Keke Palmer (2:02)

Oh, my gosh. I'm glad you able to come down here and hang with me.

Taye Diggs (2:05)

Thank you, baby.

Keke Palmer (2:06)

This is Icy Palma. Yeah. This episode is presented in partnership with Airbnb. Baby, summer's calling. And she's got one thing on her mind. Your next getaway. My take. Plan your trip by searching guest favorites on Airbnb, because these most loved homes are ready for your next adventure. Let's get into it. I mean, you're all over TikTok. I mean, you're here with me. I mean, it's so funny because I was hearing an interview where you said you actually are an introvert, which is so interesting because.

Taye Diggs (2:42)

But that's why I mess with that. Cause it's just me and the phone and I can do it in my car. You know what I mean? I can just express. But sometimes, I mean, you don't have those moments when anxiety comes and all of a sudden, like, I was nervous for this. You know what I mean? When I think about it. Yeah. I mean, you're like, you're one of those people where, you know, I'm older. Cause I can have a 30 year old son. And I saw you in Akilah and the Bee.

Keke Palmer (3:09)

Yes.

Taye Diggs (3:10)

And you were like talented then. And then you just came and then you were like everywhere. Oh, and you have such an amazing personality and energy.

Keke Palmer (3:21)

Tay, you want to talk? You want to talk?

Taye Diggs (3:23)

No, no, no. But I'm not like you, though. Like, you come with, you know, batteries included, you know what I'm saying? And I'm like, what is her life like? Every time we see you, you're like just a bright light. And I just, you know, it's great to see.

Keke Palmer (3:40)

I really receive that well. You know, you got that Capricorn, Virgo energy going on. And I really do live for your social media personality. I mean, when you started out and when I started out, social media and content creation, it wasn't a thing. It didn't exist. It was just traditional and that's it. So how do you feel that has kind of impacted the way that you approach performance?

Taye Diggs (4:00)

Ooh.

Keke Palmer (4:01)

Cause we get to see this side of you that we didn't always get to see.

Taye Diggs (4:04)

I look at it and I'm still not quite, you know. Cause I'm older. I still don't quite understand it. And it's one of those ways the industry is changing that I don't understand. Like, I came up. I came up in a. When the business was like, you know, if you're talented, you show your talent, people will appreciate it. They'll go see your movies. And if they go to see your movies, someone will put you in another movie. Then all of a sudden people were like, you gotta have followers. And I was like, are followers fans? And I got fans. No, no, no. You gotta be on Instagram and da, da, da, da. And I was like, oh, wait, but these people, they're not actors and they have all these followers. Why are they in the Same category. And it didn't make sense to me, but it didn't matter. They were still hiring. So I was like, oh, I guess the game is changing and I gotta change with it. So how can I keep up with it and still kind of be true to myself? So for me, what made it work was it was like a way of. It's therapeutic.

Keke Palmer (5:04)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (5:04)

Whatever I'm feeling, I can get on the phone and like, perform, do it, and then see how people react. And luckily, so, you know, a certain amount of people dug it, so. So it worked for me.

Keke Palmer (5:15)

So do you feel like that was just the changing of the times or also the changing of your life? Cause you went from being married, I think you were married to Adina for 10 years and then divorced. I mean, that does our work and our art always changes, you know. So how did that impact kind of.

Taye Diggs (5:29)

The way you approached art? You're exactly right. Yeah. And then having a kid. Yeah. Being divorced, all of that in a good way started to kind of break me down and then allow me to grow in a different way. So.

Keke Palmer (5:44)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (5:44)

What's the opposite of being. I said I'm very extroverted. Extrovert. That.

Keke Palmer (5:49)

Yeah. It kind of pushed you.

Taye Diggs (5:50)

Yes, I had stuff to say. Yes, yes, I had stuff to say. I was feeling a very, very, you know, working on yourself spiritually, kind of.

Keke Palmer (5:58)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (5:58)

Kind of like chops you down and makes you more sensitive. So I was very, very much more, you know, reactionary, reactive. So it helped. It lent itself to social media and having little outbursts and singing how I feel and acting out this little skit and whatnot. So.

Keke Palmer (6:14)

Well, speaking of your son, he's 15. Yes. Does he have any interest in acting? Would you be happy or not, you know, happy if he wanted to be in entertainment?

Taye Diggs (6:25)

It's, you know, it's a corny answer of whatever makes him happy. He's so, you know, staunchly against it. Just because his mother and I do it.

Keke Palmer (6:33)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (6:34)

It's the last thing that he wants to do. But he cracks me up. He does, like, spot on imitations and.

Keke Palmer (6:41)

Oh, my God.

Taye Diggs (6:42)

And, you know, he does all the little TikTok. He teaches me the TikTok dances and. But he don't want to, like, perform. I'd be like, do this with me. Like, selfishly do that with me. And we could get however many father and son duo. I'm good. I'm good. But he teaches it to me. And basketball is his thing.

Keke Palmer (7:02)

Basketball.

Taye Diggs (7:02)

He's a little Hooper.

Keke Palmer (7:03)

It's So interesting when you talk about your son being funny. And then also you're so funny. And I feel like we've seen your humor in your work, but I feel like we've gotten to see it more. Was it just in those early days, were you focused on dramas and romances, or was that just really what was coming to you?

Taye Diggs (7:17)

I don't know. You know, as actors, you know, we think we can do everything. So I would get so annoyed, like when a casting director would be like, you know, I go in to read for something and they'd be like, oh, my goodness, you're really funny. And I'm like, didn't you see, Like, I'm funny and the best man. I'm fine. Like, I could name. But that's me.

Keke Palmer (7:39)

My divorce.

Taye Diggs (7:41)

I'm the same dude that did that. So how you saying, why am I funny? When do you just. But literally, I have no idea.

Keke Palmer (7:49)

Yeah, it just kind of is what happens.

