did daddy raise you? Because I got to raise my daughter the right way. You know, my dad is very different than my mom. My mom is very neurotic. She's always been very, she really is. She's always worried. You know, worry, worry, worry, worry, worry. My dad is the epitome of love.

He trusted us. And even when things got weird or, you know, I maybe was drifting away from the family or whatever, did things happen because, you know, things change. My dad always trusted that I would find my way back and my mom would be nervous mom would be scared and my mom has told me conversations that they've had even to this day where my dad would

be like Kiki is intelligent you have to trust her and let her do her thing because that's what real love is you gotta let go and that's knowing you did that's knowing that they did a good job so they trust you they've instilled the right things in you like I know you don't even know how to keep your lips on the mic so I know they did a good job so they trust you. They've instilled the right things in you. I know you don't even know how to keep your lips on the mic, so I know they did a good job.

Shut up. I hate you. He's a fool. Does your mom and daddy help come to your rescue now so when there's problems or there's stuff in the press, do they come like, look, I got to handle this myself? Like in the press? Anything.

My parents, my mom, there used to be a joke in the acting community, like in the kid actors community. And I feel bad that I can't impersonate curse words that need to be said in order to really say okay look so they'll be like they'll be like literally this is me going into the times people would tell me when i was a little kid that people would talk be like yo kiki palmer's mom if you mess with kiki she'll whoop your ass i ain't playing with you don't say no she gonna hurt Kiki. She gonna hurt you. Because my mom always, she don't, she do not, when somebody say something bad about me, I can bring up, let's say this dude

Tony yelled at me when I was nine. The next time my mama see Tony, even if it's at the age of 21, she gonna give him the meanest shade, honey. I mean, it's crazy. My mom can't help but always be at my rescue. That's Chicago in her life. She can't help. Put mama on the mic.

Come here, mama. I just want to know what was the biggest but always be at my rescue. That's Chicago in her life. She can't help. Put mama on the microphone. Excuse me for the cursing, y'all. Come here, mama. Come here. Come here. I just want to know what was the biggest hurdle you had to face as a mom? And you can be real, mom. With Kiki. The biggest hurdle?

Yeah. I think it's friends. I think the friends come in and the child actor, since they spend so much time working, like she said, then the friends come and go. Because if you go off and do a movie and you left your friends back, you go back, their life is evolving in another direction. Gotcha.

So that connection is gone. And then they want friends. And so sometimes the friends come into their life and they're not the best friends. I think Kiki has done a really good job in, you know, discerning who her friends are. But as a mother, I have sat back and watched people come into her life that I wanted to say, no, she ain't no good or she ain't no good.

And I told her, and then the reaction is, you know, you're just being an overprotective mom. And then like eight months later, she'll come back and go, I'm not kicking it with that person anymore. So and I'm very careful not to say I told you so, because that's not good either. I didn't like it when my mother told me. So I don't tell her. But I think that's the biggest obstacle that a parent has with a child in this industry is the friends and the relationships. Because she didn't go to high school. And the best thing about going to high school

is the socialization. You learn who to kick it with, who not to kick it with, who you was hanging with freshman year, you're not hanging with senior year. You start evolving and she didn't have that. So her socialization is happening right now. Her college is happening right now

So there's going to be trial and error And a lot of people have motives, I'm sure Absolutely, absolutely And how did you get over your parental paranoia? Because I suffer from that now I'm the same way, I'm not worried about what my daughter I still have it every day I worry about what other people are going to do to my daughter

I follow my daughter I don't think you ever get rid of that My mother didn't get rid of it. I was, you know, 30 years old and moved out to California, and my mother got it. I think it comes down to what she's, my husband and I are such, I'm very high sprung and energetic, and he's very laid back. And I think it's what Kiki said, that he talks to me.

He tells me, look, sweetie, we done raised these kids. We put them in church. We told them about the love of God. Now we gotta let them live their life. Fall or fly. And at the end of the day, because it's not gonna help Kiki for me to keep having a safety net

under her. So, you know, whatever happens, when stuff happens in the press or whatever like that, I think she's very classy and I think she handles herself very well. And no husband and i we don't behind the scenes we don't control her we let people say what they're gonna say if people are gonna judge her off of what they want to judge her off of that's on them she can't live her life for other people now mama made you the same penis all these years. Stop. Well, it was very good. All right, mom. Yo, but my mom. Mom. All right, my mom.

Kiki, what's the most embarrassing thing? We were talking about this earlier this week. What's the most embarrassing thing your mom did to you? Oh, I'm so excited to tell you this. So yesterday, right? Yesterday.

It's so funny. Damn, she's not playing. I was reading my mom's numerology number and it was saying all this stuff about how you need to make sure that you get some good exercise and you know burn off some of this energy that you have because you have such you know ambitious

nature blah blah blah blah and all this stuff right so I'm at the end of it then my mom says yeah well I just like pornography I was like you know what mama? Yo when I tell you I was like it's so funny mama that you said that because Lily I have a little They're twins, right? I'm like, it's so funny that you said this and I love you so deep. Tell him, Kiki. What? No, don't tell that. Tell him.

