Keke Palmer has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, but her latest appearance on Hot Ones proved she knows how to take control of the moment too.
The 32-year-old actress and singer returned to the hit YouTube series on September 15 for what turned into a record-breaking third appearance. This time, though, Palmer brought more than just her charm and spice tolerance—she brought a bold gesture that left host Sean Evans speechless.
Toward the end of the fiery wing challenge, Palmer decided to address something Evans, 39, had once revealed publicly: his longtime crush on her. “I saw an interview where you said I was your favorite guest and all this really sweet stuff,” Palmer told him, smiling between bites.
With that, she leaned in and added, “I thought maybe we could just have a quick smooch to see if there’s a spark.” Evans agreed, and the two shared a kiss that instantly became one of the show’s most memorable moments.
Evans, visibly stunned, didn’t hold back after. “When I’m dying and my life flashes before my eyes, I’ll have that snapshot,” he admitted, cementing the moment as Hot Ones history.
The crush in question dates back to a November 2023 episode of Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenberg, where Evans admitted that yes, he once had a crush on a guest—and that guest was Keke Palmer.
“Very charming,” he said at the time. “Very charming woman.” Palmer later admitted she was delighted when fans sent her clips of his confession. “I knew the vibes were vibing,” she told PEOPLE in 2024.
Her chemistry with Evans isn’t the only thing making headlines. Palmer is entering a massive year career-wise, with two movies on deck. The Pickup, starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Eva Longoria, has already started streaming on Prime Video.
Her second project, Good Fortune, which features Aziz Ansari, Keanu Reeves, Sandra Oh, and Seth Rogen, drops October 17.