Taye Diggs (7:51)

That's my favorite thing to do. I love to dance and I love to be a fool. So, you know, I don't know. I don't know why people don't.

Keke Palmer (7:59)

Yeah. One of my favorite lines. Another one of my favorite lines of yours is the Wood. And only people that watch the wood as many times as I did will catch it. I'm a maker, Booty jiggle, dude. Like, why would you. Why would you do it? It's so good. There's so many quotables.

Taye Diggs (8:15)

Like, I'm telling you, man, it makes me happy.

Keke Palmer (8:17)

For me, growing up, the Wood, hands down, was my all time to this day, favorite movie. And you walked. You were through. I don't think people understand to be funny, to be grounded, and to play drunk for half of the whole movie. Your character was drunk. Roland was drunk the whole movie. That was so. And we saw you become sober. I have to ask you about that because that movie was so iconic to me. And it was the first time I felt like I saw my family, like my uncle.

Taye Diggs (8:46)

Oh, for real.

Keke Palmer (8:47)

You know what I'm saying? Like, where it wasn't about we in.

Taye Diggs (8:50)

The hood, it was like, yeah, there's.

Keke Palmer (8:52)

Troubles in life, but this is brotherhood and family and friends.

Taye Diggs (8:55)

I miss those days. Cause those were the days when those were one of the. That was one of the first movies that portrayed us like that.

Keke Palmer (9:02)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (9:03)

This man was one of the first movies that portrayed, you know, different kinds of. Of blackness. Exactly. So I miss those days.

Keke Palmer (9:12)

Me too. Me too. That work is the foundation of what I love about arts. But let's Go back to the beginning for you. Cause you grew up in. You're the oldest of five siblings.

Taye Diggs (9:21)

Yes.

Keke Palmer (9:21)

You grew up in Rochester, New York. How did you get involved with acting? Were you always, you know, was your family doing stuff?

Taye Diggs (9:28)

My mother. My mother. So my mother. I'm the oldest of five. My mother raised us all to a certain age. And then she went back to school for theater.

Keke Palmer (9:38)

Oh, fabulous.

Taye Diggs (9:39)

And dance. So we would go to her rehearsals, you know, and she would do community theater. And I remember going, oh, for real?

Keke Palmer (9:50)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (9:50)

Oh, okay.

Keke Palmer (9:51)

They DM my daddy.

Taye Diggs (9:52)

That makes sense. I'd go to her rehearsals and see all these pretty girls and then, you know, watch her go on stage and watching her transform from mommy to. To, you know, she was Charlotte and Charlotte's Web and, you know, in Godspell. And I was amazed at watching the transformation. So that kind of ran over me, rushed over me. And then before I really became exposed to the arts personally, I was very, kind of nerdy, insecure, you know, way, way more introverted than I say I am now.

Keke Palmer (10:25)

Wow.

Taye Diggs (10:25)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I thought I liked sports, but I was always too small. And my mother had the foresight, I think it was 10th grade, to enroll me in a school for the arts. And I had just enough talent to make it in. And then once I entered that school and was accepted just because I had a modicum of talent, the whole world changed. Everybody. You know, it wasn't like I was popular, but I got attention. And I was in the play and in the musical and took all these classes. And then that boosted my. My confidence level. And then once I was like, oh, okay, I got people's attention. I'm gonna stick with this. And then I studied and just took it all. Took it all the way. Wow. Yeah.

Keke Palmer (11:08)

What do you remember that? If you remember the play or the moment you were first on stage, what do you remember that you felt, especially when you're saying you're an introvert? Like, you know, what was that like? Was it a rush for you?

Taye Diggs (11:19)

Oh, just that applause.

Keke Palmer (11:20)

That instant gratification.

Taye Diggs (11:22)

Yeah, yeah. Like I did something that not just my mom or my cousin or my aunt liked, but all of y' all are clapping for just me. Oh, okay. And then afterwards, you know, the little cute little girls like all that attention, I was like, oh, okay. I'mma ride this out.

Keke Palmer (11:40)

Yeah, I'm going to ride this out, baby. This is Ike Palma. Yeah. Summer is here. And you know what that means. It's time to live your best life. This couple's trip I took to Turks and Caicos a while back. Lives rent free in my mind. Okay, let me paint the picture. I stayed in this gorgeous Airbnb right on the beach, waking up to the sound of waves and stepping out onto the pristine white sand. That memory is still giving me summertime magic. Now, whether you're for a beachfront paradise like I had a cozy cabin in the woods or a chic city apartment, Airbnb's got amazing homes waiting for you. We're talking better locations, more privacy, and the kind of space that'll have you feeling like the star of your own summer blockbuster. So don't let the summer slip away. Book your Airbnb now and get ready to live that main character life. Trust me, you're gonna have a time.

Taye Diggs (12:34)

Baby.

Keke Palmer (12:36)

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Taye Diggs (14:33)

Okay, you did your research.

Keke Palmer (14:34)

You know, we gotta do Baby, let's keep hormone. We gotta be correct. But your first big role and when I really understood the origination of your role in rent, 1996, I mean, that is like, that's so profoundly iconic. Did you realize that that would be the impact of that project? I mean, I guess you can't imagine, but I mean, Rent is one of the most popular pieces of art we have.

Taye Diggs (15:00)

It was a trip. And this is funny that you say that because now in hindsight, I'm realizing. Cause you know, when you talk about the wood and when people talk about the best man, I was so focused on, like, getting somewhere that I never really took the time to appreciate where I was. Even when. Cause Rent was just another job for me. You know what I mean? I remember I told my agents, I don't want to do any more auditions for musicals. I want to go for film and tv. Because I keep getting told, you know, you have a lot of musicals on your resume. I have one.

Keke Palmer (15:35)

Rick Famua told me that he was like, when he met with Jakob Award, he was like, this is a big theater actor.

