Kel Mitchell On Nickelodeon, Ex Wife, Kenan Thompson Fallout & Special Performance From Tye Tribbett

I told the makeup artist, I said, "Yeah, just do full makeup, you know, just. cover cover up." And she did the full. So, but you have to be careful what you. tell. Nah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. artist you say do full. And you went. through a similar. thing. Yeah, yeah, you remember that? I told. them I wanted to be casket clean. They. took me literally. They had They had me. in the casket.

Hello, welcome to another episode of. Club Shay Shay. I am your host Shannon. Sharpe. I'm also the proprietor of Club. Shay Shay. And the guy that's stopping. by for conversation and a drink today is. one of Hollywood's brightest stars, a. multi-talented, well-rounded performer, actor, comedian, artist, dancer, rapper, musician, screenwriter, executive. producer, director, author, host,

pastor, a sought-after voice actor. He's. been nominated twice for an Emmy, a fan. favorite, household name for kids of the. '90s, a husband, a father, a Nickelodeon. alum. Who loves orange soda? Kel loves. orange soda. Kel Mitchell. Oh, man, it's a pleasure. I was just thinking about the club right. here, you know, and you know, get a. little right here, right here. What you got? Little orange soda, orange soda, you. know WE DO IT. TO DO IT. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You feel me? Little orange soda right there. Get that thing going. Get that thing going. Who loves orange.

soda? Yeah. Oh, man, I appreciate it, man. I'm happy. to be here. Man, we happy to have you. Man. Bro, thanks for stopping by the club. All the best. No doubt. Okay. Yeah, man. juice. Yeah. Shay loves orange soda, too. Kel, you're a pastor, you're a musician. So, for you, for the very first time, we. have a live performance. Coming to the. stage today for the first time on Club.

Shay Shay, is three-time Grammy winning. gospel artist Tye Tribbett, and he's. going to sing his song "Be Alright". Yeah. Yeah. He's going to make everything all. right. Woo. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Check it. It gets so hard just trying to figure it. out. Finding out.

Trying to believe God. Trying to watch. the words of my mouth and. Stay on the route. Trouble come and go. Even on the. mountain high or the valley low. But. never let your faith go. Yeah. Never let your faith go. I've been there before. So confused, don't know which way to go. Stressed out. The world so crazy, we. might as well stay in the house. Fear. trying to rise up. We got terrorists to. come. They look like us, but we know who we. trust. TRUST WHEN I SAY THAT WE GOING TO. BE ALL RIGHT.

TELL THEM. TELL THEM. TELL THEM. We going to be all right. Little bit louder. Tell them. We going to be all right. Yeah. Yeah. Feel real good in here. All right. All right. Can't hear you. REAL LOUD. SAY. SEE, WE going to be all right. Let's go. We going to be all right. No matter what you're going through. We going to be all right. Tell them. Tell them. Tell them. Tell them. All right.

Yeah. Check it out. In these last days, evil. times will come and it's here today. Look at all the hate, senseless crime. and murder. Day to day. Human trafficking, racism, police. brutality, bullying, rape, child. molestation. Surely the appearance of evil I pray. Let your kingdom come and let your will. be done. in the earth. Let your glory rise. Let your sun shine. Let it rise THROUGH THE DARK CLOUDS.

WHEN THE STORMS ARE RAGING, WE WILL. SHOUT CUZ WE KNOW AFTER THE NIGHT. WE GOING TO BE all right. Hey. All this work you got for the. Lord, we going to be all right. Hey. Tell me. Tell me. Get it from me. I. know he would. We going to be all right. Hey. So don't you worry about it. Oh no. Don't cry about it. Oh no. Just believe and receive every word that. he promised you. We going to be all right. Oh Jesus. We going to be all right. Yes sir.

We believe. We going to be all right. I will never doubt you, Lord. Oh no. I'll never ever doubt you, Lord. Oh no. I believe and receive every word that. you promised me. We going to be ALL RIGHT. YES SIR. Let your hands. We going TO BE ALL RIGHT. YEAH. LET'S GIVE him a worship. We going to be all right. Don't worry about it. Oh no. DON'T LOSE NO sleep over. Oh no. He got everything under control. I know that we going to be all right.

Good God almighty, say. We going to be all right. Yeah. Yeah. Raise it up. You say. We going to be all right. Huh. Battle is yours. It belongs to the. Lord. Stand still. No. Fight. We know that. we going to be all right. It's going to be all right. It's going to be all right now. Yeah. It's going to be all right. It's going TO BE ALL RIGHT NOW. YES SIR. It's going to be all right. It's going to be all right. It's going to be all right. Tell them.

Say. We going to be all right. Ah. Ah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Let's stop. We got to go, y'all. Last. time I said we going to be. We going to be all right. We remember you do it for a night. Yeah. Only one night, though. Yes. Crying may last for a night. Yeah. Only one night, though. Let the tears. fall DOWN FROM YOUR EYES. YEAH.

But only one night, though. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Only one night, though. Don't give the devil no more. Yeah. We remember you do it for a night. Help. me out say, Only one night, though. Crying may last for a night. Only one night, though. If you hurt, make sure that you hurt. Yeah. Only one night, though. Going to be all right. Only one night, though. Going to be all right. Only one night, though. Hey, joy comes in the morning. Yeah. Woo, I feel good, y'all. Joy comes in the morning. Yes, sir. Hey. Joy comes in the morning.

Woo. Can y'all see it? Yeah. Joy comes in the morning. Check it out. I can see a brand new day. I can see a brand new day. I can see a brand new day. I can see a brand new day. Looking like a brand new day. Like a brand new day. Hey. I can feel a brand new day. I can feel a brand new day. I got to go. So, we going to be all. right. Yeah. Come on. You did that. Come on.

They did that. Yeah. Going to be all right. Going to be all right, you singing? Come on, bro. What's wrong with y'all? COME ON. COME ON. Come on. Going to be ALL RIGHT. YEAH. YES. LEANING UP WITH THE STOOL. I CAN DO IT. Three-time Grammy winning Ty Tribbett. What's up, man? Bro. You did that. Be all right. I'm listening to the words of the song. and thinking about everything that's. transpired over the last 5 years. Yeah. How do we convince people to lean on the.

word of God and their spirit. spirituality and their religion that. everything's going to be all right? Well, we just stay consistent, I. believe. Shay, if we just stay. consistent, keep encouraging people, keep speaking the word, they're going to. hit a point in their life where all they. have is that hope. Yes. And all they have is that faith. They can keep fighting and trying other. things and other remedies if they want. But if we just remain consistent, God is. the way. Jesus is the way. He can help. you. And our testimonies help people. Yo, he did it for me. It's not even. about convincing people. It's about. being a witness. Like yo, I ain't even trying to convert.

nobody in here. God is good to me. His. way works for me. And when they hear. your consistency on that Christ content, when they hit rock bottom, they're going. to remember what you said and they're. going to try God, too. But he also wants you to remember that. when you're doing good, just don't call. on him when. Yeah, BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANT TO CALL ON. THE LORD I NEED but when things are. going well, we seem to think we're doing. it on our own. That's the thing about that's the thing. about God. He's so good to all of us. The Bible says he rains on the just as. well as the unjust. It's the matter of.

the heart. Do you think it's you or do. you know it's God? I think the wise. person knows it's God. Remember when. Jesus was born, a little boy, the wise. men brought their gifts to Jesus. Wise. men bring their gifts, their success, their everything to him. If you're wise, you'll lean on him more. I read, I don't know if this true or. not, Hold on, hold on, Shay. DON'T DON'T TURN THAT. CORNER, OLD SHAY. that you could not play the keys.

until you spoke in other tongues. In other tongues? Brother. NOT YOUR TYPICAL TONGUE. NOT THE TYPICAL TONGUE. NOT NOT NOT NO, YEAH. WE GREW UP PENTECOSTAL, very. legalistic. They ain't play no games. No. earrings, no movies. Everything is a sin. and everybody going to hell but us. So, with that with. But us, yes, the leaders and mindset. legalistic. So, I couldn't I was the I. felt like Now, I'm I'm not going. I felt like I was the most talented. person in the church that could play.

But I was sitting there every Sunday. like. Man, let me hurry up and speak I wasn't. worried about going to heaven. I wanted. to speak in tongues so I can play IN THE. CHURCH. I WORRY ABOUT HEAVEN LATER. I GOT TO FIX. THIS service tonight. So, 12 years old. it happened for me and I started, you. know, taking over and playing at that. time. Wow, that's awesome. Yeah, man. It was crazy back then, man. So, Kirk Franklin. y'all did those kid revivals all the. time? What? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT WITH. THE. IT'D BE HOT IN THAT CHURCH, ain't it? HOT AND THEY GOT THEM new mosquitoes. that ain't come out yet. Man.

Bugs everywhere, man. We had all that in. that tent revival. We was kicking it up. though, praising God. I I love that cuz. it took us outside of the four walls of. the church. So, that was always exciting. for me cuz I always saw that small. context. So, to see God bigger than that. in the streets was amazing to me. Introduce you to your group. I want to I. want to I want to know more about you. Yeah. Oh, do you want to know about the This. is This is This is Brandon right here. Brandon. What's up, man? This is Jelisa Faye right here. Jelisa. This is Jocelyn right here. Jocelyn. Soprano, alto, tenor. Okay. This is Joe right here.

Okay. That's my main man Joe, but then he. holds it down. He's my producer, all. that stuff. We do all this stuff. together. This is JR on the drums right. here. He's my little nephew. And I got one brother in the whole. entire world. I got one brother and. that's him. That's Darius right here. He's my brother, bass player, friend, all that good stuff. So, we are one big. happy family here. Kirk, I'm looking at some of your music. collabs. Music Soul Child, Jill Scott, The Roots, Jessica Simpson, Floetry, Common, Erykah Badu, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder. What were those. experiences like for you?

I didn't do any of that. No, I just WENT. LIKE. I'M LIKE, "I'M MARRIED. COME ON NOW.". HE'S LIKE, "WHAT?". WE UH. WE DID A MOVIE CALLED THE PRINCE OF. EGYPT. OKAY. That was a animated story about the life. of Moses. Uh we won this gospel choir competition. They said, "Let's get that choir on this. movie soundtrack." So, we started doing. music for that soundtrack. There we met. Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, all these. people. So, for the movie premieres, we. were the only choir. So, we would sing. background for like all the the artists.

And some of them just took to us and. loved us and we went on tour with Faith. Hill, Tim McGraw, we went on tour with. Don Henley. We did stuff with Gloria. Estefan. Like all this stuff. All these Once you got in the the the. funnel, it just got to like, let's get. that choir, let's get the choir. And. then I'm from the Philly Jersey area, so. we did our first album in The Roots. studio. I was very cool with them. I. knew them all We we all knew each other, so just being around The Roots studio, they'd be like, "Yo, get on this. LL's. coming in town. Do this You know, Justin. Timberlake is coming. Dude, that's why.

we got Cry Me a River and all that. stuff. I would have given you that. YOU KNOW I'MMA GO THERE. BEHIND the Justin Timberlake the just. do do do. Yeah, I was doing do do do. What let let let Can you Can you I got. to prove it? You got to prove it. Get on them keys. I don't remember how to play it. What key is that? What key was that? He said, "What key is that?". They got me proving it. I ain't I AIN'T. PLAYED THAT SINCE THEN. HEY, play mine.

Oh, there it is. Hey. Something like that. Something like that. Oh, that was a hit song. I know you They. broke bread with you with that one, didn't it? Yeah, WE HAD DINNER. OH, COME ON, HOLD ON. TY, THAT WAS ONE OF THAT'S ONE. of his biggest songs. EVERYBODY. I DIDN'T KNOW THE BUSINESS THEN. I WAS. WORKING with Timbaland and Timbaland's. still my dude to this day. So, he cut me. a check. I took that $2,000. I split it. up between everybody. I didn't know.

points. 1 2 3 4 5. so count go ahead and count it up. I can't BELIEVE I MADE $75. I DIDN'T KNOW THE BUSINESS THEN. AND YOU. KNOW, I'M NOT upset about any of that. It's it's it's all good. It's it's what. it is. Thanks, Ty. Thanks, little man. Appreciate you, man. You'll be back. later before. I look forward to it. Thank you. Can't wait. Thank you guys so much. I appreciate. you. Can't wait. I was amazing. Ty, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TY. IS GOING TO BE ON TOUR MAY 16th through. June 13th coming to a city near you.

Don't walk, run. Check him out. He's. unbelievable. The 82-game preseason is. in the books and it's finally time for. the real season. Don't miss out on any. NBA playoff action at DraftKings. Sportsbook, an official sports betting. partner of the NBA. From the play-in. tournament through the finals, DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered. with same game parlays, live betting, odds boost, and much more. Download the. DraftKings Sportsbook app, use code. Shannon. New customers can bet $5 and. get 200 in bonus bets instantly. That's.

the code, Shannon, only on DraftKings. The crown is yours. All right, Kel. Yeah. Before we get you guys started with. Nickelodeon back in 1994, Yeah. 94? 94. So, was that your first gig? I mean, did. you do you're from Chicago, the South. Side. Yeah. Did you have a job before Nickelodeon? Yeah, man. I I definitely had a job. Uh. I did different things. Okay. You know what I mean? Uh when I got on. there, I was a. junior in high school, like sophomore. going over to junior. And uh yeah, man.

I worked in my grandma's candy store. Okay. You know what I mean? She was an. entrepreneur. She had the beauty salon. eat more than you sell? Oh, yeah. I ate some of the supplies. Yeah, definitely, definitely. Yeah, man, but definitely there. Uh. yeah, and I did some construction work. with my uncle and stuff like that, but I. was still you know, still a teen. Yeah, and that was like my first like big gig. My first one though, I was a model. first. Okay. So, I tell a lot of people that. You did you did the modeling thing? Yeah, I was on the uh back of the. Captain Crunch box. So, that's like.

yeah, yeah, I was on the back of Crunch. Berries. I had a little you know, high. top fade holding Crunch Berries on the. back of that. Yeah. Earlier on, you had uh some. something tragic happen in your life, your best friend. Yeah. was murdered at a very young age. Yeah. What impact did that have on you, Kel? Oh, man. Uh a very big impact. You know. what I mean? This was someone. um that was I was very close to, went to. my church, you know, growing up. Shout. out to my family. And I remember when it. happened I was on All That actually. I.

was on All That at the time. And. yeah, he was murdered. He was shot in. the head in an alley in Chicago. And. around the time it was like I was still. doing the show. I was shooting the show. And I really didn't have time to to. grieve cuz it was yeah, cuz you know, you got to go right back on to being on. the show. So that was a very hard time. for me. But this was someone who. actually saved my life as well. I. remember it was a situation where. something went down in the neighborhood.

