Keke Palmer Kisses Sean Evans on ‘Hot Ones’ After He Admits He Has a Crush on Her

Keke Palmer and host Sean Evans capped off their Hot Ones installment with a spontaneous kiss that quickly became the episode’s most talked-about moment. The brief, on-camera smooch arrived near the end of the interview after Palmer referenced Evans’ prior compliments about her.

“I saw an interview where you said I was your favorite guest and all these really sweet things,” Palmer told Evans, then added with a shy grin, “We just ate a bunch of wings, but maybe we could try a quick kiss to see if there’s a spark.” Evans readily agreed, and the two rose from the wing-strewn table, embraced briefly, and kissed.

As the moment landed, Palmer cheered, “The sparks are sparking!” while Evans quipped that the memory would be one he’d picture when his life flashes before his eyes — a playful, affectionate response to the surprise gesture.

This marked Palmer’s third Hot Ones appearance; she previously guested in 2017 and 2021. In a 2023 chat on Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Chicken Shop Date, Evans admitted he’d had a crush on Palmer, calling her “very charming,” a remark that added context to Monday’s chemistry.

Outside the show, Palmer has kept busy. She co-starred with Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson in The Pickup, which premiered on Prime Video in August, and her next feature, Good for Fortune, is slated for theatrical release in October. She also released the album Just Keke in June, whose cover — depicting Palmer as a doll in a plastic package — inspired a conversation on Hot Ones about being perceived as a product in the entertainment industry.

“Growing up in this business, I often felt packaged and sold,” Palmer said during the interview. “That imagery is a metaphor for that experience, but it’s also me telling people: I’m human. I’m just Keke — an artist, a mom, a person.”

Watch the moment in the embedded clip above.

Related: Evans on Chicken Shop Date (YouTube)

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