Taye Diggs (15:40)

Exactly. And I was so tired of hearing that. So I told the people, you know, when they sent me out for Rent, I like, I skipped the audition like two times. And then my agent was like, just go. Just go get in front of him and just see what happens. And then once I got the call back as an actor, then I was like, okay, well, no, I gotta get this job. And that was the thing that, you know, catapulted me to. I got a soap opera. Then after that soap opera, Stella got a groove back. Yep. And Angela Bassett went and came to see Rent and she wasn't impressed.

Keke Palmer (16:11)

Wait a minute.

Taye Diggs (16:12)

She wasn't impressed, but she saw the soap opera and I was playing this character on Guiding Light called Sugar Hill.

Keke Palmer (16:19)

Come on.

Taye Diggs (16:20)

I love it.

Keke Palmer (16:20)

My Sugar Hill child.

Taye Diggs (16:22)

And she saw a little bit of sexiness in Sugar Hill. And then she was like, okay, Brendan.

Keke Palmer (16:26)

Now we gotta go back to her not being impressed with Rent. How did you know? Did the producers tell you this? Or how did you know she wasn't filming?

Taye Diggs (16:31)

Yeah, no, my Agent. Cause, you know, Rent was. It was that show where everybody was like, okay, well, come see these kids in Rent.

Keke Palmer (16:39)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (16:39)

And they were like, okay, well, we have this young man who's auditioning. How can I see him? Okay, come see the show. Rent. And I had the smallest role in Rent of the main character.

Keke Palmer (16:49)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (16:49)

So I was like, okay, this isn't gonna be. I'm not gonna get any jump off from this. I'll just ride it out as hard as I can, and then the next thing, that'll be my jump off. And luckily, that's what it was. Angela Bassett.

Keke Palmer (17:02)

Oh, my gosh.

Taye Diggs (17:03)

And now Stella got her groove.

Keke Palmer (17:04)

I mean, I've went through many situations like that myself. I mean, with Barbershop, too, trying to get my chance with Ice Cube. I remember my mom sent in so many random tapes. This is something that's so big with acting. You get that feedback, and you just keep on pushing. So when you got on set and you were with Angela Bass, and this is obviously after Willis Love got to do with it. She had already done all that, had all that great success. Whoopi Goldberg, what were you. What was your experience now, jumping into that film. That film side, you were trying to.

Taye Diggs (17:30)

Once again, I was like, okay, well, what's next? What's next? Cause at the time, it was. I was like, okay, I wanna be the next Will Smith. Cause I was looking in, who could be.

Keke Palmer (17:41)

What is the representation?

Taye Diggs (17:43)

You know what I mean? I was like, I want that. Cause he has just. He's just black enough where he can be black, but just, you know, but enough. But not threatening to the white people. He could cross over. And I was like, you know, if I smile a certain way, all the white people like that, and I'm dark. So I was like, I had it all, you know, Capricorn.

Keke Palmer (18:00)

Come on.

Taye Diggs (18:01)

Come on. Capricorn. I was like, and there's a way you want it, and then there's a way the universe sets it up.

Keke Palmer (18:07)

Yes.

Taye Diggs (18:07)

But for a while, you know, I really wasn't really enjoying where I was. I was like, okay, we got this. I was expecting to get how Stella got. I was expecting it, like, it came too late for me. I was the last one. I was in Rent, you know, Adina, she had got a record deal. Jesse Martin had got a TV show. I was the last one to hit. So I was like, damn, y' all.

Keke Palmer (18:29)

I'm like.

Taye Diggs (18:30)

In my head, I was like, I'm talented. More talented than all y' all. And I'm the. What's going on. And then finally I got Hausilla got her groove back, and I was like, okay, now we at the party. Let's go.

Keke Palmer (18:40)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (18:40)

And then, you know, then the black movie started coming in.

Keke Palmer (18:42)

So let's talk about that renaissance. Cause, I mean, that we don't have.

Taye Diggs (18:46)

No.

Keke Palmer (18:47)

Even if I'm trying to put together what the black LED Rom com crew could be, I don't even know what it could be right now. That's no shade, no tea. I just don't know. I mean, we had an ensemble. It was like, we know it's gonna be Tay. We know Sonia gonna Nehemite popping Morse going to be there. Like, you know, I mean, we got the wood, we got brown sugar, we got the best man. I mean, oh, my goodness. Again, I know you was working, working, working, but did you know those were special? Did you know that it was a renaissance happening? When you talk about Rick Famua, we talk about Malcolm D. Lee. You know what I mean? And what's my dude that did Soul Food, he was great, too. You know what I'm saying?

Taye Diggs (19:23)

I want to redo that, too. Yeah. We were so hung. I can only speak for myself. I was so hungry for it that, you know, we didn't know if it would stick around. We were just like, oh, let me be a part of this project. Cause it's one of the first ones of its time.

Keke Palmer (19:37)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (19:37)

So. But we didn't think it would be, you know, a movement. You know what I mean? And even when it was, we were like, oh, well, maybe this is just how it's gonna be. You know what I mean? But then, you know, when you're around long enough, it would ebb and flow.

Keke Palmer (19:51)

Yeah. You know what I mean?

Taye Diggs (19:52)

They would come, and then they would just not come at all. And then Tyler Perry came on the. You know, then it was. People only want to mess with Tyler Perry. So, you know, we were just.

Keke Palmer (20:01)

The business aspect of our industry is so important. I'm curious of what you did in those lulls, because, honestly, we don't. I mean, there's also people that decide to do production companies and try to get their producers to produce their own projects or TV or whatever. But sometimes it's like, you know, so what were you doing in those times in between those projects?

Taye Diggs (20:17)

Tv.

Keke Palmer (20:18)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (20:18)

Yeah. That was private paycheck, that paycheck, you know? Cause it was like, what you get paid during black movies at that time? Cause they weren't paying us anywhere near what we should have been paid when you compare us to. And I know people hate when people.

Keke Palmer (20:32)

Do that when you say that, but.