Some guys, you know, did something on. his side of the neighborhood. We were. separated through a viaduct, the two. neighborhoods, right? And they were. looking for the guys on my side of town. that did it. It just so happens that I. was just, you know, playing, you know, in the school parking lot. And those. guys happened to be there. I had no idea. that they were doing that. They were. coming to do a drive-by at that point. And when they were driving by, Sam was. like, "No, no, no. No, you know what I. mean? Like that kid go to my church. We. ain't going to do it." And he told me.

the next day while we were at Boy. Scouts. You know what I mean? Literally told me. He was just like, "Man, don't hang with. them no more. You know, this this is. what happened. This is the situation.". We was, you know, we were homies. You. know what I mean? So yeah, definitely. had an impact. the Nickelodeon How did the Nickelodeon. gig come about? Did you audition for. that? Were there like Were there people. like, "Hey, we think you'd be great for. this." How did this come about? Oh, man. Well, you know, I was a bit of. a class clown. Okay. You know, coming up. I enjoyed, you know, making people laugh. You know,

that was my thing within my family. All. of us, we love doing that. And I started out in theater. You know. what I mean? So I started out in theater. first. And I it wasn't a thing of like. getting on television or anything like. that. That was never the thing. It was. for my parents it was having a positive. outlet. You know what I mean? So thing. about it is they put me in everything. cuz they didn't want me to go into the. wrong crowd. So, they were like, "Hey, try everything." And karate, you know, science camp, everything. And what stuck. was literally uh this theater, uh ETA.

Creative Arts Foundation. Shout out to. them in Chicago. They're still going. And uh I went there to this theater and. I was like, "This is where where I. belong." You know what I mean? I did it. as a summer thing. And uh yeah, I. started going on auditions. Uh I went. from ETA to Victory Gardens Theater out. in Chicago, Goodman Theater. Started. making my rounds in the theater game. And uh yeah, it went good, man. When you auditioned, did you know you. had got the role? Did you think you had. knocked it out of the park? Um no.

So, yeah, when I went to the audition, I. remember uh I was at my high school CVS. Shout out to CVS Cavaliers. And uh I. remember I had a test that day. You. know, I had my finals that day. And so, usually I don't forget my monologue, but. I remember when I went into the. audition, uh I went blank cuz I just had. finals on the brain. You know what I. mean? And I went in there and they were like, uh "You want to go out in the hallway. practice it?" I was like, "Cool.". Knocked over some um camera cords when I. was walking out. I did it in a funny. way, though. They started laughing. I'm. thinking I ruined the whole audition,

but they were cracking up the way I did. it. Came back in and they said, "Wait, before you do the monologue, I want you. to just do some impersonations." So, I. did some impersonations. I did Eddie in. there. You know what I mean? Ed was one. of the characters that I did. Uh I also. uh did Coach Creton in there. It was. based on the coach at my high school. Did all the characters that you saw and. all that, I did it in the room. Uh weeks. went by, you know what I mean? I also. killed the monologue. Uh but weeks went by and I'm thinking. like, "No, I didn't get it." And I. remember it was a phone call late at. night and my mom was like, "WHAT? WHAT. NOT? HEY, THANK YOU, JESUS." And we went.

to LA. And when we went to LA, it was. like the Avengers of every funny kid. that you could have possibly think of. from all over this every city. uh went up against it and I definitely. got in there. Yeah. So, you get all all of that. So, you froze. the very first chance. Now, you've got. all these people watching around like, "Okay, this is my big moment." and. you're like. Yeah, man. Yeah, it was deep. Like, I I. would say froze, I just I had finals on. the brain. My parents were big on. education. You know what I mean? They.

were very big on that and so, I had. finals and we were like we went we were. like the last audition. I was the last. audition in Chicago. And and made it. through. But, I had been doing theater. and everything, you know, prior to that. for years. So, how did you learn to develop your. character? Because you said they asked. you to do impress impersonations and. impressions of some of these characters. that were in the script. And just like. on cue. Because did you rehearse that? Did you think they might Well, they. might ask me to do this, so let me be.

prepared. And if they don't, I'm cool, but if they do, I'll be ready. No, check it out. So, it wasn't. scripted. This was literally like, "What. impersonations do you have?". Right. So, most kids would probably do stuff. that they've seen on television. I did. stuff that I saw on the L train, seeing. people, my uncles, you know, I coached. people that I knew. And I just gave them all original. characters right there on the spot. And. that was the thing. They were like, "Yo, this kid came in and he did original. voices, original characters." And they.

wrote literally to the characters that I. did, you know, and that's how a lot of. the characters that I had were so. original on all that. Yeah. Well, how. But, how do you learn as a child to like. play to the cameras, play to the crowd? Was that's because you said you were. class clown. But, so when you're in a. class, everybody's watching you anyway. So, you don't It's not like you have to. play anything. You just be yourself. How. did you learn how to stage presence? Theater. Okay. That's really what helped me do it, you. know. Shout out to Wenaku Jahih, that.

was my first theater, you know, drama. teacher. And in summer, I remember my. first time being on stage. We did a play. and he was amazing. Like he would write. his own plays. He did this thing it was. kind of like the Wiz mixed with. you know Beach Street and stuff like. that. And it was called Kasimu and the. Coconut Palm and I got to play this. character named Rattles where I was a. narrator. And he taught us how to really. become the character. Okay. You know, really become the character. Where does the character come from? What. does What is he like? What does he like.

to eat? So I was trained in knowing how. to do that and then I started I went. from doing the plays with the teens to. also doing plays at night too as well. with a lot of different adults. You know. what I mean? And so I started to really. understand the craft and really. understand theater. and didn't act up at school as much cuz. I was having a job. You know, I had a. job and I I found. you know, what my talent was and I. really enjoyed it and I wanted to learn. every aspect of it, you know? Did you feel like you Did you feel like. it was acting or you were being Kel?

Hmm. Um, I was being Kel. You know what. I mean? Because there's a thing you. know, what what God anoints you with and. the talent that he gives you. You know. what I mean? So I was just doing that. but it was beautiful to find it. You. know what I mean? It was beautiful to. find like, oh I can do this on stage and. this could actually be a career and. and I remember one of the actors when I. was doing one of the plays, I think it. was a dirt. It was this this play called. dirt and I remember one of the adult.

actors came up to me and he was just. like, you got to enjoy this stuff. He said if you're going to do this for. life, you you got to know you got to. enjoy it because there's a lot of ups. and downs and things that go on with. this. He told me that at a very young. age and at the time I know what he. meant. You know what I mean? Cuz I'm. living with my parents and stuff like. that but becoming an adult, I understood. what he meant and I and I thank him for. giving me that advice. Yeah. How did you you and Keenan Thompson, how. do you guys hit it off so quickly? Hmm,

Uh, know what hey, you know, being both. black, IT'S. THAT HELPS. THAT HELPS. YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE SAME. TYPE of background. I'm from the south. side of Chicago. Uh, Atlanta, you know. what I mean? Uh, and it was just a thing. like I remember we introduced uh, TLC. Okay. Right. And when we introduced TLC for. the pilot episode, um, cuz you know, all. that was just the pilot. Um, it wasn't. supposed to be a show that was a series. Right. You know, so they were trying it out. Nickelodeon had never tried anything. like this before with musical guests. People say it's like SNL for kids, but.

it's really I felt like it was in Living. Color for kids. You know what I mean? Just because how diverse it was and the. type of musical acts we had on the show. Mhm. Um, but yeah, we tried to did it and I. remember Kel and I uh, had a sketch. called Mavis and Clavis where we played. two old guys. And we were doing these. characters and I would tell Kel a joke, he knew exactly what I was going to say, I knew exactly what he was going to say. and it just worked at that moment. And. after that everybody kind of saw like, oh, these two work very well together. And so did we. And uh, yeah, it was on. screen and off screen we did the same.

thing. What What made them pair you guys. besides being black? What made them pair. you? You think that was the only reason. they put you two guys together? No, no, no. It was that It was that. sketch. Okay. So it was literally that Mavis and. Clavis sketch that they saw these kids. are definitely funny together and they. play off each other very well. They. started putting us in different sketches. together and it just. Right. it worked. It just worked. And uh, we. didn't know anything about like Abbott. and Costello or Martin Lewis or comedic. duos. And uh, Kim Fields was one of our. directors. Right.

Mhm. She actually uh, introduced us to that. She was like, I want you to see Martin. and Lewis cuz you guys are similar to. this. And we looked and we were like, yo, this is like, yeah, we're like a. comedic duo. This is dope. Yeah. So when they told you guys you were. going to have your own show, Yeah. Yeah. What What went through your mind. immediately? Well, we were doing all that for a few. seasons, right? So uh, and it had became. popular after a while. And then uh, usually we we go home and go to school. on hiatus, right? So, they hit us up and. was like, um you guys are going to stay.

here, all right, during this time. You. guys are going to stay here. while other kids go and we want to do. your own show cuz we see you guys off. stage, too, and you guys are hilarious. So, we were we were funny off stage, too, and they saw that. And so, then. after that, they uh said you're going to. have your own show. They didn't know the. name of it. I remember we had a list of names. It. was like me and the homie and all this. different stuff. And you know, stuff that probably. wouldn't work. And I remember somebody. at the dinner was just like, "Yo, just. call it Kenan & Kel." You know what I. mean? Call it after their names. And uh.

it really worked cuz we loved like. Martin and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and. all these different shows and this would. be our show. So, then simultaneously we. had the sketch show and then we also had. uh the sitcom at the same time. Yeah, it. was dope. What's some of your fondest memories of. that? Fondest memories? Yeah. Oh, man, there's so many. I mean, like, you know, I was also in the hip-hop. I. feel like I tell people uh hip-hop and. church saved my life, you know what I. mean? So, uh you know, I was. Man, you had a bunch of jobs as a kid. Yeah. You did some of everything.

man, I was the I was a B-boy uh in in. the south side of Chicago. So, I break. dance, I did graffiti, I did the the. whole thing. So, uh shout out to the. Mortal Masters of Cry Line. That's what. we were called, IMK. So, uh but yeah, man, I just I loved that, man, and I remember I was into music. And so, I did a lot of music first and. so, I was doing hip-hop. And we got on. the show to have TLC be, you know, our. musical guests and do the theme song. You know, we had Aaliyah, we had Brandy, Usher, all of them like right when they.

were getting started. So, uh it was awesome. Those are the. memories I remember, you know, doing. mama jokes with LL Cool J and you know. what I mean? And and getting to chop it. up with Busta Rhymes and then because I. rap, they would like allow me to. freestyle like all the time with a lot. of different one of them. So, you know, freestyling with Coolio on stage and. stuff. Those were cool memories, yeah. What where did this love or this. infatuation with orange soda come from? Okay, so the writer world. you know who loves orange soda. I don't. know where his mind went with that. I.

actually now being older I feel like it. was a branding thing of like you know to. to promote soda or something like that. with Nickelodeon. But they wrote that in. there and I just kind of T-Pained it. like I put like the I do I do I do. to the you know to the point now where I. go five-star restaurant wherever it may. be you know people would still go yo you. going to get an orange soda. Yo yo you got to get that orange soda. So it's crazy. I mean you mentioned about some of these. up and coming TLC and Aaliyah and Brandy.

and Usher and I think Britney Spears. made an appearance. Yeah. You were like. this is pretty cool. Yeah. When you go back home I mean what are. you when you go back home what are your. friends what do they think of Kel now? Well here's the thing it was funny. because. not like today where like the shows come. on right immediately. You know what I. mean? So took a little bit for it to. happen and I remember. it was Nickelodeon was more for the kids.

at first. And so we were the ones that. made it like cool for the teens to watch. and the twins to watch right? And I was trying to stay low. You know. what I mean? Cuz where I where I grew up. at when I go back to school I I ain't. really want anybody to know that I was. on the show. You know what I mean? I was. just trying to skirt through. And I. remember the freshman at my high school. one of them just started screaming as I. was walking through the hallway like hey. yo. And then one of my teachers ended up. playing one of the episodes for my class. and after that it got kind of kind of. wild. You know what I mean? If you could go back we going to put you.

back at that age. Okay. but in today. Okay. Okay. What three. musical guests would you like to have on. the show? For today? Yeah. We actually did a reboot of that and we. got to bring a lot of people on the show. back in 2019. So her was on there which was amazing. We had a lot of great guests man that. were just amazing. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. The Jonas Brothers. You know, everybody man. We had. everybody. I'm looking at this you in music videos.

You was with Kanye West All Falls Down. All Falls Down. You with Heels, Young and Dumb and Bro. Yeah. Your resume just as a child without even. talking about moving forward was so. expansive. Yeah. Yeah. I mean you know that's the man. that's that's that's God man and a lot. of that cuz it's funny because okay so. let's break it down. So. when you mention that that's two. different areas of my life right? So. with Kanye I was an adult. You know, so.

it's like a thing cuz me and Keena look. very young. So a lot of times people. were like we still kids. Y'all grown as hell. And we grown. You know what I mean? So. even on the show it was like that too. You know, we had to shave and you know, still look young cuz you know, we got on. the show when we were like sophomores. and juniors in high school. It went on for a few years. Yeah man, but to be on all those platforms and. have Kanye call me up and to be a. baggage carrier on the show and work. with Common again and that's just that. Chicago love. Right. You know, Chicago. You know, I I knew. Common already. Me and Common had a.

freestyle battle at Metro Music my. sister. I'm going to say I won on the No, I'm. just playing. Yeah, Common won that. I was doing. crisscross stuff. I was like it's. kiggity kale on the miggity mic and you. know all that stuff. Yeah. So how how did how did this come about? I mean I understand that you say you. know, obviously Common's from Chicago, Kanye from Chicago. So were you familiar. with someone in his group that were. familiar with you? So how did this come. about? Yeah, here's the thing man. A lot of the. comedians like you know, D Ray and. Common and you know, the hip hop just.

the Chicago in general we all support. one another on the south side. You got. to remember I got started in '94. So you. know, a lot of people that were starting. to get on around '96, '97, 98, they. already knew about me. So, it was like. me, Jason Weaver, Lorenz Tate, all of us. are from Chicago. You know what I mean? And we were already doing like they. would be doing Menace Society and. he was doing the Michael Jackson story. So, all these different things, man. So, shout out to the city of Chicago, man. We all know each other, see each other. around. So, it's been good. Yeah.

