Keke Palmer has always been a hoot and a holler but one of her latest interviews might’ve just cemented her in the funny hall of fame forever. And if you don’t believe us—just wait until you see it for yourself.
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The moment for the longtime actress happened while doing press for her newly released film, Issa Rae-produced film, “One of Them Days” in which she stars alongside SZA. During a sit down moment with MTV, the outlet asked Palmer, Rae and SZA what they’re go-to hype song was. While SZA picked Kendrick Lamar’s “GNX” album and Rae picked a song by rapper C-Murda, the “Akeelah and the Bee” star went two totally different routes.
While her initial answer included a song by Chicago rap group Do or Die, her second choice was from the recently released film “Wicked” sung by Cynthia Erivo’s character Elphaba.
“You have got to save space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’...from ‘Wicked,’” she said. “It makes me feel like ‘you can’t stop me. No one is gonna bring me down!”
What followed next was Palmer’s rendition of Erivo’s signature belting note and yet another unexpected and wildly hilarious descriptor: “That’s a slave hymn. Come one, when she got up there and she told those people. Y’all it is really good. Y’all know I ain’t lying.”
Naturally, Rae and SZA were in stitches and the laughs continued online once the clip began to circulate and eventually go viral.
“keke palmer saying defying gravity is a slave hymn was so fucking funny bc i definitely felt ts with cynthia ervio singing unlimited,” said one user on X/Twitter.
“Kiki Palmer clip of calling defying gravity a slave hymn is living rent free and on repeat in my head. That girl is Americas TREASURE,” another said.
“Keke Palmer calling Defying Gravity a slave hymn is the exact comical relief I needed lol,” another user wrote.
Over on Instagram, similar sentiments were echoed in the comments section on MTV’s page:
“Keke is the millennial Jennifer Lewis,” said one user.
“I can just tell Keke be having her girls cacklin all night. She’s a time + I just want to be at the table,” wrote another.
“A slave hymn is so unhinged,” another said.
I mean, if we really want to get deep—Elphaba was fighting against an oppressive system as were enslaved people at the time back in the day. Walk with us, here! Maybe she has a point after all.
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