Taye Diggs (20:33)

Yeah, but it was so true. But that TV money, Boom.

Keke Palmer (20:37)

Yeah. It's our version of like a nine to five. It's our coming in and having a corporate gig of just boom. I know I can depend on this check.

Taye Diggs (20:43)

Yep. And you could be more in control.

Keke Palmer (20:46)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (20:47)

You know what I mean? You could really sink into a character, you know, go to the job every day, you know, all the cast members. And you have a repertoire with the writers. That's right, Producers. And so it was less stressful, it was less mercurial than film. So I saw that, and that's one of the first changes where I was like, oh, I wanted to be Will Smith, but this feels good right here.

Keke Palmer (21:08)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (21:09)

I don't have to worry about the callback after callback and the comfort and security of the TV job and being able to go to the writers and say, why don't. Having input, all of that. I couldn't go to a. You know. Well, in the black movies you could, but I didn't know if I had gotten, like, you know, the white movies that I was a part of, I would never have thought to go to the director and be like, well, what if my character were a saddleback? You know what I mean? I would never. But with tv, you have more of that power. So that was.

Keke Palmer (21:41)

I love hearing you talk about that. Cause I feel like people really gotta know that more that it's like, it's just about doing the thing, you know, we can have an idea of what we think it should be or how we think we should look. But it's like, I love acting. I'm gonna do it wherever I can do it at. Whether that's on a stage, on. On a movie set, that's where I'm gonna do it. We've always loved seeing you and Sanad together. The chemistry is incredible. Now, as I've gotten older and started getting into possible romantic dynamics, it is hard to have chemistry with somebody. I get so spooked and shy. I'm not shy about much, but whenever it gets to the intimacy or we're in love. So, I mean, what do you think made it easy for you guys to have such an amazing dynamic together on screen?

Taye Diggs (22:21)

Oh, man, I've been really lucky, you know, Shanah's just. I mean, I didn't have to really act, you know what I mean? Like, she's just so cool, you know what I mean? Now I'm trying to Figure out a way to say this with Angela Bassett. She was sweet.

Keke Palmer (22:40)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (22:40)

But she was Angela Bassett. I was a beginner. It was my first film, so I had to act because I didn't feel comfortable around her. She made me feel as comfortable as possible. Yeah, but she was Angela Bassett. Yeah. Like, I was. I had to. You know, you're acting and you're like, oh, my God, Angela. Like, I'm supposed to be here. But you are Angela Bassett and I'm supposed to be in love with you. And you know what I mean? Like, what is. So I had. So I was acting.

Keke Palmer (23:07)

Yeah, yeah.

Taye Diggs (23:09)

With Sanaa and Regina. And like, that. I was. I could just. That was a testament to them. We just were all so cool with each other. It was such a great time.

Keke Palmer (23:19)

Oh, my goodness.

Taye Diggs (23:19)

So much fun. It was just real easy.

Keke Palmer (23:22)

Yes. I mean, Sani said, what do you think it was, in essence, 2022, that the iconic. My divorce line from Brown Sugar. You improv. I mean, I feel like you probably improv so much. Again, I'm talking about the wood. Anything. I mean, was that always a thing? Would they say, hey, do it, or would you just do it yourself?

Taye Diggs (23:40)

Yeah, but those directors were Malcolm Lee, Rick. They were awesome. Were. And I was, you know, new to the game, but had come from theater. So this was what I thought it was always like. Cause in theater background. Yeah, yeah. It really prepares you. So they just allowed me that. That freedom in that space and I ate it up. It was. It was. It was. Yeah. Like, I wish I could have just appreciated it more then. You know what I mean? Cause I look back now and. And those are some really good times.

Keke Palmer (24:12)

Isn't that how life is, though?

Taye Diggs (24:13)

Yeah.

Keke Palmer (24:14)

For whatever reason, I don't know why it's that way, but it's always a little, you know, hindsight.

Taye Diggs (24:18)

20 20, as they say. I guess that's how it's supposed to be. But there was only a way. I'm trying to do it now, you know what I mean? But I won't lie. It's not as cool as it was back then. You know what I mean?

Keke Palmer (24:28)

Well, that's what messed us up last time. So maybe we gotta think it's hella cool right now.

Taye Diggs (24:31)

Right? Right, exactly.

Keke Palmer (24:34)

Well, give me a little behind the scenes tea if you have any, on brown sugar. Because, I mean, this was a movie about black love and. And as I get older, I really appreciate this so much now, seeing where hip hop has grown and how it has changed and been affected by its popularity from being taken from being this niche thing. And it's like a. It was a parallel of our culture as black people. The hijacking of and the hijacking of hip hop at the same time. And so I'm curious at that time when you were working on that, was that something that Rick talked about or was that just you guys were trying to process what was happening in real time?

Taye Diggs (25:08)

The, the. All of it. Yeah, all of it. I remember talking to Most Def, you know, and I never was a hip hop head. I just like whatever kind of, whatever kind of music I could bop my head to is the music music that I would listen to. And I would listen to Most Def. And he was named. He was, you know, a rattling off names like Kanye west and you know, all these producers. And I didn't know who they were, but the way he was talking about them, I was like, oh, this is like, this isn't just music to bop your head to. This dude studies. And he was explaining, you know, how the rap battles. And I remember being on set when I remember this specifically, Rick Famuyiwa thought that it was not cool. He had written in the script, you know, a rapper that used another rapper. What are they called? Ghostwriters.

Keke Palmer (25:56)

Yeah, that's right.

Taye Diggs (25:57)

He was like, oh, but wait, Ghost Riders aren't cool. And Mosef was like, no, no, no, no, no. Some people are like, they use em and it's not looked down upon. And Rick was like, cause it didn't make sense to him.

Keke Palmer (26:09)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (26:09)

He was like, you can be a real rapper. Mosef was like, you can be a real rapper. But then sometimes if you're going up against such and such or you're trying to get a, you know, could you do a song off?