Well, I don't think there's any better person. to ask about this than you, considering. your background, you're in the hip-hop. community, you're a musician. Yeah. What's up with the rap beef? Why. everybody teaming up on Drake? I I ain't. What What I didn't EVEN KNOW THEY HAD A. BEEF. I DIDN'T KNOW ANYBODY had a. problem. Yeah, man. It's It's It's wild, you know. what I mean? Everybody's going at it. I. mean, that's that's hip-hop, you know. what I mean? And we going to see As long. as everybody keep it peaceful, it's all. good. I mean, I didn't know I didn't know Ross. was at Drake.

Future and Boomin was at Drake. I mean, I'm like, "What What When did it What. did I miss?" I mean, I know I ain't as. as immersed in the culture as I would. when I was younger. Yeah. I didn't know that this was. undercurrent. Did you know that? No, I didn't know. I didn't have I don't. have any inside information. I got no information to know that. I'm. just enjoying the music, man. Enjoying. the music. Oh, I forgot K. So, let me ask you a. question. So, is this really Is this. really beef? I mean, cuz you know, they. they. Chris Brown going at Quavo, that's beef.

That's a diss. You know saying you know, saying, "Hey, big three is big me." I. don't know. Yeah. You know, cuz back in you know, Nas and Home go That's a diss. Yeah. Remy Ma, that's a diss. Yeah. If this what what what Kendrick did to. Cole, that is. I mean, you know, look, I look at it as. as different generations and how they. doing it is how they doing it. You know, like I said, just keep it. peaceful, you know, and enjoy the music. No, see I I breathe and keep it. peaceful.

I mean, he can but. He spray He spraying Yeah. Chris can rhyme, man. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, rhyme. He got the flamethrower. He beat burning. down the city. Real talk. Oh, man. So, parody. You did. Prince, 50 Cent, Michael. Bro, when doing research on you, Yeah. I. you are like talented beyond talent. I appreciate. There's not anything that you really. can't do. You can sing. Like I said, you. obviously you're a musician. You can do. impressions. You can do Bro,

I appreciate that. You know, I look I I. I I really look at triple threats and I. think you know, theater really helped me. out that, but I really like like you. know, like Sammy Davis Jr. Rat Pack. I'm. from that. You know what I'm saying? I love that type of style, you know, people just being a triple threat, singing, rapping, you know, whatever it. may be. And just enjoying this journey. Whatever. it is, I love to try everything, you. know what I mean? And try it and see, you know, how good I could be at it. And.

yeah, man, it's been good. What's your favorite parody? My favorite parody I've done? Yeah, you've done. I got a bunch of them. I like original stuff, too, but I got a. bunch of them. Um. I don't know, I can't pick just one, man. I can't I like doing 50. 50 was. fun. You're right. 50 was fun when I did 50 Cent. That was. pretty cool. Yeah. What was Freaknik: The Musical? Tell us. about that. What was Freaknik: The Musical? Yeah. Uh that was. Cuz did you ever Did you come to. Freaknik? No. I never I never went to Freaknik. Uh.

we we we we were there. Yeah, we were we were on our way to. that. Yeah, at the time doing that. But. uh but yeah, let me see. Freaknik: The. Musical was T-Pain. Yeah. So, shout out to T-Pain. That's the. homie. And I remember and Carl Jones The. Boondocks and all that. And they were. doing He's the ghost of Freaknik. Okay. So, Freaknik wasn't around anymore. And. T-Pain became the ghost of Freaknik. It. was me, Affion Crockett, Rick Ross was in there, too. Lil Wayne. You know what I mean? I played a lot of.

different characters. Me and Affion did. a lot of original music in it, so it was. cool. Yeah. Explain to us the Loud Squad. I mean, with Tyler the Creator. Bro, how many. groups were you in? You just jumping. group to group. Shout out to Tyler, man. Tyler is. hilarious, too. Um I just I you know, I really enjoy uh. working with different artists and uh. comedians as well. And uh you know, I'm. never just like the battling with the. comedians and all that stuff like that. It's all love, you know, and and. enjoying every moment. And so, I. remember Loud Squad just was they're.

fans of all that. And uh you know, they. reached out to me. And shout out to. Tyler, he did great at uh Coachella just. the other night. A lot of what's happened to you early. You were in high school. Yeah. So, once you got on, how different. did the kids treat you? How different. was your life from when all this started. transpiring? You know, shout out to my parents, man. They kept me uh pretty grounded. You. know what I mean? Their whole thing is. like, "Yo, you you you still kill. You. taking out the garbage. You doing this." You know what I'm. saying? And uh you know, my dad is a uh.

retired social worker, and uh my mom is. a retired teacher. You know, so they. took it real serious. And then, I'm the. middle of child of two sisters. Okay. My sisters, Kiana and Kyra. So, no no I. didn't really act much different. Did the Did people treat you different? Um yeah. I mean, you got to think of. like the people that didn't know me. Now, my real homies, you know, who I. know, they already knew what was going. on. They was rooting for me. I even put. them on the show. Cuz remember I told. you I rap, too, as well. So, uh we got. to perform on the show, too, as well. And uh yeah, but people that that didn't.

know me, of course, they were just fans. And that's the thing where you have to. navigate as a team, whether um this. person wants to be my friend just. because I'm on the show, or just. because, you know, that other reason. That would be interesting. We can rock. together. Yeah, man. So, yeah, you do have to. navigate that. Did you Did you experience any. negativity? Of course. You know what I mean? Of course, you you. experience that a lot of times, you. know. Uh you you experience toxic. friends, people in toxic relationships, all those different things. Yeah, yeah. Did you feel at that point in time you.

like, man, I'm on top of the world. It. can't be I can only go up from here. Ain't no downside to this. It's only up. from here. No, I I never felt like top of the. world. I think it was a thing where as. it was happening, we were experiencing. it in such a way where it was like. really surreal. Like, you know, this. show that we did that was supposed only. be a special, now it's taking off and. it's taking off very fast. Right. Uh people are really enjoying it. And so. it was like learning it along the way. Bro, you you and Kelan had a your.

characters. your sketch turned into characters on. Good Burger. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You. Yeah, Good Burger had if Good Burger was. one of those sketches where when I did. the voicing audition and then they. created it on the show as well and gave. them a whole entire world. Uh musical. guests loved to be on the Good Burger. Like, you know, sketches. Yeah. Which were great and uh even before we. did the movie, we had put out a. soundtrack. And I remember uh Immature. was the you know the the big boy group.

at the time and Brian Robbins, shout out. to Brian Robbins, uh one of our. executive producers, he was like, yo, I. want you we're going to do an album and. play all the musical guests that were on. there, but we're going to do an original. song and you get to rap with Immature. I. was like, oh, dope. You know what I. mean? So I'm thinking I'm rapping as me. cuz he know I rap. But he's like, nah, you got to rap as Ed. And I was like, from Good Burger? I got to rap as Ed? Right. So we we on the way to the studio and I. was like, what is about to be said? I put it together and even to this day. now it's on TikTok and all this like.

people have discovered the music video. again. So it's just been really cool. When you do these sketches, when you do. these impressions, do you know do you. have a sense of like, man, I think this. is going to be really big? Or you just. like, I'm just do I'm doing the best I. possibly can and it's going to grow and. it's going to do what it does. It's always been the the best that I can. and and seeing it grow and being in awe. of that. You know what I mean? In awe of. the fan base and all the people just. enjoying it. I never go like, oh this is going to hit. cuz you don't know. You know what I.

mean? You just got to have that faith. that it's going to rock, you know? And for me, being in the position that I. was in, you know, being on this show, I. was thankful to be on it. You know what. I mean? And and with this ensemble that. I was on and just rocking and being the. best that I can within each character. Yeah. Good Burger has become a cult classic. I. mean, they love it. Yeah. How does that make you feel knowing that. something you created such a long time. ago has stood the test of time? It's a blessing, man. I mean, to have a.

character to put a smile on people's. faces. You know, hearing the stories of. people, you know, saying the first time. they saw Good Burger or the sketches. that they enjoyed. I had one person come. up to me and say, man, I was in the. hospital and Good Burger came on and it. just made me laugh and it helped with my. healing process. And hearing stories. like that is what's beautiful to me. You. know what I mean? And then to. be blessed to come back and do Good. Burger 2 after so many years and have. young kids that are 5 years old that. wasn't born when the first one came out.

doing Good Burger, you know, parties and. birthday parties and theme parties. It's been awesome, man. Yeah. With all the success, obviously that. money's involved. Yeah. So, how did that change your life? I. mean, did you did y'all do the. Jeffersons move on up or did you. did you stay at the location where you. were with you and your family? Yeah, man. So, here's the thing like. we started the show in Florida. Okay. Right. And like I said, like I was in. high school and then I graduated and. then it was time for college. So, all of.

us had to kind of like figure that out. So, we all started staying in our own. places. Okay. at that point and navigating being an. adult. And so, now it was adulting, you. know, with this and all of that. So, yeah, we had some we had some fun. So, did you. Yeah. So, what did you do? I mean, you. obviously you're making. you're making great money. You're making. more than the the average 15, 16, 17-year-old. Did you Were you reckless. with your spending? Um I don't know if I was reckless with. my spending. I wasn't reckless. Uh it.

was definitely a a learning curve as far. as like learning, but shout out to my. parents for helping me within that. Uh. but yeah, access to certain things that. I wouldn't have before was definitely. there. Yeah. I read that Nick Cannon was in the. audience. You and Nick became very good. friends. And he's in the audience when. all that. Yeah. So, ex- Talk to us about the. relationship that you developed with. Nick over the years. Yeah, that was like little bro. Uh I. remember he was doing stand-up, and he. actually got on there, and uh I remember.

him being on there, and he was super. funny uh warming up the audience. Okay. Yeah, so that was pretty cool. Right. So, he would warm them up the audience, make everybody laugh, and uh they asked. us the producers asked, "Yo, do y'all. want to be on the show to do a sketch?". And uh we're like, "Yeah, like of. course, dude. It's funny." And he killed. it. Yeah, yeah. And you And that that was the start. because Did you know Did you know of. Nick prior to him coming in being on the. show? Not prior to. um him coming on and being a warm-up guy. cuz we always had warm-up guys that. would do it, and uh this was a team that. was actually the warm-up guy for the.

show to make everybody laugh in between. sets cuz they're there for like, you. know, 3 4 hours in the audience, and he. would make them laugh in between scenes. And uh yeah, super talented, man. Great. family, too. Yeah. I read you inspired Nick on naming of. some of his kids. Yeah. I mean, you know, I mean. Yeah. There's only so many names. He got a. bunch of kids. He He got. He got a bunch, man. Yeah. So, ex- explain I mean, how do you I. mean, when you talk to Nick and and you. guys. your relationship, do y'all like Are you.

serious or do y'all joke a lot with each. other? I mean, yeah, so here's the dynamic. All. of us are, you know, we're grown-ups. now. You know what I mean? We're dads, you know what I mean? But before, uh it was like big brother. Okay. You know what I'm saying? I was I'm his. big brother, he's a little bro. And he's learning the ropes, learning, you know, Hollywood, learning all these. different things and I would definitely. looked out for him. Same with me and. Kel. We were just like big bros. Yeah. Bro, you on everything. You on Sister, Sister. You on the Steve Harvey Show. Bro, you got a lot of credits.

Thank you. I appreciate it. I mean, you don't graduated college by. seven, eight times with all the credits. you got. I appreciate that. I mean, why why did you. I don't I guess I I I mean, I shouldn't. say why, but how were you able to get on. so many sitcoms? Huh. So many sitcoms. Well, okay. So, Sister, Sister happened. because. when we were on that show on Kenan & Kel. and we were doing that, I wanted to be. on other shows as well. You know, and.

the guy that actually created Kenan &. Kel, he also created the Sister, Sister show, too. Okay. You know what I'm saying? Right. Okay. it was cool to have that same dynamic. Yeah, natural transition. But my thing. was I started going when we came to LA, I started like sitting down in audience. at other shows and just kind of rub. and yeah, I would sit down at other. shows and just kind of rub shoulders and. they're like, "Yo, y'all need to be on. one of the episodes.". And you're like, "Yeah, yeah. Let's. Let's get it. And then Kenan and I, they. put us on Sister, Sister, which was. awesome.

Then we got on the Steve Harvey Show, as. well. We on Steve Harvey We We might as. well have become regulars on the Steve. Harvey Show. We did so many episodes. over there. Yeah. Did you get an opportunity to to to meet. to to mingle and hang with Steve? Of course. Yeah, Steve gave me a lot of. great advice. Everybody Everybody says that. I've. talked to had a lot of comedians, I've. had a lot of people come on the show and. they say Steve is great. Man, bro, Steve's that dude, man. He. came to my graduation. He told me he was. just like, "You know, I'm going to Are. you going to still be able to do that. character with a you know, with a beard. when you get a mustache? And do you.

still want to do this?" And so, you got. to start thinking of like what's your. the. of graduating to different roles. And I. thought about that a lot. You know what. I mean? Within him giving me that advice. and it was great advice to have at the. time. are they going to pay me to shave? That. That should have been the question they. asked. the time at the time we were you know, we were definitely shaving and all that. stuff. Yeah, I would I would continue to shave, too. But the fact I'd have got laser hair. removed. How much they paying me? You were on The Parkers. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Mo'Nique. Yeah, shout out to Mo'Nique, man. Also.

amazing. Had a great time counters vine. Yeah. Uh Mo'Nique is amazing. Uh me and. Mo'Nique also worked with Spike Lee as. well. Uh did a Pepsi commercial, Super. Bowl commercial. So, yeah, I mean we've. known it like I said, man. We've been at. it since '94, so. Bro, I mean half and half, one on one, The Game, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Cousin Skeeter. I mean bro, you got like No, I don't. know if any kid has been on more anybody. has been on more. sitcom TV shows than you, bro. Man, I appreciate it. That's cool. And then you got all this this But so. let me ask you this. All the things that.

you've done thus far, what's your. favorite? All the things I've done thus far? I mean because you're a musician, you. rap, uh you've been in the sitcom, you've done sketch comedy, you've done I. mean you're a minister. So, what's the. what what gives Kel the most. fulfillment? Uh. being being me and doing what um. what God wants me to do. You know what I. mean? I I really feel like enjoying the. journey. Right. Uh it's been a it's been a journey. Like. you you know, hearing you talk about uh.

all those different resumes and the. things I did, but what I remember is the. things that I was going through. throughout the entire process of every. time and every moment of the journey. within learning this journey. And so, for me that's what it's about. Um you. know, you get one life here, then you. live again in heaven, but it's just. having this one life, you know what I. mean? And and where it can take, you. know, those different steps in learning. from everything. Uh that's that's been. the beauty in it. You know what I mean? I'm looking at some of your voice over. work. Play for the Big Red Dog, Proud.

