Motherhood certainly agrees with Kiki Palmer, and her longtime friend Lil Rel Howery has had a front row seat to her journey.
Howley, 44, and Palmer, 31, are starring in the new buddy comedy One of Them Days, and while it’s great to see Palmer on screen, Howley is not happy about it. , it was even more impressive to see her accomplish her duties as a mom. is also working.
“Let me just say this, it has nothing to do with the movie. Honestly, watching Keke as a mother reminds me of meeting her when she was younger. Ms. Howley spoke exclusively to PEOPLE at the Oscar Micheaux Pioneering Excellence Award at the Micheaux Film Festival on October 27 in Culver City, California.
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Lil Rel Howery and Kiki Palmer.
Kevin Winter/Getty
“I haven’t had kids for a while, so it’s great to see my friends become new parents and see how excited they are to be parents.”
“Keke is great to work with, another Chicago native (and) one of my friends,” Howley added of working with the True Jackson VP alum.
As for the new movie, Howley promises plenty of laughs. “I love the fact that we’re watching a buddy comedy with two black women in this really silly space. We don’t always have that opportunity,” he says.
Produced by Issa Rae, One of Them Days also stars SZA, Katt Williams, Janelle James, Kayla Monterosso Mejia, Maud Apatow, Joshua Neal, Aziza Scott and Patrick Cage. are. Keke and her mother Sharon Palmer are also credited as executive producers. Lawrence Lamont directed the film and Syreeta Singleton wrote the screenplay. Both previously co-starred in Ray’s Max comedy series Rap Sh!t.
Howley continued, “We’ve all had movies like Girls Trip, but it wasn’t necessarily a one-two punch before, so we all had Friday-type movies to be able to be a part of this.” We’re trying to find a way to bring comedy back. Black people are just stupid. Our comedy gets too serious sometimes, so we say this is going to be silly. Please get ready.”
In August, Palmer told PEOPLE that her son with ex Darius Jackson, 19-month-old Leodis “Leo” Andrelton Jackson, is by her side wherever she goes. .
“I try to take him with me everywhere I go,” the Knope star tells PEOPLE. “That’s the most fun for me.”
“I just enjoy watching him grow,” she later added.
“I’m so grateful to have had this experience,” she said. “I think it’s something I’ve wanted all my life. It’s had its… I don’t even want to say ups and downs, but it’s also had its challenges, just because you always want to show yourself.” Preparing for a baby please. ”
“In a way, it pushes you to be a more accurate version of yourself,” she continued. “And I think that’s the process.”