Keke Palmer (26:18)

Yes.

Taye Diggs (26:19)

That is, you know, appealing to the people. You go over this next dude and be like, can you? And there's no shame in that.

Keke Palmer (26:24)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (26:25)

And then Rick was like. And I was like, oh, this is. That I know nothing about. So that's when I started to listen to hip hop differently. And so it was all, you know, I was like an actor.

Keke Palmer (26:38)

That's right. That's what I'm hearing when you say.

Taye Diggs (26:40)

I was an actor. And then everything else I learned, even black culture, you know what I mean? Because I grew up, I spoke properly. You know, my mother was a teacher and I was. I always got called white, always got called Oreo. And that was another great thing about the best man. And I was around other people that spoke like me and you know, but. But were confident. They weren't ashamed of, you know, who they were. I was like, oh, wow. Like, when it hurts to not speak. Oh, okay. But. But she could. She could code switch. Do you know what I mean? Now I was like, oh, so. All right, so let me listen to how. And I got a little. Oh, a little swag. And it's. It's cool because they're doing it, so. Oh, this feels. This feels. You know what I mean? All that. I was like, oh, I'm with other people like me. Then I could just, like, just relax. You know what I mean?

Keke Palmer (27:28)

I'm so happy hearing this because I think that's also why. And, you know, maybe you also have another add on to this, But I think that is why those movies resonated so much. Because whether I'm looking at the Wood, it's a friends. It's a movie about brotherhood, friendship, nuance within the black community, while also growing out of being a kid, where it's like, sometimes our friends aren't our number ones anymore and it's time to move on to love or the best man, where. Similar type of thing. But then also, we're seeing Harper's a writer and he's an author. I had never like those movies, you know what I'm saying? You was a marketing record label executive and Brown Sugar. I mean, obviously we saw some of that with Boomerang, you know, I mean, Eddie Murphy showed us what that could look like on screen. Were those things y' all were talking about at that time, or is that really just what the world was reflecting back at you? And it was kind of normal to play roles and people, black people in those spaces.

Taye Diggs (28:16)

I knew they existed, but that's why we were so excited to play them. But I had never seen as, like you said, Boomerang. And for me, that was it.

Keke Palmer (28:25)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (28:26)

So I was like, okay, I can't. I can't. I'm so fortunate to let me play this role.

Keke Palmer (28:31)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (28:31)

You know what I mean? Oh, this is for me. I could do this. You know what I mean? I can see myself in this role. So it was once again, it was an amazing time. Yeah.

Keke Palmer (28:42)

Without being biased, what would you say and how would you say that? It's missing in today's day. Meaning, you know, I can frankly say there's not a movie that I direct to say, this is the sister of the best man. This is the sister of Brown Sugar. This is the sister of the wood. Do you have any thoughts as an artist as to why that could be.

Taye Diggs (29:00)

You know, after this Social media thing. I stopped trying to figure it out. You know, before. There used to be a time when you could, you know, dissect it and it made sense. We are at a. At a space. It's also very exciting, but it's harrowing in that I don't think anybody really knows what's going on or why things are, you know, why things are successful, why things are failing. It's like. It's a weird, weird time where it's like the Wild west, you know, I don't. I don't know why. I know it has something to do with fear. You know, I think people are afraid to make movies like the Best Man. Maybe they don't think it's marketable. I don't know. Yeah, but once again, that doesn't make sense to me if this. Because those used to work.

Keke Palmer (29:45)

I will say there was a thing. You know, obviously those movies were successful in the box office, but they were also successful in dvd. So I don't know. You know, obviously DVD don't exist no more like when used to be going and getting movies and buying them and having them. So I don't know if that. If that. It's the impact of no longer having a tangible outside thing. Is it just about it going to streaming? Because I don't even see him on streaming.

Taye Diggs (30:05)

I know.

Keke Palmer (30:05)

You know, so I don't.

Taye Diggs (30:06)

I don't get it. I don't get it. I think it will reveal itself really soon.

Keke Palmer (30:11)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (30:12)

But what I am excited about is that people are more in control. You know what I mean? Like, I love the fact that you can be like, what? Excuse my. Ryan Coogler.

Keke Palmer (30:24)

Yeah, Ryan Coogler.

Taye Diggs (30:26)

Right?

Keke Palmer (30:26)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (30:26)

Coogler. Not Cooglin. You know, black folk. Ryan Coogan. Ryan Coogan. Kubler. He's so brilliant. Who that direct?

Keke Palmer (30:42)

Because my mom does that all the time.

Taye Diggs (30:44)

That's how I know I'm getting older.

Keke Palmer (30:46)

Who? What's his name?

Taye Diggs (30:48)

I said Joey's the other day. The restaurant. Joey's. It's Joey. You mean we meeting the Joeys tonight?

Keke Palmer (30:55)

Why do we always put an S on?

Taye Diggs (30:57)

I don't know.

Keke Palmer (30:58)

I don't know what that is with us anyway. Baby, this is Icky Palma. Yeah. Summer reading. More like summer listening. I've been living for Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life on audible. Okay? It's got everything. A mysterious eras, competing biographers, and that slow burn romance that makes you want to just throw your phone across the room. But don't. Because how else are you going to keep up listening. That would be crazy. And that's what I love about Audible. You can dive into these amazing stories while doing literally everything else. Working out, listen, meal prep, listen. Pretending to clean, but really just dancing with the vacuum baby listen. With over a million titles and thousands included with membership, Audible's got all the audiobook, podcasts and originals you could want. Your imagination deserves this. Head to audible.com for a free 30 day trial. And your first audiobook is on me. Visit audible.com k e k e and sign up today. There's more to imagine when you listen.

Taye Diggs (32:09)

One of the great things about these influencers. Someone can go on Instagram, sing and they get 50 million followers. And it doesn't matter what a record label said.