Family, Curious George, Robot Chicken, Veggie Tales, SpongeBob Square. Yeah. I mean, I've done I did one voice over I. did one voice over. I actually I was. actually myself. I think it was American. Dad. Yeah. And I really liked it. Yeah. And a lot of and you see a lot of. big-time celebs are doing voice voice. overs. Did you really Do you like it? I really enjoyed one person that I. really looked up to was John Ritter, right? John Ritter was amazing. When I. was a kid, I used to had this little TV,

you know, with the little buttons that. did did did, right? So, I used to turn that on, turn. it down very low so my parents couldn't. hear it and we'd watch it under my. blanket and watch Three's Company. Right. And uh his comedic physical physicality. as far as a physical comedian was. amazing to me. Yeah, he followed him before he. And uh he was Clifford on Clifford the. Big Red Dog. And so uh that was like my. first introduction to doing voice over. work and working with Cree Summer, who's. just an amazing voice over actress. And. uh I just learned it and I love doing. voice over work. I mean, and you could. do it in your pajamas if you want if you. want to. But you really got it It's a.

It's a art to doing it to a certain. extent. Yeah. Spring is in full bloom. Are your. finances blooming, too? With the Chime. Secured Credit Builder Visa Credit Card, it's easy to start building credit with. everyday purchases on regular time. payments with no annual fees or. interest. And if your credit score. grows, so could your opportunities for. lower interest rates on loans like for. cars and for homes. With the Chime. Credit Builder Visa Credit Card, there's. no annual fees, interest, or credit. checks to apply. You can use it. everywhere Visa credit cards are. accepted, and you can build credit while. using your own money. With Chime Secured.

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want to go the route that you did? What's some of the advice you would give. them? Ooh, man. Um have a good uh sense of. self. and who you are. You know, you go. through a lot within this business and. uh ups and downs and things that you go. through, right? And it's finding don't. lose sight of yourself. Okay. You know, throughout the process. Um when we brought all that back uh in. 2019, it was very important to me uh. that I spoke to the kids. And I remember.

when I saw all of them for the first. time, it was a whole new cast. Uh I remember going in there and I said, "Yo, uh the Lord told me tell all of them. something that you were somebody told. you." And I told them like this is not. the thing that makes you. um important. Or this is not the thing. that makes you like, "Oh, I can do. this." It's this is one stepping stone. of your life that you're going to be in. And so, you were made special when you. were knitted in the womb, when you were. born. So, don't competition with one. another.

Have fun while you're doing this, but. understand this is a job. Understand. that. This is a job and there's going to. be other jobs too as well. And uh and. seeing them grow now, with them being on. other different shows now, and they. really understood that. And then I flew. my parents out too. I flew my parents. out because a lot of parents are green. within it too when it's just starting. Yes. And I wanted my parents to give that. perspective to their parents. And it was. a beautiful moment. A lot of the parents. were crying within that moment when my. they heard my parents talking to them as. well. And it was just a great moment and. I I asked Nickelodeon to be able to do.

that because I feel like it's very. important. As athletes, you know, a lot. of you guys. uh if you get other older athletes that. you know, pull back and kind of tell you. advice about what to expect. As actors, we just get thrown into it. You know. what I mean? And so, it it we got to. look back as you know, veteran actors. and actually sit down and have real. conversations with the younger ones to. let them know what to expect and how to. navigate through it too as well. How difficult was it. navigating. Yeah, yeah. those early years because like you said,

you didn't have what you could give. someone now. Yeah, yeah. Because I don't like the mentorship. Like if somebody could have but there. was no one that you could possibly ask. about what you were going through. Facts. Facts. Um it was coming fast. So here's the. thing. So I was explaining it this way. cuz a lot of people um like I said, they. don't know the timeline. Cuz I've been. in this business for for so long that I. don't really understand the timeline. Yeah, very Yeah, it's over 30 years, man. So. uh when you look at it, I remember um.

what got me through. was definitely the Lord. That's what got me through. And then. what got me through too uh is you know. staying the course. Mhm. But how it started was was that I. remember when I was doing the show '94, you know, having fun, doing working on. the show. But then around like when we. started to come to LA, right? When we. started to come to LA and we did the. show, I want to say that was. '98, I believe. So I had to be like 19.

or uh 20 years old. Like not 19, 19. years old. Okay. Okay, so at this point, this is where I. really understood branding and you and. ownership. I loved my characters that. were on the show cuz remember now. I was creating these characters even. within auditions. Right. I loved these characters and but I had. to realize is that but I don't own these. characters. Uh-huh. I don't own the show. You know what I. mean? These are people that work within. the business, you know what I mean? And.

so I remember there was a point where. one of the uh execs. um and one of the head writers uh is the. start the show started to change a. little bit. You know, the writing of the. show started to change and I didn't like. the direction it was going in. You know. what I mean? I just like okay. And so we. started budding heads a little bit, you. know, within that. And this was the. point where. uh I remember he got upset. Wow. In front of everybody, took me, you. know, took me to a room, you know what I. mean? And he was just like, said some. real derogatory things, you know, and.

went off, you know what I mean? And me. being from the South Side of Chicago, in. that thought process, it was like, okay, either I could put hands on him. Right. or we could go argue or it's this is not. going to end well. Do you know what I. mean? And with him doing that, I mean, I. am an adult, but I also am 19. You know. what I mean? And the things that he said. was crazy. And in that moment, I'm not the man I am today standing. here. So, my thought process was, all. right, bet. Well, I'm going to leave set. and we're not going to film today. Do.

you know what I mean? So, I walked off. set. Now knowing now, being a producer, money, you got to pay cameraman, you got. to pay all these different things. That. could start a, you know, That was a chain reaction. That could be a chain reaction. That. could be a tornado, right? But at that. moment, I felt disrespected. about what was said and how it was said. Mhm. Um and when he said that within that. moment, uh it became real where it was like, oh, okay, this is this is really a job. And this has really changed everything.

of how you think about it, right? And it. wasn't as fun. anymore when that was happening. At the. same time, I was also in a relationship. as well. And when I was in that. relationship when this happened, too. Um I had gotten a, you know, a girl. pregnant. This is my ex-wife. She was. pregnant at the time. So, all this was. going on at the same time. And so this. frustration, and the reason I'm. explaining this to you is because I want. people to understand uh the mindset of, you know, what might happen to young.

actors and the things that they're going. through. You know, we see it all the. time with uh the suicide rate and. with actors and what goes on. And I was. friends with a lot of the actors that. are not here anymore. And so just the. process of the things that you deal. with, right? So, um you know, butting. heads with this producer, says this. thing, at the same time, uh my ex-wife is pregnant. We're dating. at this time. And uh also, too, uh as I'm going through all of this at. the same time and dealing with this. whole process,

um I'm upset about it. I call my pops. and I'm just like, when that happened. with the producer, I'm upset. And he was. just like, "Hey, yo, you know, did he. disrespect you as a man? How do you. feel?" The man I am today, I should have. told my dad, "Yeah, come on out." cuz he. had He said, "Yo, I want to come out, be. there with you." But I said, "No, it's. all good. I handle it. It's all good.". And what I did was, I just said, "You. know what? All right, I'm going to just. do my job, and I'm going to do the best. that what I can do. But as far as. everybody else, you know what I mean? It's just me right now, and I'm just. going to make this show happen the way.

that I do." And it because of that. point, it was a thing of I ended up. going from here to here, being a kid, and then now being an adult. My mom was. my manager at that time. And with my mom. being my manager at the time, I didn't. want to tell her I got a girl pregnant. Mhm. You see what I'm saying? Yeah. So, if it was someone that was a manager. and I could have just told them. been able to handle it. Yeah, but I couldn't tell them at that. time. So, it was like, "Oh, shoot. I. can't I can't tell him this." You know. what I mean? And so, I'm dealing with. that. Because, you know, I'm dealing. with that the whole time. She's, you. know, belly starting to show. We trying.

to hide it. You know that type of thing. Yeah, she's just eating a little more. than what she should. Yeah, right? And right. And we And I'm. having this frustration, you know, with. this writer as well, too. Uh and that's. going on. And then I remember she ended. up She was just like, "Yo, I want to. have an abortion." right? And dealing. with that, too, as well. With no one. knowing. No one knowing. So, no one. knowing we're doing that, and I'm still, "Hey, welcome to Good Burger home of the. good burger." You know, doing all these. shows, making people laugh and all these. different things, because I've been on,

you know, uh Good Morning America, all. these different, you know, uh interviews. and shows, and. uh telling people about uh suicidal. thoughts and emotions that you might go. through. But I never really pointed. pinpointed who the person was or who it. is, you know, or the things that were. going on. And this is what is going on. So, I'm blessed I'm sharing it with you. And so, uh, within that process of going. on with that, um, it's emotional roller. coaster that was going on at that point. And so, that happens and then what I end.

up doing, uh, right after that, you know, uh, ended up getting her pregnant again. You. know, throughout that process even after. we had the abortion. Um, and then ended. up getting married, right? As well. And so, while that's going on, um, with. Nickelodeon, I'm sort of like about to. be on my way out. I became this, um, I. want to I don't want to say, um, where I. What's the word? It's more of like I. have one lady one lady ended up saying. it like this, where she called me the.

Tupac of Nickelodeon. You know what I. mean? So, one of the people that we work with, Right. I wouldn't say that, but this was what. was said about me. And so, uh, because. of the point where I just was kind of. like, "Hey man, this is going to be my show. now. I'm going to do it this way." And I. didn't agree and I didn't tell anybody. what that, you know, producer had said. to me at that time and what was going. on, you know, and what was said and even. what I was going through personally. within my life, what I was going. through. I wasn't sharing that with.

anybody. And that's a lot of a problem. when you isolate that, um, and within that process you can go. through a lot, you know what I mean? And. uh, holding all that frustration inside, right? But I still was able to, uh, have. an outlet through the show, you know, through the show and doing that process. Um, and I remember Mystery Man had came. along with this movie called Mystery Man. I did with Ben Stiller and. uh, Janine Garofalo. And so, to me it. was like, well, I'm on my way out of. Nickelodeon. It's all good. You know. what I mean? And a lot of people talk.

about, um, you know, Kenan and I as far. as like this split between the Keenan. and Kel show. This is where it started. And I think that uh even Keenan didn't. really know either what was going on uh. because I didn't share. uh what was going on with me uh and the. head writer on the show of the show when. that happened. And uh and what was going. on. And I didn't trust anybody at that. moment either. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You you you speak. um. about these faults that you were having.

Yeah, yeah. Um and I think it was around what 2004? Yeah. said you that you was at your lowest. Yeah. And you contemplated taking your own. life. Yeah, yeah. Uh. you didn't talk you didn't have a. therapist you didn't have anybody that. you felt comfortable enough with to go. sit down and have a conversation with. even if it's not a therapist. Maybe a. pastor, maybe a closest friend. Yeah. You held that you bottled that up inside. and dealt with it on your own. So this is what I mean about the um. understanding the timeline. Okay, so cuz.

that's a big speed up. You know what I. mean? So. the start of that from where the suicide. is where I was just talking about. Mhm. So there was a start of that which was. like I said 99. Uh 99. 98, 99. You know what I mean? Around. that time. And so when that was going on. I was processing me not sharing what was. happening and holding all of that. Right. Um and dealing with that, that's what. led to that part. Okay. So in the beginning of that with me.

holding all those that information um. then uh Mystery Man came along. Do you. know that show? And I remember I'm I'm. out at Nickelodeon I'm like I'm all. good. And I remember. uh the head writer uh who's Dan. Schneider that's who I was talking about. who was wrote on the show. Mhm. Um at that time. uh he was also doing a uh a movie. I. think believe it was um Liar Liar. Mhm. Okay, yeah. You can hear. With a man and not Liar, Liar. It was um. oh man, I'm trying to remember the name.

of it. It wasn't Liar, Liar. Uh but it was a man who was supposed to. be was in the movie. Yeah, and it was about a kid who lies. and all this stuff like that. Um but they wanted me to actually be in. that movie at first, you know? And I was. like, "Yo, we should put Keenen in it. That would be dope to put Keenen in it.". And then we both do that cuz we had a. three-picture deal at Paramount when we. were doing that. But they decided that. uh you know, they didn't want they. didn't do the other movies. We just did. Good Burger. And but then but I was. doing Mystery Man, so they were like, "Yo, you should be on that." And I was.

like, "Oh yeah, but let's put Keenen. in." And they were like, "Nah, I think. this should just be with you." And I'm. like, "No, but I I feel like, you know, we got the show. Let's do it." And also. too, the writer is the same writer I had. a falling out with. You know what I mean? That's in the room. And so I'm just. like, "All right, you know what I mean? I don't want to do that.". Right. And I remember I left out of the room. uh and you know, all these producers. excited about doing this movie. Right. And I remember I left out of that room. and that situation. And then I saw uh. Keenen. And then I saw Nick. And they. were like, "Yeah, we heard about that. meeting." They just started laughing.

Right. And for me, uh I was just I felt like, "Yo, y'all was in there fighting for. you." You know what I mean? And that. kind of hurt at that moment. Thing about. me was that I didn't Relationship is. very important. Mhm. And you need to let know people know how. you feel. At that time I there was. really wasn't doing that. Right. There was a trust thing, you know what I. mean? I had already been through death, you know, within my family in Chicago. And all these things were going on at. this point. Both of my uncles was. murdered.

I had a friend that was murdered that we. talked about. All this happened around. the same time. And so there wasn't any. No, I wasn't seeing any therapist or. anything of that nature. I was just. working constantly with working on the. show. And within doing that and then at that. time too, I ended up marrying my. ex-wife. You know, uh. we had another baby. We had the baby, right? We had the abortion, but then we. had a baby. And uh she ended up telling. me. that the baby that was aborted wasn't.

mine. And so within that process, uh. you are immediately. married within a lie already. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? So the So the marriage was never same. after that, was it? No, it was This is This is at the. beginning. You know what I'm saying? This is at the beginning. And so within. that process, she probably should have. kept that to herself. Well, you know, I'm glad she didn't. And so within that. process, with that being known, it was. just like, "Yo." And now I'm on TV. All.

this year, I'm still on TV. All this. year, and I don't have time to really. process that. And she almost, you know, with even in being, you know, the. pregnancy, she almost died within the pregnancy. So. that was a hard time, too. Right. And I remember the. uh some of the writers coming to the set. to the hospital. And they were like, bringing presents. And I'm thinking. like, "Oh, yeah, cool. Thank you." And. then they were like, "Yo, when can you. be back on set?". And it was just like, Bro, you You see what I'm dealing with? Yeah, you see what I'm dealing with. But, you know, no No shout-out to you.

know, no no shade to them. They were. just They were doing what they were told. as far as the job to see if Kel can get. me back on set. Um and I was the one that, you know, ended up getting someone pregnant around. that time. But, I'm just setting up so. you understand what was really going on. Right. when and when you get to 2004. You know. what I mean? And that in that process. So, and now knowing that this, you know, this kid isn't, you know, is mine. And. And then now. leaving the show, you know, on. Nickelodeon. And then I I have Mystery.

