SZA doesn’t kiss and tell, or does she? Fresh off her movie debut in “One of Them Days,” SZA took her talents to “First We Feast” for a fiery round of “Hot Ones.” The newly minted actor was joined by Issa Rae, a co-producer of the film, and Keke Palmer, one of her co-stars, for a game of Hot Ones Versus. During the episode, which aired Tuesday, the trio faced off to answer a series of deliciously messy questions in an attempt to avoid eating the atomic chicken wings.
Things took a spicy turn when Palmer added some seasoning to the game and asked SZA, “Is Drake a good kisser?” The artist, not missing a beat, quickly responded, “That’s why I said f you in advance.” Rae, comfortably outside of the line of fire, chimed in, “I like you.” “She’s not going to answer. He must have been terrible,” Palmer jokingly responded. SZA remained evasive, exclaiming, “We were children.” Rae then stirred the pot, commenting, “That was the sound of lies.” SZA clarified, saying, “Back in 2009, we were children, real s.”
During their hilarious round of Hot Ones Versus, the pressure intensified. Issa surprised everyone by forgoing her wing to give SZA three pieces of advice to improve her acting. After some banter on who would get fired first from their hypothetical restaurant job, the choice was almost unanimously SZA, who protested, “Ok, I think it’s f***ed up you all think it’s me.” Issa and Keke playfully pushed back, laughing, “Cause I’m literally gonna make sure it’s you,” pointing at Palmer.
Next, Palmer asked SZA to rank her past collaborators — Kendrick Lamar, Justin Bieber, and Rihanna — from most to least talented. Initially asserting all were equally talented, SZA eventually relented and took a bite of one of the fiery wings for dodging the question. “This is incredibly hot, wow, why is it so hot?” she exclaimed, leaping up and running around the room as production assistants surrounded her with fans.
The playful teasing and great chemistry continued throughout the episode as they addressed various topics, including their past work and current endeavors. Palmer, known for her vibrant expressions, was quick to grill SZA again on whether Drake was still on her mind, asking directly, “Was he a good kisser?” The question was met with laughter from Rae, who added, “She’s not gonna answer.” Palmer joked, “He must have been terrible!” SZA took the opportunity to chew on another wing, humorously avoiding the question again, assuring them once more, “We were children, 2009? We were children.”
Quick to tease, Rae chimed back, “The fact you don’t want to say is very telling.” The magic of the moment came alive through Palmer’s instincts to keep the conversation lively and fun, making it clear there’s no hard feelings shared among the trio. The banter-filled session went beyond just grilling SZA, as they all knocked around funny memories and handled the hot snacks as perfectly as they dished out the questions to one another.
The festive nature of the games brought life to the screen as the trio navigated through humor and nostalgia. Having built their careers over years of hard work and talent, the healthy teasing reflected their bond post filming “One of Them Days” which hit theaters on January 17. The film showcases their individual talents and their ability to create magic together, both on screen and off.
SZA spoke recently about her past relationship with Drake, noting, “It wasn’t hot and heavy or anything; it was just youth vibes.” The fans’ anticipation builds every time they mention Drake's name, creating buzz like no other. With both girls encouraging SZA to drop more details or just give them some light banteron her history, SZA continually redirected back to their fun moments, proving the real magic came from their strong camaraderie.
Their playful game of Hot Ones Versus highlighted not just their humor, but also their dynamic friendship forged through their collaboration. Keke Palmer, always one to embrace the moment, completed the trio’s energy with both talent and laughter. The episode drew fans’ attention, illustrating how engaging conversations and camaraderie could lead to not only fun moments but authentic connections.