Keke Palmer (32:20)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (32:20)

Doesn't matter. If a. An agent, you can actually make yourself. You have control over your own destiny to a certain extent. So I love that part about it.

Keke Palmer (32:28)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You said something on an interview with Cocoa Butter that intrigued me. Where you sometimes didn't like to be asked about your old movies, but now you feel differently. I'm curious, when did you not like to be asked about them?

Taye Diggs (32:40)

When I was focused on the future.

Keke Palmer (32:43)

What do you mean by that?

Taye Diggs (32:44)

Meaning I was like, okay, I'm done with that. Either tell me something good about what I'm doing now or give me the next I don't wanna know about, you know, but that's now I know. This is how I know I've grown. Now I can accept it and I can really settle into it and feel and be proud.

Keke Palmer (33:03)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (33:04)

You know what I mean? You know, when you're younger, it's like, if they're talking about the old, then you must not be on the new. Cause they talk about the old. But now I'm old enough where I'm like, you know what? Like, good for me.

Keke Palmer (33:18)

Yeah. I have an incredible legacy. I'm iconic. I've shifted culture.

Taye Diggs (33:21)

It's when people started saying that where I was like, ew, ew. Oh, gee, I'll slap you. I'll give me your autograph, but don't call me that. And then I don't know if it was after I had a kid or I don't know, then I started really listening and being like, oh, wow. Oh. We weren't just working, we were setting up something that people, you know, were it not for you, we would not have. I started hearing that, you know, when you hear somebody say, oh, you know, I grew up on you. At first there was a cringe, but then when it's other talented actors.

Keke Palmer (34:00)

Oh, my gosh.

Taye Diggs (34:01)

You know, I remember I was at this club one time. I hope I'm not blowing the spot. And Idris Elba sat down and he was like, mate, mate, mate, mate. And it was like, you're this, you're that. And I was like, you is this. You're. Why are you telling me? And I had to, like, you know, take that in, you know. Cause you know what it's like being black in this business. You gotta, like, put on your helmet, put on your pads. I'm driving towards this. I got my blinders on. I can't let anybody else get in because I'm going on this path.

Keke Palmer (34:35)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (34:36)

You know what I mean? Racism. I can't. I gotta let all that bounce off me.

Keke Palmer (34:39)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (34:39)

And with that, you let the compliments bounce off you and your flowers. You don't let any of that in either. So.

Keke Palmer (34:46)

Because everything is.

Taye Diggs (34:46)

Once you took off that armor. Yes. You can't. Right. You can't let anything weaken you. But once you take that armor off, it makes you better as a performer because you're more vulnerable and you can react and you can just appreciate yourself and just really revel in what you've done and where you are in the moment.

Keke Palmer (35:05)

And people gotta hear that, too. Especially for us, because I think, as black people, while there is truth to, obviously, our white counterparts and how we're having to exist in any industry, when we lead with those comparisons and what we're up against on things that really, we can never, not really quite change in totality, we don't get to appreciate what we are achieving and what we are doing, which is success on a grand level, no matter what color or gender you are. Because it's like a lot of people not even touching their dreams, let alone thriving and expressing and living in them. So I constantly have to remind myself that. And constantly want to. You know, whenever I'm at the BET Awards or the NAACP Awards, like, guys, this is the.

Taye Diggs (35:44)

Yes.

Keke Palmer (35:44)

You know what I'm saying? All that other stuff is cool.

Taye Diggs (35:46)

It's great.

Keke Palmer (35:46)

I love it. But, guys, we. You can't. I can't go to somebody else's mama's house and expect her to love me the way my mama is.

Taye Diggs (35:54)

Exactly. That doesn't even make sense to be like that. We. People used to look at that like the lowest, which I hate.

Keke Palmer (36:00)

And we got a change in those.

Taye Diggs (36:00)

Changing those.

Keke Palmer (36:01)

Yes, yes. Now you've gone between, obviously, we talk about tv, film, theater, your Whole career. And that really wasn't common. I mean, you were speaking on it a little bit before, you know, just about how, you know, people bringing up the past and wanting to keep you in a particular lane. And obviously, you continuously, whether intentionally or unintentionally, broken that down. Even now with being a social influencer and even having that under your belt now, you always welcomed other spaces. How hard was it for you with your team and just in the direction of your career to make sure that you didn't get boxed in?

Taye Diggs (36:33)

That's a good question. Okay, so I'm gonna tell this in a quick manner of speaking, like letting things happen and being comfortable where you are.

Keke Palmer (36:44)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (36:45)

You know, so things were going really, really well for me. You know what I mean? I had this confidence. I was, you know, I felt propelled. Things were coming very easily to me. And that. That stays in line with, like, kind of manifesting and the law of attraction.

Keke Palmer (37:03)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (37:03)

Stuff. I just. I knew it was gonna happen. I didn't know why, but I was like, I'm gonna get to this point. And the moment I took my eye off the ball and looked at, like, what white people were doing, I remember I was on the Upper west side, and I looked at this Vanity Fair. On the COVID was Matt Damon. And I had been in, like, the same amount of movies as Matt Damon, but two of my movies had been number one. None of his had been number one yet. And I was like, I want that. I wanna be that. So it went from Will Smith to Matt Damon. So I went to my agents. Stop. I don't wanna mess with no more black movies. I only wanna be submitted for, like, the white. I don't wanna be the black dude in the white movie. And that's climbing the ladder. That's what you do. You know what I mean? You look at all of us. That's what happens. But I was like, I got off. I got. I was out of my bag. You know what I mean? And I was like. And my agents weren't honest enough to be like, wait, you're black? This is how you're on the right path for your. Just. They're like, I agree with you. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. You should be. No. They were like, no. Nobody told me. The business is still kind of ready. They ain't ready yet. They ain't ready. Like, right now, you're the black. You're the black flavor of the month. Just be cool and slowly. Then you'll be the black dude in the white movie state. Right at that Moment right when I was like, the black dude in the white movies. I was like, nope, put me in the room with the Matt Damons and the Ben Afflecks and the. And then every. I switched to every agency I went through, and then I was like, what is going on? And I was like, ooh, oh, okay. I wasn't. I wasn't. I didn't stay in my line. I didn't stay in my lane. And I was like, okay, let me just get back. And then I got a TV gig. And I was like, okay, let me go back to the original and just, like, feel where I am. Feel what feels good. Not try to be like nobody else.