Man, this big show. And I'm thinking. like, "Oh, yeah, that's going to be it.". You know what I mean? And learning. within that process, too, where it was. like, "Hey, well, no, I don't want to. renew on All That Kenan & Kel. I'm. good." You know what I'm saying? And I. already know what's going on as far as. what's happening within this realm of. what's going on with the show behind the. scenes and what's going on with me and I. was just like, "Yo, I'm ready to leave. anyway." And then Mystery Man didn't do. as well as we thought it was going to do. as we thought it was going to do.

within that process and then just. navigating. through that now being a father. And. here's the thing about it is that the. reason I didn't have anybody to relate. to because I was the first one out of. the entire cast to be married, to have a. house, uh you know, have kids. And. Keenan, Nick, none of them could relate. to that. They were still being kids. And. also too, there was this process of I. got it all together. I already know what. I'm doing. Do you know what I mean? And. that's what I was doing. Do you know.

what I mean? To me it was like, I got it. I got it I can handle this. I can handle. this. No. You couldn't. No, you you you can't handle this within. this time cuz you're really going. through something that is really deep. and you need to let people know and let. people know how you feel and let people. know what's on your heart, what's really. going on, but I kept it in and was like, I can handle this. Yeah. You mentioned. a lot of some of the kids. actors and actresses that you were. around. um. life had gotten so much so overbearing.

that they couldn't didn't feel they. could go on. Yeah. You see you you mentioned Amanda Bynes. and you see her in conservatorship and. you see her dealing with her issues. How difficult is that for you knowing. what you went through. Yeah, yeah. and seeing her go through something very. similar? Um it's deep. I mean um when I was at. the um. Sunset Hotel in Canada. where I was going to end my life at that. moment on the other side of a balcony.

Um Amanda was there. Amanda was shooting. a show. movie where she played a played a guy. that that that movie. And Keenan was in town too as well. We. hadn't talked in a while. He was doing. Snakes on a Plane. Okay. Uh and and no one knew what I was going. through uh with my ex. You know, we had. very toxic relationship. You know what I. mean? As you can imagine from the start. of it all. Well, if it was if it was if it it's. hard to reveal something after a lie. Yeah, bro. If it was founded on a lie, it's going. to fall eventually. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And it went from.

bad to worse, you know, with the things. that were being revealed, you know. Um. and it was a lot, you know, it was other. times. uh she had gotten pregnant other things. and it just got to a point. gotten pregnant again? Were y'all. together? Yeah. Yeah. And it wasn't you? NOT WITH ME. AH, COME ON, KEL. It wasn't me. It wasn't. AND YOU STUCK AROUND? YEAH, I STUCK AROUND. I stuck around. But here's the thing here's the thing. Uh these were things that were being. revealed, you know, to us. you this? No, no, no. How do you find. How do you find this out? I want to know.

how you found this out. You read a. letter? You got to read through the. phones? Yeah, okay. All right. So, how that one. went. Um there was a thing where. um we weren't. um having sex anymore and we weren't. doing anything more just because. you weren't having sex. Clearly she was. Yeah, it's just cuz because of we knew I. knew what was going on. Right. And uh I was like, "Yo, what is even happening? You're not. coming home. You're not doing all these. different things.".

And y'all mad you're not coming home and. y'all mad. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But. then this was, you know, back then. We. praying for it now. It's all good. But. this is with the process of what I was. going through. Oh, yeah. And so now as this is going on, um there was a a time get some more. soda. Now I need something stronger than soda, Kel. You telling me that right here. I mean you had one. You aborted that, but that wasn't yours. She told you. You. didn't know. You had one of your own and. you she. Yeah. Well, yeah. There was a there was a situation.

uh where there was a guy, you know, and um I had a feeling, you. know what I mean, that she was talking. You didn't know it? talking to somebody. It was one of her. friends that used to come over, right? Mhm. And you know, I was working a lot, you. know what I mean? So, it was one of one. of those situations. And so, uh I was. dropping off the kids, you know, and you. know, I didn't go to work, and you know. how it go. And so, one day I decided, well, it was like yeah, I'm going to. take the car. and just kind of like go searching where. she might be, cuz she don't be in come. home. And so, I got in the whip, went.

driving around, saw her whip, like the. you know, and uh I saw it, and I said. the hotel, I was like, "Yo, okay." This. is the car at the hotel. I go to the. lobby. You know what I mean? I go walk. into the lobby. Uh. turns out dude just come walking down. the lobby about to go to the car, you. know, my car, and then she was driving, you know what I mean? And I'm like, "Oh, okay, what's up? Take me upstairs.". Take me, let's go to the elevator, let's. go together. You know what I mean? He's. like, "Oh, okay, cool.". You know what I mean? We go up, I'm not.

We don't need to fight, let's go. Yeah. Cuz I already know what it is. Right. So, we go up, of course she's surprised. Oh, you know what I mean? Within the. room. And uh you know, we walk in, you. know, I walk in there, and I'm just. like, "Hey, okay, so this is what This. is what's going on. Okay, cool." You. know what I mean? All right, and this is. what you doing? Okay, so, and I walk. out, cuz I'm like I'm not about to fight. over. No. She already made a decision. made her decision. You already been We. done been through it. Did she like come out and let me let me. explain? Yeah, yeah, yeah. What did they explain? Awful without explanation.

Uh I'll go to the car. Uh after I went to the car, then there. was this. I was like, "Yo, I need to go back." And. uh I went back, cuz now I was like, well, I felt disrespected, so now I need. to go do something. After I went back, so then I'm going back up there, cops. came, everybody came up at that point. And I remember this cop told me uh he. said, "Hey, yo, um I've seen this type of woman, this. this situation. You need to get out of this situation.".

You know what I mean? You need to get. this situation. Like you know, like a. goofy still stayed around. You know what. I mean? We said we was trying to make it. work for the kids. You know what I mean? Trying to make it work for the kids. But it just wasn't working out. You know. what I mean? Trying to make it work and. she ended up getting pregnant by another. guy. Now how that situation happened was. that I was at the hospital. She had a sickle cell trait. So she. ended up. you know, I'm thinking it's that. We go in there and the doctor comes in.

and says, "Yeah, so you lost the baby.". And I was just like, "Hey yo, what?" You. lost the lost the baby and I'm like, "Oh, I know that's not mine." And so. lost the baby and it just and I'm like, "Okay, so she was pregnant at that. time." And this was just like what was. going on. You know what I mean? Within the relationship. But then it's. also. doing movies, doing TV shows, doing all. these things as this is going on. Not. really telling anybody anything. I. wasn't telling my parents, telling my. family. what was going on. You know? So now.

all these situations are happening and. I get to the point where I'm at you. know, 2004 up there. And the thing about. it is is that. I would drink you know, to get out of. certain you know, emotional all of these. this mind because it was just kind of. like. you know, making people laugh and doing. all these things. But then also this is. going on too as well. You know what I. mean? And so I got to the point where. I'm about to do this and the reason I. did that was because I went to Canada to.

do this movie. and we had already the relationship was. just toxic at that point. So now I'm I'm. here and I get a phone call and she's. this this guy you know, that she wants. to be with. And I was just like, "Okay, yeah. Yeah, y'all need to be together.". You know what I mean? Like let's do. this. But then I'm also dealing with the. embarrassment of all of these situation. What's going on? I don't want people to. know what I'm going through all this. situation. And I just felt like at that. point it needs to be a reset button just. because I looked at my parents and how.

beautiful their relationship was and how. this relationship was not being that at. all and how what I thought marriage. would be wasn't that at all. And then. even just the navigation of this. industry as well and what was going on. I just wanted to hit off button at that. point and I felt like that was the the. answer. Right. I tell people. um, you know, I heard something tell me, "Hey yo, Kale, get into a room, lock the. door. um and get off this balcony." I know.

that was God now, but at that time I, you know, I said it was a person, but I. know it was God that told me to do that. And I did that and it went and did work. and then from that. uh changed my life around where it's to. the point where now it's like really. living life for me and understanding. that. Yeah. Kale, even though I'm listening to you. talk and it's a very traumatic. experience and I'm sorry that you had to. experience that. that. But it seems to me, no matter how. chaotic it was in your personal life, it.

was the acting that kept you going. Well, I would say this because even with. the process of me and Keenan, uh he kind. of just um and I don't think he knows if. we had did have a conversation about. this, but he didn't know any of this. either. He didn't know all these things. were going on in my life until recently. when I was able to talk to him about it. And uh the thing about it is is that on. that side of work. when it was a thing of, you know, uh my. talent being stolen by, you know, this. this writer, uh this this yelling by.

this writer, all these different things, uh the process of that and work and all. how that was. um and navigating that, he was also. managed by the same company that the. writer was in. And so within that it was. just like, "Oh, y'all all together.". Mhm. So I couldn't trust anybody. Oh. And where I was from, you know, uh with. having people. um you know, die within my life that. were in Chicago. I'm going through turmoil in a toxic. relationship. And then I'm also having.

problems within the workplace as well. That was a a gumbo. of just like, yo, you know what I mean? Of what was going on. And that's what I. talk about like with Robin Williams when. I was saying like, you know, smiling. through everything and making other. people laugh. Never know what somebody. else might be going through at that. time. And Kinte was going through his. own process as well and things that he. was going through. But we both weren't. sharing. And this is what I talk about. with relationship and letting people. know what's on your heart. And letting. people know what you might be dealing.

with because if you don't let people. know. and you just deal with that, that's a. great place for the devil to just play. with you. You know what I mean? Within. that process. And I had to really understand that. You. know what I mean? And so. even with Amanda, I understood, you. know, what she was going through. Everybody has their own journey. of what they're going through in life. Everybody's journey is different. And. this is this is my journey and process. of it. You were in a movie with uh Katt. Williams called Ganked. Um, what was it. like working with Katt? Katt Williams is amazing, bro.

He's a good dude. I remember we saw a. lot of comedians coming up. You know. what I mean? Like I said, we were in. '94. Seen a lot of people come up. And. so I remember Dave Chappelle in a. windbreaker at the Improv right outside. You know what I mean? And we would just. always be able to go in. You know what I. mean? And he took pictures with my. sister and everything like that. And. working with Katt, man, as well was just. an awesome process. And he was fun. I I was happy that he. did it. Because the reason why I wrote. that, I had got to a place where in the.

business Marlon Wayans had told me, he. said, you know, being in the Wayans. family, he was just like, you create the. characters you want. Cuz within an. audition process, going through. auditions and you know what I mean? And. doing shows, he was like, you don't wait on an. audition. You create it. And so I. started to do that. And uh, created a. lot of different independent things like. on DVD. DVD was popping back there. And, uh, we did Yang that we had him be a. part of that, uh, which was awesome. And. Kel was great. Yeah. How do you. Yeah. How do you select roles now? How do I select roles now?

Um, you know, really I I pray about it. Do. you know what I mean? That's really what. it is, you know? Uh, I'm a writer, too. So, I write characters that I want to. play. And then also, too, if there's a a. role or audition that I have, I pray. about it first to see if it's the right. thing to go about. Right. Yeah, yeah. So, Yeah. is there a role that you turned down. that you wish you hadn't? Uh, there was roles that I was offered, uh, that I didn't take, you know, around. that time like, uh, you know, even. back then, uh, there was, you know, roles that I didn't take be because, you.

know, uh, my ex didn't want me to take. it. You know what I'm saying? And things. like that. Um, but yeah, man, it's like, uh, yeah, roles that I do and that right. now that, um, yeah, I mean, it's it's really for me. I always go and there was a point when I. was like super super when I started. being Christian where I was just like. when I was like, okay, I'm going to live. my life, it was certain roles I didn't. want to take. But then it's all about for me with. certain roles of what's the journey. of the character. Right. What happens at the end of the. character? Do Is there some type of.

resolution? And that's what I gravitate. towards, the resolution of the. character. Yeah. You auditioned for Saturday Night Live. Yeah, yeah. Keenan auditioned for Saturday Night. Live. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I guess you guys auditioned for for. the a very similar the same role. Yeah, yeah. Losing, I mean, you guys had played all. these was in these these sketch comedies. and did these these shows together. Yeah. Did that strain your relationship to. lose that audition to him? No, I I think that, uh, I explained it,

uh, what really happened. You know what. I mean? There was this, uh, divide of me. you all don't understand. what I'm dealing with. through the process of all the things. I'm dealing with or even with these. producers and the writer. You know what. I mean? What's going on? And it's for them it just looked like. Yo, Kel is just, you know, doing his own. thing. He's frustrated and he doesn't. want And that that wasn't what it was. I. had my own personal things that I was. dealing with.

When we got on Saturday Night Live now, you talking about this is. years and we hadn't spoken in a while. And it was a lot. So, had you guys not spoken prior to. Saturday Night Live? at all. Yeah, we hadn't spoken. Yeah, yeah, we hadn't spoken. And so, that's the thing about it is like. There was this when I talk about the. isolation and when I talk about work. See, when people watch us on television, they're thinking like, oh, these are. brothers. You know what I mean? They. hang out all the time, but this is a. this is a job. You know what I mean? So,

when it ended, we are adults. You know. what I mean? So, I always explain like this. There's. there's three generations of All That. Like we were '94 to 2000. Then it came. back around 2005 to 2010. And we weren't on that process of that. show. And then we brought it back in. 2019. Right, and that went for only like. two seasons. And so, you got to kind of. look at like us being adults and. navigating our own things through our. life. And we hadn't talked in a long. time. And when Saturday Night came.

along, I was going through probably the. you know, the worst time of my life. You know what I mean? Like you're. talking about from '97, '98, you know, to now it's 2004. You know what I mean? Like when he gets. on the show. around that time. And we go to audition. I didn't know Keenan was going to be. there. You know what I mean? And there. was a lot of Doritos there. JB Smoove, a lot of different other, you. know, actors. I think I talk about this. like people look at us like New Edition.

You grew up with us. You know what I. mean? So, there's this this love there. And so, they felt like it was like this. this fight. But it wasn't. It was just a. thing of oh, you here too. Okay, let's. audition. And for me it was like I need. this I got to get this job. I got kids. at home. I want to get this job. Make. sure this happen. I'm thinking in that. process. And I remember when I got on. stage, I did original characters. I had. already been doing my DVD stuff. So I. remember I auditioned with Michael. Jackson if he was allergic to trees.