No, we're cutting this. Damn, it's funny though, mom. Why are you embarrassed now? She said, I'm on the road a lot. Look, I got a dildo in my bag. Mom, it's funny. So look, my little brother. It's funny. I don't know what's wrong here. So look, my little brother and sister, literally, it was so funny that she was so honest about it in that moment for no reason at all. Because literally two weeks before, my little brother and sister said, we saw the parents' computer and they forgot to take away their Google log.

I'm like, who was it, mom or dad? They were like, mom, it said Big Black Brothers. That's it. And now we joke, my publicist and all my hair and makeup crew, we joke and nickname her BBB. BBB. All right, so now I have to explain. Okay, I've been married 28 years.

I'm on the road with Gigi. You don't have to explain, Mom. Everybody watches Pornography every now and then. We're getting you like big black brothers. No problem. It's normal, Mom. You do what you gotta do to keep that marriage going 28 years. I'm about to go Google that when I get home today.

It's normal, Mom. It's a billion dollar industry. I'm affected by it. Claps for Mom. Claps for Mom. Claps for moms. You're not paying, though. You're getting a free. I'm getting free.

Free clips. Okay, I was making sure. I have one more question. I want to get a shot of your mom. Yeah, you did. I know, but I love her. What do you think about what's going on in Baltimore? You know, it's such a loaded thing because there's not a, a, a, I feel a lot of things,

you know, I feel like we're in such a time where the negativity is being so plastered everywhere that it instills more fear that it then be got some more negativity and more negativity from whether it be, you know, the communities or the people that are, you know, the communities or the people that are supposed to be helping the communities. It comes from everywhere because everybody feels like that's the reality

that they're living in. So it just keeps and continuously perpetuates itself. I just feel like I want us to come together, not just as black people, but as people in general. You know what I'm saying? There's so many other issues that are going on that bring that bring us together than that separate us you know not just i think we sometimes get so stuck on the differences that we don't see in the ways that we need each other you know what i'm saying all the things we got in common all the things we got in common you know me instead of me oh i'm

from this culture you're from that culture like how about we both need our rent paid how about we both need a job we both need uh to not continuously be held down financially you know i'm saying there's so many other issues that connect us than that separate us you know i mean people in general we have more more things that are alike than we do different and i think that a lot of these when these negative when these things happen it gets so focused on the negative that's that's all that your mind can be filled in to the point that you can't think clearly or see how to better approach the situation the only thing you can think of is to fight darkness with darkness but that's not how it goes you can only drive out darkness with light i mean mlk said that we can only go somewhere if we're together and it's the unity

that scares whoever you think that don't want you to win it's the unity that scares them the most it's not the fighting as long as you're fighting, it's the you that scares them the most. It's not the fighting. As long as you're fighting, I'm winning. Because you're not talking. You're not seeing that actually we're on the same page. Instead, you're casting this person out and casting that person out. But if you actually take time and say, look, let's stop fighting each other and actually think about

what we really need to be talking about and what we really need to be trying to set up and put in order in order to change what it is we want to change. But when there's so much negativity going on, you can't think that way. You can't see clearly. Well, you're seeing that in Baltimore now. You're seeing like bloods and crips coming together. But it's interesting how the media try to put it out like, oh, the bloods and crips

are fighting each other and now they want to kill all the cops. And they came out and said, no, we're not trying to kill cops. We're actually all coming together, standing side by side. And talking to the cops that actually are on the same team. You know what I'm saying? Not every cop is a bad cop. Right. We're actually all coming together standing side by side. And talking to the cops that actually are on the same team. You know what I'm saying? Not every cop is a bad cop. Right.

There's some good cops too. I mean, I grew up with some of them. And also, just like with anybody, you know some good people and some bad people. So you can't just

cast everything one way and then expect things to change. You have to seek what it is you're looking for. You have to be the change that you want to see. And that's what'll

start coming to you. But if you're just being honed in and allowing anger to completely consume you, I've been there. You have to be the change that you want to see. And that's what'll start coming to you. But if you're just being honed in and allowing anger to completely consume you, I've been there. You know, we've all been in a place of self-pity, man. It's hard. I'm a black woman. You know, I'm a woman, and I'm a black woman. I could sit there and think about that all day. And some people

say, oh, things are never gonna change. Right. And that's a terrible, defeatist attitude. When I think about slavery, I get so inspired and say, whoa, look what I came from. Damn! I could do anything. Some people say they'll never be a black president and we got a black president. You know what I'm saying? Because it's all about where

your mind is at. It's all about shifting your paradigm. It's all about allowing positivity to fill your life and not letting this other stuff change your perspective. It will really mess you up if you allow the outer things to change you. Think about it. When I wake up in the morning, I don't, the first thing I say is I'm love. I'm love. I'm light. And that's what I carried throughout my whole day. And that's what I ended up, end up seeing. That's what the eyes on which I see the world. And so you have to wake

up every day and allow yourself to be that glory, be the glory of God. Don't take that away from yourself by allowing everything you see to tear you down. Instead, see how you can fix it by looking through the eyes of him. You know what I'm saying? Right. Now, in the position you're in, do you have people that say to you, Kiki, you can't speak out about that now. Leave that alone. You got sponsorships.