Keke Palmer (39:08)

This is really, really important. And I think it's so important, again, for people of color to hear this, because the discrepancies are true. It's the same thing with gender discrepancies are there. That's not incorrect. But what do you say to the young people coming up to keep them inspired, excited, and to not feel that they're not being valued when this is the reality? Like, how do you. How do you realize and know and validate your own lane despite the circumstances?

Taye Diggs (39:36)

Just be in contact with what's happening right now. You know what I mean? Like, if I had just taken a minute to see where I was, I was having. I was really enjoying myself. Go with that. Go with what feels right, But I went with where I thought I should be, as opposed to really appreciating. I was having a ball where I was with the. I was CA at the top agency. Caa you know what I mean? Take a look at what's around you and then do the math. You know what I mean? Sometimes you need to just tread water for a little bit, you know what I mean?

Keke Palmer (40:08)

That's so true.

Taye Diggs (40:08)

It doesn't mean you have to completely forsake being ambitious, but sometimes if things are working, let them work.

Keke Palmer (40:15)

That's right.

Taye Diggs (40:15)

Let you know. What do they say? Trust the process. I wasn't trusting the process. The moment I stopped trusting the process, the process didn't trust me. You know what I mean?

Keke Palmer (40:28)

That's real, man. That's real. You've obviously had major success on TV as well. We talked about that. From Private Practice to Empire, all of the American. I just got to tell you. All American. I love seeing you on there. And I watched every season of that day.

Taye Diggs (40:40)

That was a sleeper.

Keke Palmer (40:40)

Boy, I.

Taye Diggs (40:41)

More people know me from that than everything combined.

Keke Palmer (40:44)

It's so good, that show. I mean, who doesn't love a teen soap So I had to shout that out, man.

Taye Diggs (40:50)

These young people. Hey, today at the basketball game.

Keke Palmer (40:52)

Hey, Coach Baker. Hey, Coach Baker.

Taye Diggs (40:55)

Can I get a picture with you, Coach Baker?

Keke Palmer (40:57)

It's so good. It's so good. And then you also returned to Broadway with, what was it? The Hedwig and the Angry Lich.

Taye Diggs (41:03)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Keke Palmer (41:04)

How was that?

Taye Diggs (41:05)

Crazy. Petrifying. The hardest thing I've ever had to do. But I'm going back. I'm going back next month to do Moulin Rouge. You gotta keep. Have you done Broadway yet?

Keke Palmer (41:16)

I did Cinderella, Rogers and Hammerstein and I loved it and I wanna go again. I want to do it again so bad like you said. So it's funny, my parents, they started out in theater and they taught me as a theater actor, but I just jumped into film and TV first.

Taye Diggs (41:29)

Well, you could. Yeah.

Keke Palmer (41:30)

And so I. But when I actually got on stage, I was like, oh, this is my zhuzh. This is actually. That's why I'm so vaude villain esque is because I'm really for Broadway, you know, like, that's actually my vibe, man. So it's like for me, I gotta. I mean, I need a multicam sitcom, something. Because that straight to the audience vibe, that's me all day.

Taye Diggs (41:50)

Feed off that.

Keke Palmer (41:51)

Oh, my gosh.

Taye Diggs (41:52)

Yes, Yes.

Keke Palmer (41:53)

I wanna do a game. I do a game with all my guests. And I did this one specific for you. It's called you dig or you don't. So pretty much I'm gonna throw you some modern day scenarios, right? About love. And you tell me which one of your iconic characters would dig it and which one would. Absolutely not.

Taye Diggs (42:10)

The charact that I have played.

Keke Palmer (42:12)

Yeah, that would dig the scenario. Yeah, like this would be for him. Or this would be for him. And so the characters are obviously. I'll give these to you. Okay, so Andre Ellis from Brown Sugar, we got Harper Stewart from the Best Man. Winston Shakespeare from Estella, got a Grubag. And Benjamin Benny Coffin III from Rent. You ready? Aren't those pictures so good? I had hair.

Taye Diggs (42:38)

Look at that.

Keke Palmer (42:39)

Tay, you're too had a hairline. By the way, all of your movies, do you have a favorite one or a favorite experience? Cause, you know, it could be different.

Taye Diggs (42:49)

I can't because I had. I was so lucky. I had so much fun on every. I know. I. I never laughed more than I did when I. When it was Melibu's most want everything.

Keke Palmer (42:58)

Oh my gosh.

Taye Diggs (42:59)

So good too. He laughed all day, every day.

Keke Palmer (43:02)

Oh my God.

Taye Diggs (43:03)

And that was just, you know, I missed those ones. Regina was in that one. You know, Anthony Anderson all day, every day. And that was like. That's when I realized, if I could do this, this is a nice little living. If I could find something where I could be funny every day, all day, it was that.

Keke Palmer (43:18)

All right, here we go. This is what we're working with. First one. Going on a first date at Cheesecake Factory. Who's digging it at Cheesecake? Who's not digging it?

Taye Diggs (43:27)

Factory at Cheesecake Factory. Who is digging it at Cheesecake Factory?

Keke Palmer (43:34)

The repeating is giving me life.

Taye Diggs (43:36)

Okay, Probably. Probably Winston Shakespeare.

Keke Palmer (43:42)

Yeah, he's definitely digging it. He was digging anything.

Taye Diggs (43:45)

Yeah, he was. I like it here.

Keke Palmer (43:50)

How is it with you with that accent? Did they give you a dialect coach?