And so I did a whole thing where he was. sneezing and that's how he came up with. the got to go to the bathroom. I did that on stage. But it was very. physical. You know what I mean? And I. remember that. And I was drinking at the. time too when I did it. So I remember I. was just I got on stage. I was just. going. And then what was already. happening in my life at that point. already with all the things that was. going on. And you know, I didn't get the. audition which was fine though because. there's so many other comedians that. didn't you know on Saturday Night Live. I don't look at it as like I was upset.

at my boy. And that wasn't what it was. But what really was going on was what. was happening behind the scenes. You. know, what was going on where we just. didn't talk. You know. How did it feel to be finally be. reunited? With Keenan? Yeah. Uh what years later as far as like with. Goldberg? Which is funny. Um. it was I want to say I was on. Game Shakers. Uh it was a show on Nickelodeon that I. went back on and now here's a here's the. process of this. Um the same writer, you know, this was.

his show. Right. Now he was doing his show a new show. Mhm. Prior to this I was invited to. um. to Kids' Choice Awards to give him an. award. And with all the other actors. And. knowing the past of us butting heads, right? And knowing to the conversations. that he had with other people as far as. like forget Kel, I don't want to work. with Kel. This type of thing type of. person he is, right? And I remember thinking now I'm the man.

that's like um a man of faith at the. time of this time and I'm just like in. the process of things that I've went. through. I was like forgiveness is a. serious thing. You know what I mean? And. I was just like I'm going to forgive and. also too I wanted the other producers to. know like yeah, I'm not this is not a. thing. No holding grudges I'm back. I'm not holding any grudges. So they. were surprised I said okay, yeah, I'll. do it. So I went on stage and I did. that. Mhm. That ended up being uh where now all the. producers are like yo Kel, he's cool. with Nickelodeon.

He's cool with us. So then they were just like okay, cool. and then they had me audition. uh to be on Game Shakers. And the show. Right. Part of me was like, well you know, y'all know what I can do this type of. thing, but I was like I'm going to. audition and and do my thing. And so I. auditioned been on the show uh and got. on that show. When I got on that show uh he actually. was the one who said, "Hey yo, uh you. and Kenan y'all should, you know, reach. out." And he gave me Kenan's number. Right. You know what I mean? And we actually. reached out to one another. And me and. Kenan had a I want a one-hour.

conversation. of us just talking on the phone and me. telling a little bit about my life of. what I had went through and him sharing. too, but not all the way sharing, but. him just like shocked by what was really. going on uh behind the scenes and all. that I had dealt with. uh and what was going on. And that was. good for us to have that a conversation. as adults, may have that hour. conversation and talk to one another. Then right after that we did um Fallon.

Where we got together to do the Good. Burger. Right. Yeah, together. And within that process. though, which was really deep um. I told him I said, "Yo look, I'm not. getting back in contact with you cuz of. that." You know what I mean? I could. care less. If we don't do this, it's. whatever. I know us as brothers and what. we've been through and the experiences. that we experienced, we need to talk to. one another cuz if they and we found out. within that conversation that we both. had people talking within our ear while. we were going through the process. Just.

the people telling me things about Kel. You know, people telling things about me. to him. about you? Yeah, during that process with the. producers, the writers, and break, you. know, trying to break that up and keep. us apart. And we told ourselves we. wouldn't allow that to happen again. And. we really did that, you know, now every. day we're speaking to one another as far. as brothers and just checking on each. other. Right. Yeah. You guys did So, you guys did Good. Burger 2 together. Can we expect to see. more projects between you and Kel? Yeah, definitely. Yeah, yeah, we've. definitely been talking about more. projects.

Yeah. Do you ever like when you've done what. you've done for such a an extended. period of time, do you ever feel like. you might get typecast? Typecast? No. No, I don't actually. Well, because you know, you're a pastor, you can rap, you do music, you sketch, you do voice-overs. So, it's. kind of hard to put you in a box because. they try to put you in this box and you. you're over here. Yeah, you know, and and I feel like with. a lot of, you know, we'll say child. actors, um they have one character. And.

so, it it gets to a point where it's. almost like, "Oh, well, do that thing.". But, I have so many different characters. that they can lean on. Uh and then now being through this whole. process with people seeing me as an. adult now, too, uh it's just been a fun. playing field to be able to act in. different facets. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, you when you're on the set. of a What was that? Good Burger 2, you. had a. schedule like you was like Jade Pinkett. and Set It Off. No, that wasn't a sketch. No, that was I mean, in the in the. movie. In the movie, yeah.

Yeah, so. So, how do you go How do you go about. coming up with like, "This is what I'm. going to do." How do you I mean, how do. you do that? Um well, Ed has been Ed since '94, you. know, and then now to revisit with him. as an adult to play Ed was a awesome. process. You know what I mean? And how the whole Set It Off thing. happened, I remember it was the makeup. artist. That's where they had me. And. you went through a similar process the. thing. Yeah, yeah, you remember that? But they. had you one they had you BOY LOOKING. HAPPY.

SO basically I had to tell. me looking like they tell I look like. Little Richard, I look like Reggie. Jackson. But they had me like I was. looking like everybody. Yeah, so you know, for years I had my. you know, had my beard and I hadn't done. it in a while and so the thing was is. that I told the makeup artist I said, "Yeah, just do full makeup, you know, just cover cover up." And she did the. full. So but you have to tell. That's why you tell. Nah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What makeup artist you said do full? Yeah. I said do full and she gave me that you. know what I mean? I have already have. high cheekbones. I told them I wanted to be casket clean. They took me literally. They took me.

literally they took me literally they. took me literally they had me in the. casket. Yeah, right. So you said casket clean. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I said do full and she gave me that you. know, that beat you know, that beat. Yeah, man. Everything. And I go out of there and I'm not I'm. not looking at the monitors. Yeah. So you know, it's the first week and I'm. not looking at the monitors. You saying. right? Same thing. Same thing. And I'm doing I'm doing this character. and I'm just doing it and then it wasn't. until somebody took a picture end of the. day, you know, sweating this makeup. somebody took a picture cuz we signing. autographs. Yeah.

And it went viral and they were like, "Yo, look at look at that." And then if. you watch the movie you'll see within. the process they fixed that. It's just. like one or two scenes where I look like. that. But what I've always learned was. is that you lean into a joke. Because if you start trying to argue. with it and stuff like that. yeah, yeah. So I was like, "Okay, I got the braids. It looks like Set It Off and you know. said that and we just leaned into the. joke and made the people laugh and it's. all promotion. It was marketing for the. movie. but they had police and everything. I. came out of ESPN they had plays, they. had chicken, everybody had I said, "Oh.

man." But they got they got me good Kel. They had me on that one. But that was. but like cuz what happened was is that. the makeup artist ESPN they have. rotational. So it's kind of hard to. figure it out because you get one one. day, you get one the next day, you get. one next week. So you might get 15 and. so it's not a consistent person that's. working on you each particular time. And. then the lighting, you might be in the. box, which is like just you and the. camera, or you might be on stage where. it's well-lit. So, when I say, "Hey,

make your boy casket clean.". Yeah, man. Yeah, your boy did that. They did that. You feel me? They did. that. I said I didn't mean literally, man. I. didn't mean literally. But. But it it was all well, you know, she. she apologized, but. like you said, I understand now. Yeah. that that you got to make light of a. situa- situation, because if they don't, man, cuz the internet unforgiving. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Internet it is. It's up there now. It's. up there forever. Grandkid, grandkids. going to see that. Look what your papa. looked like.

Yeah, they'll get you. Yeah. So, as you So, when did you When did you. turn your life over to God? Man, so within this process, when I was. I grew up in the church, right? And so, but there's a a difference between. knowing God and having a relationship. with God, okay? Mhm. And so, definitely grew up in the church. My. grandfather was a a pastor as well, right? But as I went through the process. of just within in life, you know, that we touched on a little bit within. this conversation,

and I went on when I was very young, there was a evangelist that spoke over. me. and was like, "This one can see." You. know what I mean? And she said that. And. I had to understand. where. I know there's a God. And the reason I know is because when I. was at the process of that the suicide. that moment, when that happened, and I said I'm going to change my life. around, what I did was is I found a church in. Canada, right? I found a church in.

Canada, and that's why you know, shout. out to Canada. I have a the love for. Canada there because of that transition. Mhm. And it was just a church that was around. the corner. I just went walking. I said. the church I see, I'm going to go in. there. Right? Mhm. And I rededicated my life to Christ. within there, right? I did that. And I. had already done it before. Right? Mhm. So, after I do that, uh it wasn't like. everything changed. You know, at that. moment. Now, this was a process of me. finding myself. So, when I got back to. LA,

started the divorce process, which uh. that was very dramatic. I read about that. We going to talk. about that later. We'll talk about that, right? But, uh. started that process of that, right? And. then also, too, being single now. Mhm. Now, I'm in the I'm back out here. Yeah. You back on the market. Yeah, so that was that was kind of. crazy, too, within the different. relationships. Right. uh that I went through and having these. different relationships. And I got to a. point after being in other.

relationships that was wild. Mhm. And it was like, "Yo, Kel, maybe you. should take some time to learn to love. yourself. And find out who you really. are. Mhm. Because you've been adulting within the. limelight this entire time. And now is. the time where you need to have a. relationship with God cuz you've had. relationships with so many all these. different situations. You've been in the. club, you've been doing all this stuff, right? Right. And so, now it's time for you to find. who you who you are, right? Uh and it. was such a beautiful thing. I did a.

movie called uh Dance Fu, Mhm. right? Uh shout out to Affion Crockett, Tommy Davidson, and all these amazing. guys. Um and at this process, when I was doing. this, I was at I want to say, man, my. lowest. Cuz I remember I I didn't even. have a car at this point. I was uh you. know, I had an apartment. Uh you know, I'm divorced. I'm just, you. know, living my life. Nobody knows. what's really going on, right? And I. pitched this movie to Cedric the. Entertainer. Uh he wanted to do it. He wanted to. direct it. He thought it was dope. So, we started the process of the movie, uh.

which is a fun movie, right? And uh I. met a friend of mine there, uh Janice. Woody, right? And she had an evangelist. uh that was like her spiritual mother. She said I wanted to pray for you pray. with you too. And I said okay, cool. You. know, let's let's do that. You know, and she started to pray with me. I met. another evangelist in the same process. A friend of mine named Chico Chico Benny. mine not Chico Benny man. Chico. He's an actor on 101.

Okay. So met over him his mom was evangelist. Remember he got us all together one time. to pray. And. she was praying over everybody. It was. me Essence Atkins and a bunch of. different other actors that were there. When she started praying over us, right? There was this moment. Where everybody. just started spinning up throwing up. I'm going to get deep with you real. quick. Okay. So it was like a really. like a exorcist type of moment, you. know, with everybody. And I walk into this. situation where I'm like hey yo, what is.

really going on? What's going on? And you know, now this. process I'm I'm walking and I'm you. know, dating a girl that I'm dating at. that time. We all walk in there and she notices, you know, Chico's mom notices that, you. know, I'm going through, you know, some. serious some things. She said come here. I said okay. She said you need to. forgive some people. And you need to say that person's name. out loud. And I know what you're going. through with the court and all the. things you're going through with you. need to you need to forgive that person.

and you need to say her name out loud. So I said I said my ex's name out loud. and forgive her. And you know, and let. go of that anger and forgive her, right? She said also too, she has done some. things as far as like putting a hex on. you these different things she has done. spiritual wise. And I'm like what? I'm like yo. Did she put the root on you? I'm like yo, what you talking about? Like what? Like what? What? And then. she's like yeah. I understood it, you know, within what. was going on. When she told me that now.

this is me being introduced to the. spiritual realm cuz we're spirits. Right. And we're in the spiritual realm. And so. when that happened, she said, "I want. you to say blood of Jesus. I want you to. start saying blood of Jesus and I'm. going to pray over you." And she started. to do that. Now I'm I'm spitting up. Um. and within that process um getting. reconnected to the Lord in a very. spiritual way in this moment. Now all of. my friends are here. Some of my homies. are here. And they're seeing me and what. is happening within this process.

demons start like literally speaking out. their name. I'm saying their names out. loud, but they're coming out of my body. So each one is saying who they are. So. imagine I'm watching this as this is. happening to me and they're literally. going, "I'm so-and-so." And my body will. contort and be something totally. different as this is talking and I'm. spitting out. And as this is going on. and I'm saying all this, I'm like, "Yo." And they all come out. Finally I'm tired after like an hour of.

warring within the spirit. And. everyone's speaking as she's speaking in. tongues and me warring within the. spirit. And after that happens, then I. get up and my face, bro, like my face. was totally clear. Like I'm talking like clear clear. Went. to the bathroom and I'm like, "Yo." And. I just sat down and it was like I just. had a craziest workout. And at that moment, no one could tell me. that there's there's not a God. Because. I understood that this is spiritual. warfare that we're dealing with. Then I. also understood that throughout every.

process between work and also through. with relationships and toxic. relationships and everything, is that. there's a real enemy that is warring for. us. And I started to understand that. it's not the person or the person that. did it, you know, doing the workplace or. the person that I was dealing with. within my relationship, my ex-wife and. all those other things. There's a real. enemy that was after me and what I was. doing because they knew what I would be. for the Lord and what that process is.

because you know the Lord sees us from. eternity. So he views you from eternity. So he knows what you were going to be or. the powerhouse you're going to be for. the Lord. You know what I mean? And. what's going to happen. And so within. that happening within my life all these. distractions that were going on was to. stop me from being who I am within the. Holy Spirit. And so when that happened. it wasn't like now I'm just going to I'm. going to preach. I didn't know that. Right. You know what I mean? It was just a. thing of getting that off of me and. understanding that just like we pray you.

know to the Lord there's people that. pray to our Satan as well and that's. just a real thing and you we got to. understand that. And there's people that. have generational curses within their. family and all these different things. and we broke that on that night, you. know, which was beautiful. And we got to. be careful who you lay down with. That's. real process. You got to be careful who. you lay down with because when you mix. the spirits. that's what you do. You know, when you. have a sex with people you're bonding. within that. That's why when people. break up and they might break up with.

somebody but that person can still have. a hold on them. and something you get that phone call. and that heart and the stuff like. because they're connected is a soul tie. Uh-huh. So you got to be able to get that off of. you too. You might break up with. somebody but there can be soul ties and. you don't know what they're connected to. as well. And shout out to Ruth Brown who. Shannon sent this meter Ruth Brown. within my praying process of that too. And praying with me every day. I. remember she used to tell me after the. club I'm going to pray with you. She got. to be an evangelist, you know. Shout out. to Ruth. She would pray with me after. the club, pray with me all the time.