You got a TV show coming. No. You know, I'm so glad. I don't have that. You know me. I used to watch as a kid. You know, you see on the TV shows and there would be celebrities or somebody like that and they want to say stuff or be a part of things

and people would be like, no, no, that's not you. That's not me at all. I'm the one that runs my career, thankfully. So I'm in a position where I can do stuff like just Kiki and I can talk about the stuff that I want to talk about and the issues that I feel like are important to my generation. Not even just racial issues, but even talking about technology and understanding what that's doing to us.

You feel like crap because you're comparing your life to every person that you swipe past on Instagram. They do say that because of social media, it's hard for people to get married nowadays because we're sitting up in bed, we're on our Instagrams, we're on our Twitter, we're not paying attention. It makes you worry about the wrong things because that's not the reality that's in front of you.

If all day I look up at everything that's going horrible in the world, I won't even be able to realize what I can do with what's in front of me because all I keep seeing my eyes through is the world of being negative and terrible and all that type of stuff. Or if I look online, I'm looking at everybody in Cali. You know, they live in a perfect life. I look around. I'm in Philly.

Well, yeah, I might feel bad. You know what I'm saying? Because I'm trying to compare my circumstances to someone else's, but everybody's journey is different. Everybody's life is different, and it's not necessarily the best thing to see somebody else's life evolve in action. That's not the way it should. That's not the way it should be.

You see every single step, that's not normal. It's never been done before. And we'll find out in years to come what maybe those effects were. You know what I'm saying? Because we're the generation that's, we're the guinea pigs to it well since we're talking about technology you got caught up in that hacking scandal yeah and I can scandal naked picture yeah it was like naked pictures I never look I'm not and this was the such a thing about it is that the main thing I want to... What are you saying? You're a mom to me, man.

You're a fool, though. You're what she is, at least. The main thing that upset me about it was like, why do you want me to explain something that has nothing to do with you? And that's the biggest issue that I have, not even just as a celebrity, but in general, people be on the internet trying, I found out something about you.

Why are you happy about that? Why are you happy that you got into some... It's like cracking into somebody's mind. Yeah, Gabrielle Union actually went off about that. Because it just don't make no sense. Honestly, if you went and took a picture of somebody in their window at their house, that's you a peeping Tom.

Absolutely. You should go to jail. But because we're on the internet, this makes sense and it's something to be laughing and fun about. You just have to take it in stride because you have, you have, there's no way to do to move forward from that other than say, you know what?

They don't know any better that they didn't mean any harm. They don't know any better from that. There has to be a devastating feeling to wake up and see all that on your people. It is a devastating feeling because there's nothing you can say, right? There's nothing you can, there's nothing you can,

you have to just let, let it go. You gotta take the L. You gotta take the L because what are you gonna do? Write a whole long post on your Instagram. Who cares about that?

The L stands for learning though. It's not a loss. You learn from it. You're the winner, you learn. That's what I like to say. I love that because usually when I think

about the L, I think about the loss. The loss. No, you're the winner, you learn. You're the winner, you learn. And that's real though.

That's true. That's either, it's either how you choose to see it. And I choose to see it like I'm learning. I choose to see it like, you know what? I'm greater because of this. But it is. It does suck. I mean, it sucks when anytime somebody find out something that you didn't tell them.

Well, we appreciate you joining us. Man, me too. And what's your name, Kiki? This is my final question. Oh, Kiki. I'm reading your real name, Lauren. Yeah. How you get Kiki? My's my final question. Oh, Kiki. I'm reading your real name is Lauren. Yeah. How you get Kiki?

My sister had an imaginary friend when she was younger. Sorry, I'm embarrassing her too. She had an imaginary friend named Kiki. And when I was born, she wanted my name to be Kiki. But my mom was like, she can't go through her whole life with a name like Kiki. That's not a real name. And look at that. I go through my whole life with Kiki and not Lauren.

Isn't that hilarious? Kiki. We Kiki-ing over that. Well, we wish you the best. We know what to send mom for Christmas. Yes. Big black brother. Blackest dildo you can find.

You know, I'm going to Google that and see what comes up. Oh my goodness. Well, we got a big black penis out there somewhere if you just want to look at him out there. I hate you. She could just look at it. Alright, it. I hate you. But trust me, there's none in this country. She could just look at it. All right, it's the Breakfast Plugger's Kiki Palmer.

Thanks, y'all. Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete.

Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay.

Have grace for yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, my undeadly darlings. It's Teresa, your resident ghost host. And do I have a treat for you.

Haunting is crawling out from the shadows, and it's going to be devilishly good. We've got chills, thrills, and stories that'll make you wish the lights stayed on. So join me, won't you? Let's dive into the eerie unknown together. Sleep tight, if you can. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name QWAR. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show, Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people. We discuss

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