Taye Diggs (43:53)

They did, they did, they did.

Keke Palmer (43:56)

Oh, my God.

Taye Diggs (43:57)

I get a mixed reaction. Some people are like, I love that movie. The accent was way off mine, but I love the movie. And then other people are like, oh, yeah, it's spot on.

Keke Palmer (44:07)

Okay. Subtweeting your ex. Who's digging it, who ain't digging it?

Taye Diggs (44:10)

Subtweeting.

Keke Palmer (44:11)

Subtweeting. You know what that is? Uh, so it's like if I put on my page a caption where it's like, at the end of the day, if you ain't paying, I ain't staying. But it's like, to somebody I know.

Taye Diggs (44:21)

Oh, okay, okay.

Keke Palmer (44:23)

Who's digging that?

Taye Diggs (44:23)

That would be.

Keke Palmer (44:25)

You already know my divorce. Because he was petty as hell. When I tell you I love that character. He was the petty. He had to be a Virgo man.

Taye Diggs (44:36)

Because he was petty as he really was.

Keke Palmer (44:38)

He really was. He was always on. He know he didn't like that wife. Poor Nicole. He didn't want her. He was wanting Sanaa. That. And Sani was just doing that best friend role, and she's like, no, no, no. But, like, stop playing. And he's sitting up on that thing talking about, I'm quit my job. Oh, hell, too good. Okay. Getting left on red because of grammar in the text. Who's doing that? I think I have an idea of.

Taye Diggs (45:05)

Who would getting left on read because of grammar.

Keke Palmer (45:09)

Who would do this? We know. Who.

Taye Diggs (45:11)

Meaning would my character leave somebody?

Keke Palmer (45:13)

Harper.

Taye Diggs (45:13)

Harper.

Keke Palmer (45:14)

He was so uptight. You know what I loved about Harper in the Best Man? The TV show?

Taye Diggs (45:19)

She said library. She said library. How am I supposed to.

Keke Palmer (45:26)

Harper was. And I love when they had that conversation with Saniya's character on the Best man when you guys did the TV show.

Taye Diggs (45:32)

Yes.

Keke Palmer (45:33)

I loved. I loved how you guys expanded on the dynamics.

Taye Diggs (45:36)

We could do more of that.

Keke Palmer (45:37)

Me too. I thought we was doing a second one.

Taye Diggs (45:40)

Yeah. I don't know. I mean, I know that the director was like, okay, this would be it. Cause we were a lot to handle. We were a lot to handle. We were a lot.

Keke Palmer (45:49)

Not y' all. Was y' all trying to do sex in the city?

Taye Diggs (45:50)

You know what I mean? We were a lot. Yeah.

Keke Palmer (45:53)

Friends. Okay, here we go. Sending a U up text at 1111 and calling it manifest. Shout out to my producers for these. They're very cool.

Taye Diggs (46:07)

That would be. Is there a regular Taye Diggs? No, I'm just kidding. You up. That might be you up. Oh, that might be Benjamin. Cough in the. Yeah, yeah, that might be Benjamin coughing.

Keke Palmer (46:21)

Look at Benjamin. Hey, Benj. Okay. Make up sex after a 24 hour argument. We know who that is. I can't believe y' all don't have.

Taye Diggs (46:31)

Roland up there for sure.

Keke Palmer (46:33)

I mean, he was the most toxic. I think he was the most toxic character for sure. He was. Oh, my gosh. Okay. Getting a matching tattoo after the third date. We know who that is after the third date.

Taye Diggs (46:48)

Oh, right. Yes.

Keke Palmer (46:50)

He was ready to leave his whole country.

Taye Diggs (46:51)

Shoot. That's a little bit like me too.

Keke Palmer (46:56)

Oh, that's a good question. Which one of your characters did you feel you were most like?

Taye Diggs (47:02)

Probably the best man. Harper. Harper. Cause I was early enough in the career where I was like, oh, this guy is kind of me. You know what I mean?

Keke Palmer (47:13)

Yeah.

Taye Diggs (47:13)

And then very educated. I had to do the least amount of acting with that character. Yeah.

Keke Palmer (47:23)

Okay, this is the last one.

Taye Diggs (47:24)

Okay.

Keke Palmer (47:25)

The I'm not ready for a relationship type after consistently dating for a month.

Taye Diggs (47:30)

Oh, yeah, that's probably this cat.

Keke Palmer (47:35)

He's. That's my boy, Brown sugar. Oh, my gosh, Tay, I'm so glad to have had you on the show and to finally have had a conversation so you can know how deep of a fan I am of you. Seriously, man.

Taye Diggs (47:49)

And vice versa. Vice versa. Look at you just doing this. I'm listening to your vocabulary. I see you. I see you. This is not easy, y' all.

Keke Palmer (48:05)

Oh, my God.

Taye Diggs (48:06)

This is not easy because you just mimicked me.

Keke Palmer (48:10)

That's where Walker. Walker. Getting it from you.

Taye Diggs (48:13)

Very. I'm very impressed. So keep. Keep it up.

Keke Palmer (48:16)

Thank you so much. Give me some love. Thank you for coming on baby this evening. I don't know about y' all, but those movies, the Wood, Best Man, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and so many others literally raised me. They were my comfort watches. And still are. But also they were the culture. They showed us black love, family, friendship and ambition with depth, joy and realness. And Taye Diggs was right there in the center of it all. He's one of those entertainers that's never let himself be boxed in. Broadway, films, tv. He stays booked and busy and present for his son. That's the power of versatility. You don't have to do just one thing or be only one version of yourself. You can evolve, pivot, and show up fully in any space that calls your name. And if y' all take one thing from this conversation, it's that we need to be present and receive our successes as they come. We have to sit in our accomplishments and appreciate every chapter of life. Now I feel like it might be time for a little brown sugar rewatch. So until next time, you know, it's your girl. Baby. This is. This is Kiki, baby. This is Kiki Palma. Yeah.