throughout the process and she was the. one who told me about soul ties and she. said anybody you've ever laid down with. I want you to say take my spirit out of. them. Say their name and then take their. spirit out of you and say that. And so. if anybody's listening they need to. really do that because the thing about. it is is that you take all that to. different relationships and you take. that wherever you go. You ever see you. you have a homie or you know, and you. see the difference within them. Could be. the spiritual connection that they have. with someone that needs to be broken cuz. it's a toxic. You know what I mean? And.

and demonic when it ain't that way. So, when I went through that process. and I understood that. and doing that over, you know, years and. learning the consistency of that and. learning how to pray, warring within the. spirit and the spiritual warfare of how. to pray. And shout out to Rudy Brown for. teaching me how to do that as well. And just, you know, praying within that, that's when I saw like, okay, we are. spirits and this is a spiritual realm. And when. I was asked to preach, I think that was.

the the question you asked me, right? This was years later. after that decided to happen, but me. preaching. I had now been working within the. church. When I had got all that off of me and I. was being consistent with praying, stopped drinking you know, I stopped going to the clubs, all these. different things like that. I started. doing that and I started to just have a. relationship with God. And I remember. the place that I was at, I had scripture.

all over the walls. And my dad used to. call the place like the cave. You know. what I mean? Cuz this was my place to. like be reborn, you know what I mean? Within this this process and finding a. relationship with God cuz that's really. what it was about. And with me doing. that throughout the years, the relationship that I was in at that. time, we ended up breaking up because I. wanted to be celibate and I said, yeah, the you know, Ruth said, "Yo, y'all need. to be celibate." And then we realized in. that relationship. that we weren't compatible because we.

took the sex out of it. And when you. took the sex out of it, it was just. like, "Oh dang, we really. We don't have anything. Yeah, yeah, we don't have anything in. common and I really understood the. spiritualness of that. And we ended up. breaking up. And Uh, you know, shout out. to her, She's she's doing good, but uh. throughout that process understanding. that um. and figuring that out. Right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This is thing, um you woke up one. morning. Yeah. this uh. fake death hoax.

Death hoax. Okay. And you see. Yeah. Kel Mitchell is no longer with us. Okay. Okay. You're like. but I am. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. How So what when you when you read that, you see that, what what's going through. your mind? what, brother? It's funny because they. was killing off everybody. This was. This was around the MySpace age. You. know what I mean? So they was all kind. of actors was being killed off. But uh. you have to look at the journey. This is. what I tell people.

That happened in 2004. Right. Right when I was going through it. Mhm. So when now when I look back at it in a. symbolic type of way, there was a death. When you think about it, even though it. was someone being funny. Oh. Even though it was someone being funny. They killed off the old Kel. There in the spiritual realm that is. what happened. You know what I mean? Where it was you have to have a death to. self. Right. and really live for live for Christ. And. that's really what happened for me when. you think about it. But when it was. going on, it was kind of crazy where it. was like, well, I'm alive. I'm doing my.

thing. Uh but people hadn't really seen me, you. know, so they thought that was real. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This first wife situation is. unbelievable. Yeah. Yeah. I read that she you. obviously was a rough divorce. Yeah. But she claimed that she went to jail. for an hour's debt that you acquired. Uh. The judge denied that. Liens were placed. on your bank accounts and your assets. Mhm. Uh. Why would she go to such a.

It's hard for you to speak to someone's. why someone would do something. Yeah. Yeah. But in your best guess estimation. Okay. why do you feel that she went to the. lengths that she was willing to go to to. try to destroy. the person. I got to explain this. So, as we talked about the spiritual side of. things. Mhm. There was a. a deep. um things that she's going through. within her life, you know, that I know.

she needs help with. Okay. And there's a thing that things that are. being revealed now even throughout her. process of life. Uh but things that I've. already known. You know what I mean? And. it was I wanted her to get help. uh throughout her entire process. Um but she didn't not want to do that. You know, she didn't want to do that. And so, um when the divorce happened, you think like, you know, co-parenting, people do it. Mhm. Uh relationships, people do this. Um it.

works when there is a person. um where both people. Yeah. are taking emotions out of it and that's. what it is. In this situation, that's. what it wasn't what it was. It was a. thing of she said, "Hey, I'm I'm going. to make your life a living hell. I don't. want you you need to stay." That was the. thing. And after even through the process of. everything that we had gone through, And she still wanted you to stay? Yeah, because the thing of it is that. the guy she was seeing at the time, um she didn't want to be with him at.

that at that time. You know, uh but she. had she was pregnant by him and I'm. like, "This is who you. need to be with. That's that's that's. who you need. Yeah. And he wanted to be with her, you know, and her family knew. that they were together, too. Which was. another thing from a loyal side of. things where it was like, "Yo." And so, um. but in that process, they wanted me to. all stay. You know what I mean? They. wanted me to stay within that and I'm. just like, "No, let's just. co-parent. We could do that.". Right. She took me through it as far as like,

"Okay, no, that's not what I want to. do.". Um within that process, uh she went so far as to change the. kids' names. She alienated me from my children. Mhm. And so, the thing of it is is that I. talked to fathers a lot about this. process because. yeah, we have baby fathers and that. don't want to be there, but I definitely. wanted to be in my children's life, right? My two oldest children, Lyric and. Lore, right? And the thing about it. within that process where when that was.

taken away. to a thing where I'm going to court, right? And I'm fighting to see my. children. Meaning that let's finish this divorce. She didn't want the divorce to end. So, in her mind, it is just like, "Oh, no, this is I'm going to make this go on as. long as possible." And also, I'm going. to make you continue to pay this and. that and you know, now jobs ain't. Ain't steady, right? But I'm hustling my butt off to try to. pay and I'm paying and doing all those.

different things, but I'm going to court. and she's not showing up. And she's changing the kids' names. And. I'm trying to go find out where they're. at. Do you know what I mean? And I'm I. can't go I'm trying to go to the house. and like, "Yo, what's going on?" And she. called the cops cuz I want to see the. kids and go, "He tried to break in." And. the dude's going along with it. And I'm. just like, "Okay, so I'm not going to do. that no more. Let's do this the the. legal way." Right. And now you're going to court and the. house was already in foreclosure.

Already. It was already upside down. because I was allowing her another thing. I was doing was allowing her to deal. with all the money. So, I just would. just use, you know, do the creative side. of things and I would work, here's the. money. Everything started to being revealed to. me after the divorce where it was like, "Oh, money here, there, where the money. was going, why we were ended up being. where there was no money anymore, uh my name being signed on different. things, my name forged on different. things." Everything was being revealed. uh to a point where it was very.

shocking. And now I'm trying to rebuild. my career as well while this is going. on. Right. Uh the house process was that now uh the. house needed to be sold. The house was. in my name. Always still in my name. She. had her credit debt was crazy uh. already. Um she had a. uh a past that I didn't know about. that was a criminal past already. Mhm. And that I didn't know about. So, it was. just like all these things were being. revealed. And I'm not doing this because.

I didn't know you was going to ask that. question. So, I'm not doing this to bash. her because I feel like um we need to. pray for her. You know what I mean? I still continue to pray for her. And I. have two beautiful children that came. out of the situation. kids into it. Yeah. I mean on the TikTok. I mean they were. talking about you didn't pay and you was. they were homeless and you were dead. I. mean I mean your kids. I mean obviously. an adult doing that. Yeah. Yeah. But when the kids, your flesh and blood, and you're doing all you can. Yeah. Yeah. That had to hurt, Kale.

What are you talking about? Years of a process and yes, it. definitely did hurt. You know what I. mean? And now you understand. um. the hurt I was going through while I was. just like, "Man, I don't I don't want to. live." The drinking and all those. different things. And my process to find. myself within the Lord. And then going. into court, it's nothing like. um and I call it Faithful Fathers. Because there's nothing like to be there. and then not show up. All these attorney. fees that I had to pay. She's not there. She changed the kids'.

name to the father's name. The baby that. was born through all that process, um she tried to put that baby's name my. name on that baby's name. So, she take your biological kid's name. Wait. But you won't take the kid that's. not yours. Yeah. Well, that these things happened. in in different orders. That happened. first and then this happened. Um and. throughout that process of me going to. court, what ended up ended up happening. was the truth ended up being revealed. anyway through all of this. There was a.

consistency of love and the consistency. of me showing up for my kids and letting. them know I'm going to fight for them. And I continuously fought for them. within court. Continuously fighting even. though she would end up going to jail, all these different things, even in that. process. What she did was she ended up. forging the name of the judge, forging the name of she did some house. things that were really really wrong. She did real estate fraud to try to keep. the house, all these different things.

And so now social media is out. and the thing is is that for years I was. dealing with this. For years. In and out of court and all. the shenanigans that were going on and. trying to see my kids and all these. different things. um and getting breakthroughs by through. it all. Then. I get on television, I get on. Dancing with the Stars and all these. different things and. she's like, "I'm going to go to the. media. I'm going to the media. I'm going.

to the media." And that's what literally. happened where is that now I'm going to. spread lies and all these different. things and spread all these different. lies. And one thing that I did know. is that you don't argue. crazy. And the thing also too is that. when you're going against a monster, it's not that I'm calling her a monster. but someone that's doing monster type of. tactics, you got to make sure you don't. become a monster throughout the process. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I'm saying. So. I was like and I also want to be the. father to my children and not embarrass.

them. Right. And the thing is is that I have so much. information that I could be like, "Oh. yeah, let me turn on the camera and say. these different things about you and. what the process of what you're going. to." But that's not what it you should. do. Right. The thing is is that I want to love my. children and let them know the. consistency of their father's love and. that I'm fighting for them and. throughout the whole entire process. And. I even did a the video to let them know. that that I was filing fighting for them. years ago that had already been up. And. so when all this drama started and all.

those things started people started. digging. And the thing about it is that. people find the truth. You know what I. mean? And they saw the court process. And the thing about it is is that. people started to see like, "Well, all. these allegations Kells hasn't been in. jail. He hasn't never been jail with IRS. fraud. He hasn't been in jail with child. support. The thing about it is that I. overpaid her. You know what I mean? I was paying out. of my own pocket and then also paying. child support and being garnished at the. same time. All these different things, but I never wanted to um.

embarrass her. You know, even though she was trying to. embarrass me. because I was thinking about my. children. And thinking about my children in the. process. And then. um. when my daughter was brought into it cuz. I'm that's what you asked about that. That was her. um adulting. through life. Because what ended up. happening with us was that now I started. to see my children throughout the court. process and she had to she had to you. know, we we started to see one another. And the reason we had to see one another.

now this is deep. I'm going to tell you. what what what went on, okay? So, when she wasn't allowing me to see the. kids, it definitely every child that I. saw I was in tears. Because I knew that my children were the. age of whatever kid I that I was looking. at, right? And you get this where I'm. going to court, man. I'm fighting. I'm. fighting to see him and I'm losing money. and I'm doing all these other things. And the relationships I was in I had. women that were like, "Well, you know, you ain't paying attention to me. You. going to this court and you fighting. with this woman all the time and then.

the court." And those relationships. didn't work out. And that was throughout. the process where I told you you need to. focus on you. Just focus on you, Kells, right? So, I'm going through this process. and I remember I was started going to. church, right? I found my church. Spiritual Christian Center. And when I found this church, um a. friend of mine was like, "You're going. to need to come to church." I needed God. in a major way. I went to this church, and when I went. there, um. after the, you know, the divorce and all.

those things happened that I told you. before, and I'm going to this church, I'm praying, and shout out to Derek Luke. and Sophia Luke. Derek Luke's an amazing. actor and his wife. They are members of. the church. Sophia told me, cuz she knew. my story, she said, "I want you to take pictures. of your ex-wife, and I want you to put them on, you know, take all the pictures and just. start to. pray within the spirit." Now, a lot of. times when you pray within the Holy. Spirit and you pray in tongue with the. Holy Spirit, a lot of times within our frustration,

we don't know what to pray for. But when. you pray in the Holy Spirit, what. happens is is that the enemy can't hear. that. That's a tongue that you have. between you and heaven. So, as I pray. within that, you are praying for things. that are having breakthroughs within. heaven, because we're all spirits that. are fighting for us. Heaven, angels are. fighting for us on our behalf. And so, when you're praying, things are going. on. So, you have to make sure you're. being consistent with that. So, as. that's going on, I'm praying, and I'm. just praying within the spirit. I'm. praying over her, and which is very hard.

to do, cuz I'm already going through. turmoil with her. So, I'm praying over her, and what ends. up happening is, I want to say about a. week later, I get a call from her guy. You know, he calls me up, says a. situation went down at the house. Mhm. And he was like, "Bro.". And I'm like, "Bro.". And he's like, but he's like, "Yo, look, Kel, I need you to take my kids." Cuz now he. has two kids with her. He said, "I I. Is it possible.

that you can be able to take the kids? Cuz what's about to go down. is crazy. I can't tell you what's going. down, but they're taking the kids for. us. DCFS had came to the house." Now, mind you, I I know what's going on. I've. been trying to fight to see what was. going on within this house. Now it's. being revealed. And so as I'm fighting, I'm just like, "Oh, what is what is happening now that. what I'm hearing?" He's like, "The court. date is this day. I need you to talk to a detective. And. they're going to tell you what happened. what went on." Now mind you, years I'm. praying for my kids, want to have a. relationship with my children, right?

And this happens at this moment. Remember now, I did a video called. Faithful Fathers, right? This video, I. put it up on YouTube because it was. Father's Day. Every Father's Day was. very hard for me. Because of the fact. that I was alienated by my children, I. mean by my ex-wife. And every Father's. Day was very hard for me. But on that. particular Father's Day, I decided to do. a Father's Day for the men that go has. been going through what I was going. through. And the. the Lord told me to do that and I did. it.

The detective, uh, when DCF went to that. house, they said, "Okay, we know whose kids. this is." They were talking about her. guy. He said, "What about these other. two? Who's who are their father?" And she. said, "Oh, no, he don't want to be he. don't want to be in their life. They. don't We don't know about that." Right? Now they're taking the kids away from. them. Right. So they would end up being in the. system. Right. So at this point, um, he tells her, her boyfriend tells her, he says, like, "Yo, nah, this he wants. to be in their life. He does and I know. he wants to be in their life. I've been. going along with what she's been saying,

but at this point, I'mma let you know. this.". The detective looked up my name cuz he. said he's on TV. He's looked up my name, first video that pops up is the Faithful. Fathers video. And she sees that, "Oh, this man loves. his kids.". She calls me up and says, "This is the. court date. I want you to be there.". I go I hadn't seen my kids in years. We're all seeing each other in this. court situation. With all of us being. there together, and now we're out of. side of family court, where DCF DCS DCFS. court. And this one moves fast cuz this. is brought about the children and. finding them a home.

At this moment now, also too, I'm with. my beautiful wife I'm with now, right? Mhm. And me changing my life around and me. saying, "Okay, I'm going to be selling. them and live my life, you know what I. mean?" And changing my life around. I met my beautiful wife. And in this process. we have been. going to church and you know, letting. the Lord lead and guide us. Right? We. get there and we're in court right now. and shout out to my wife cuz that's my. best friend. And she prayed me through.

all this process, right? When I met her. and prayed me through this. We get there. and we go, they ask us, "Hey, we can't. give them to her family. Would you all take all the kids?" Now, we live in a one-bedroom apartment at. this point. And it's two kids that are mine and two. that ain't. And. kids total? Four kids total. And two kids that of. someone. with the whole situation and my ex-wife. all these different things. Oh, my. ex-wife was living. Like, what? And I'm. like, "Yo, let me I will take them.". And I said we'll take them because my.

kids did not want to be separated from. their siblings. So, you took your two biological kids. Mhm. and the two kids that was conceived. Uh-huh. were like was one of the kids conceived. while you were there? Yes. Yes. Yeah. So, now it's turmoil. Cuz now the. entire family is tripping. They're like, "Oh, no, you can't take the kids. You. don't You know, they're not going to. allow that to happen." His side of, you. know, her guy. his side of family like, "Yes. Because we know and his thing was.

I know who I what qualms we got. But I know what I did to you. And she's going to do the same thing to. me. Mhm. And I'm not going to be able to see my. kids. So, you take them. And And I know that. if I take you, take them, I won't be. able to see them. And in this process. I'm think I mean, you got to think about. No, I ain't happy where your mind was. No, I ain't happy where your mind was. No, NO, NO. NO, NO, I'M JUST SAYING YOU WHERE MY. mind was where my mind was in that. process, bro. Like, where where I was in. in a different place, though. I'm in a different see, and that's the.

thing. I'm in a different place. I've. been working on on my spirit, working on. forgiveness, and working on all these. different things. And I had And so, within this process, what ended up. happening is that her parents uh fought. They were like, "No, no, no, no. That. that can't because she now she just live. it." And I would know everything. of what has been going on with. everything. So, they ended up saying, "Okay, if all. of y'all do therapy, all of y'all together, then you could. take all four." Then that process they.

ended up letting the grandparents take. them. Because. all the kids had been through this. entire process taught what to say. throughout this, you know, so they would. get in court and be told what to say. Now, this is a a real thing that a lot. of men go through, and I want to shed. light on this because it's a really deep. thing that they go through where that. you have a parent that is telling the. kids what to say and coaching them. within court. And the kid doesn't know that that's. what they're going to do. It's like, "You say this, you say this." My.

girlfriend was like, "They've been. coached this entire time. So, all the. times where you couldn't see them, and. they saying they don't want to see their. daddy, and all these different things. that's going on, she was coaching them, you know, throughout this process." And. that was a hard thing, you know, as far. as alienating and coaching and not. understanding. And now I'm here where. I'm they're back in my life, and I'm. like, "I'm not going to I don't want to. let them go within this like, you know. what I mean?" And And now I'm here and. now. So, do you have all four now, or you. just have your two? No, now the parents have the other two. Okay. And we're starting the process of now.

visitation, right? And this was court-ordered visitation. Okay. I didn't have to be court-ordered. visitation cuz I had not been through. anything as far as like uh criminal or. anything in this process. Mhm. But because the kids were coached, they. were like, "Well, we don't feel. comfortable." And they were like, "Well, now let's have this be a situation where. you get to know your dad." So, now I'm. like, "Okay, I'll do whatever you guys. want. They're back in my life." And I. went through this process of having to. sit down with my kids just like once an. hour with court order that I wasn't.

supposed to even have, but now I'm just. going along with it. So, I'm just like, okay, I'll go along with it. I'll go. along with this process. But then that was an opportunity cuz I. talked to my pastor. Shout out to Pastor. Ziegler. He was like, you show up. and be you. And just let the kids know and be. unapologetically you and show them that. love. And I'm thinking. that when I do this. you know, you think as a father it's. going to be just yeah, rah, rah, rah. No, no. It was a we don't We don't know. you. Yeah, we don't know you. Yeah, you. know what I mean? We don't know you like.

that. We don't want to be You know what. I'm saying? And it was a real thing. where it was like, okay, well, let me. show you this love. Let me tell you what. I went through. Let me tell you how I've. been fighting for you all these years, fighting in and out of court, how we. were in and out of all these different. things. And they started to understand, but at the same time they're still. within the process of what has already. been happening and the things that they. have already seen that was toxic within. within the relationship of being with. the relationship that their mom had. Right. And what was going on. And so, this was. years of you know, us getting to know.

each other and and getting to know each. other. And it became a process where. she stopped bringing them to therapy. sessions. Uh after we went from that, then she stopped bringing them to. therapy sessions because it was too much. where that she didn't want them to. reveal everything that was going on. personally. Then it became a thing where. um I started paying and I was like, they're not coming up to visitation. They're not showing up. And I'm telling everybody that they're. not showing up. We had to go back to court. Right now we're back in court cuz she's.

not bringing the kids. And then there she went to jail. uh because of a criminal case that she. had. And when she went to jail, I was only. speaking to the grandparents. And then. now the kids were. uh. it was like one of the best times. You. know what I mean? Because it was a. process of like now we can talk to each. other. You know what I mean? And they. couldn't get coached. And they couldn't. get coached so we could talk to each. other every time, and it was a a really. beautiful situation. Um her guy friend ended up going to jail. as well. And he's still there now. He went up.

going to jail. Uh she gets out after we're going. through all this process, but now. um. we have this relationship with my. children, but they're starting to get to. understand their dad. They're starting. to know their dad. And I even did. another follow-up video where I told. people like, "Yo, this is what was going. on." And not telling every aspect like I. am now, but that I'm in my kids' life. and this is what's happening. Um and then that's when. she got she got angry. She was very. upset, you know, about uh the.

relationship that me and my kids were. having. Um and then that's when she. started to spew like all these all these. all these different things. You know. what I mean? All these different things. And. um you know, this we would be sitting. here for a while if I told you every. process of my children uh getting to. know their dad, but you got to imagine. um it's a thing where. I remember my daughter had told me she. said. um I was taught to know that when people.

are nice to you that they want something. from you. You know what I mean? Mhm. And so you being. so nice within this process, couldn't. trust that. And what they were going through. personally where they were. uh was toxic and the things that they. were going through. And she had to. relearn everything, you know? And uh. recently, cuz you know, we have a great. relationship, you know, uh me and my. oldest daughter and my son as well. And.

uh we actually talked about this. recently because you know, when she went. on a video as well, too. Um we've been talking as well about. um. just letting people know that we have a. great relationship now. And the thing. about it is because um. she was going through her own process of. life and telling me what was going on. and the thing about it is is that now we. were seeing each other. consistently, right? And it became a. thing where she was going through. something personally within her own.

life. Uh with a relationship that went sour. that she was having cuz she was an. adult, you know, as well. And she's an. adult and and then everything that her. mom had told her. I think she's starting to discover. through her mom, um everything that I. have told her. And she actually just wanted to trauma. dump at that moment. And she had already. been doing that online. This one just. happened to go viral. And she realized where in the process of. it all what she was personally going.

through. Um. she was hurt, you know, with what she. was going through and she just wanted. answers. And she didn't understand that. the process that I was going through and. everything I was trying to tell her. And she understood that there was a. consistency. with the things that I had been saying. and the inconsistency with what her mom. was saying and her family on that side. was saying. And she reached out to me. and wanted to apologize for the vid. When the video came out, um as a father.

I was uh like you said, hurt. But then at the same time, there's this. love for my daughter. When I started. seeing all the comments and the things. that she was going through because I've. dealt with the, you know, all of that. with her mom already. But I just the her being people coming. at her that way, um she needed to be. prayed through that and what was going. on. And she went and got therapy and all. these different things through the. process of things that she was going. through. And cuz that was 2 years ago. And she reached out to me and apologized.

and I also told her, I was like, "Look, I was putting up um. boundaries. Well, well, I was being. guarded. Because I was guarded because. of everything that I was going through. with her mom. I was guarded. You know what I mean? And. she was also guarded. because how can I trust with all the. things that's been going on cuz I can't. trust anybody. Right. But it's poor, but I tell you her people. her people, but healed people healed. people. Yes. And the thing about it is when you're. healed and when you show that what's in.

your heart, that Christ is in your heart. and that love, the breakthroughs that has happened with. that, I mean, and I'm so proud of her. All the things that she's doing now and. her finding herself and finding her. voice. She got a podcast. She's doing. her own thing. She's doing amazing. things. Has amazing job. My son has an. amazing job. And I love all my kids, all four of. them. You know, you know what I mean? Lyric and Alora, my oldest children, and. Wisdom and Honor, my two youngest ones.

I love all four of them together. These. are my babies. And so, the thing about it is fathers, I mean, whoever's listening right now, I just. want to let them know to keep fighting. A lot of times that men that would see. or hear or see the things that I've gone. through. And people that don't know my. story cuz you know how Instagram is. And these videos, you know, they might. cuz the stuff that you talked about, you're talking about a span over 30. years. You know what I mean? The things that. were that were ups and downs of life in. my journey. I would never change any. part of it because of the fact that it.

made me the man that I am today. And I know that the men that I've helped. the men that I know that go through this. personally. Yes. They're men that have killed themselves. over this, that have not seen their. children because being alienated, because of dealing with the uh the the. the the things with their ex. Women have. been going through this, too. I've been. in court and seen men break down. I've. broken down in court. I've been uh. through all of that. Losing money, not. having money, doing all these things for.

the fight. And then to have your kids go. I don't care anyway. You know what I. mean? Through that process, but to know. like to keep fighting to keep going like. no, I love you. And let's really talk. and have some real conversations. And. let's really talk about what's really. going on. When you get to the other side of that, it's such a blessing, man. It's so. strong. Like nothing can. um. can come between that. Because now the. relationship that I have with my two. oldest children,

uh is so beautiful. Because now they're. starting to understand and this is deep. when they go, "Man, dad, the stories you. used to tell me. when we were you were going through this. process.". Right. And now me being an adult at the age. that you are when I'm in the age that. when you had us. going through it that they see at that. Yeah, and they're like I couldn't even. imagine me dealing with all those things. just with the stuff that I've been. dealing with to you still be and say and. even with mom doing the things she did. for you to say, "No, I'm going to I'm.

going to not I'm not going. I'm not going to respond with anger in. the same way.". Mhm. Because I knew that their mom was also. going through a lot through her own. family and the hurt that she had been. through and she needs a healing through. all what she needs to do. So, praying. her through and still praying for her as. well. Um and even through the process. and when people that really saw this and. see my journey and understand, it was beautiful to see the comments of. people saying, "Kel, keep praying.". Right. I'm going to get you out of here on this.

one. You went through. uh you have some back issues, had some. numbness in your down your leg, you. couldn't swallow. How is your health. currently? My health is great, man. My health is. great. I think um when you work out. Yeah, you know what I mean? You work. out. Uh that was just a situation where uh my. workout journey has been a been a. journey. You know what I mean? And so, uh I'm very um big on uh lifestyle. Me. and my wife are big on taking care of. our bodies and. Right. Um when that happened, it was a a.

pinched vertebrae, and I had stroke-like. symptoms. Uh Uh even later I found out. that they were like, "Yeah, this could. have been a stroke, just the way that. you were." But when you think about some. of the things that I was going through. stress-wise and work and all those. different things like that, it was like, "Yo, Kell, you need to take care of your. body even more." So now how I how I. drink, how I eat, you know what I mean? I you know, all those different things. Like I said, like, "Give me that tea.". Right. You know what I mean? You know, and I. just really took care of my body. Uh me.

and you know, me and my wife are really. big on that. Me and Asia are big on like. taking care of ourselves and our kids, uh knowing that health is wealth and. being healthy and uh being able to do. that. So it's been awesome, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thanks Kell so much for sharing your. personal story, the ups and downs, the. ins, the outs. Congratulations on. everything you've accomplished and much. more to come in your life. And thank. you, Tye Tribbett, to close it out for. us singing his song anyhow.

I know times get hard sometimes, y'all. I wrote this song during the pandemic. Hopefully it'll encourage you. It'll. encourage you. It's called Hallelujah. Anyhow. Yeah. I know you have good plans for me, plans. to prosper, plans to succeed. You know. the thoughts you think.

and I'm so grateful you love me. I know. that when you look at me, you see your child. You see my. need. I know. that you will never leave. I trust you, Father. I believe. Hey. Your promises. are yes.

No matter what you face in life, y'all. Keep your posture the same. Hallelujah anyhow. Even though. we're fighting in this deadly war, Satan. tries to conquer our soul through pain, through stress, through fear, through. the battle rages on and on.

But we know that. One more time, we know that. and Jehovah. Your promises. are yes and amen. I believe. you will do just what you say.

My trust in you will not waver. The victory is guaranteed cuz you remain. the. Hallelujah. until my night turns to day. What you want to say? Hallelujah. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. No matter what.

comes my way. Hallelujah. Until my night turns to day. Hallelujah. Hit keeps coming after hit. Got me. thinking maybe this is it. Got this war. going on in my mind trying to make me. think my faith is counterfeit. Why? No.

Certain days it feel like my faith is. running low. But it's a mustard seed so I must. believe in what I sow. Sowing tears, what you water will grow. Never fear, it's all under control. The. storm is here but I'm sleeping on the. boat. Yeah. Everything I went through, I knew I. would be blessed. You trying to pull me down but I see the. mark SO I PRESS. CHRIST BROUGHT ME OUT SO MANY TIMES, why.

stress? So I'mma sing hallelujah anyhow through. the tears. Hallelujah. anyhow. Hallelujah. anyhow. Hallelujah. anyhow. Hallelujah. anyhow. God bless y'all.

Never let your troubles get you down. Just sing hallelujah. anyhow. anyhow. Yeah. YEAH. YEAH. ALL MY LIFE, I'VE BEEN GRINDING ALL MY. LIFE. SACRIFICE, HUSTLE, pay the price. Want a slice, got to roll the dice,

that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life. Look. All my life, I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, pay the price. Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life.