Last year, KWN sat down with Angie Martinez to discuss the many highs and lows throughout her growing music career. From losing her music files to missing Melanie and more, the singer opened up about several personal topics during their conversation. During one part of the interview, KWN was asked who her celebrity crush was and quickly named actress Keke Palmer.
Without hesitation, KWN made her feelings about the actress clear, emphasizing, “I like Keke.” Angie then asked what she liked about Keke, questioning if it was because she was “funny, sweet, and pretty.” KWN responded, “All three, all of the above,” agreeing with Angie that she likes someone who isn’t afraid of a big personality.
Now, the conversation is receiving renewed attention following comments KWN made during a recent interview, prompting online backlash.
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KWN Clears The Air About Keke Palmer Being Her Celebrity Crush
As of late, KWN sat down with Complex and was asked about previously naming Keke Palmer as her celebrity crush. The singer responded during the interview, “Do you know it was kind of a joke when I said that?”
The interviewer appeared shocked, questioning whether KWN was serious about it being a joke, given how invested she had been in her original answer. KWN continued, “Keke is a beautiful woman, but it was a joke,” before sharing more about what happened.
She explained that her team told her to name Keke before appearing on Angie Martinez’s show and discussing her celebrity crush. The interviewer then suggested that Keke was a safe answer because “everyone loves Keke,” and KWN agreed.
When asked who her real celebrity crush was, KWN instead named Alexa Demie, who played Maddy on ‘Euphoria.’
KWN Apologizes & Provides Context Amid Celebrity Crush “Joke” Backlash
KWN took to social media to address the backlash. The singer emphasized that the message was coming directly from her and not her team. She apologized to anyone she offended and revealed that she had also reached out to Keke Palmer privately.
“The word ‘joke’ was the wrong choice of words, and I hold my hands up and take full accountability of that. Wrong choice of words. I didn’t mean for it to be spun in this way,” she said.
KWN then provided more context, explaining that she was in a relationship last year and gave different answers to keep it private. She later publicly confirmed her relationship with Kehlani in October 2025.
“It’s been a bunch of interviews. I’m talking, like, four or five interviews a day, and every single interview, they’re asking me, ‘Who’s your celebrity crush? Who’s your celebrity crush?’ And I know what they were trying to get out of me. They were trying to get me to say the person I was dating… so that they could fuel the fire and fuel the rumors. So I was just saying a bunch of different women, just to try to stay away from my personal life,” she continued.
KWN recalled that her team suggested KeKe Palmer after seeing the celebrity crush question before her interview with Angie Martinez. She also clarified that KeKe and other women were never intended as the targets of her comments.
“KeKe Palmer’s a beautiful woman. Like, I never once discredited her… Black women were never the butt of the joke. Women in general were never the butt of the joke,” she added.
KWN ended by further explaining what she meant when she initially described the situation as a “joke.”
“The joke of it all was the person’s name I wanted to say was somebody I wanted to keep private in my life. So obviously I couldn’t say their name at the time,” she reiterated.
Social Media Reacts
Folks quickly gathered under The Shade Room’s post as Roomies shared their thoughts on KWN’s apology. Some weren’t here for KeKe being used as part of the “joke,” while others argued that KWN didn’t need to apologize.
Instagram user @s.nashay wrote, “This was weird cause she could’ve just said Alexa the first time and we would’ve understood cause she’s beautiful.🤣🤣🤣🤣this was just unnecessarily weird. now Keke done caught a stray”
Instagram user @steezotm added, “Honestly sometimes people should just shut up ! KEKE IS THE ULTIMATE CRUSH ! Never play on her top! Tf”
While Instagram user @itsjaybarbie wrote, “And where was the joke? Where was the keke? No pun intended”
Instagram user @storrietimez wrote, “the issue isn’t even kwns preference, it’s the fact that keke palmers name was thrown out there as a “joke”. Using a black woman like a pawn in an attempt to gain popularity, can’t respect that.”
Instagram user @makinyourdai added, “Black women isn’t a joke. Idek why her team made her say that when she could’ve just answered the question with her actual celebrity crush? Her team must thought she was about to get some cool points… negative”
While Instagram user @officiallyroyaltayy wrote, “Ouu yall would hate for me to be a celebrity 😂 I wouldn’t be APOLOGIZING FOR SHI!!”
Instagram user @mikaelchalyce wrote, “Damn if she do damn if she don’t 😀what she’s saying but she has to learn to be more of a mystery. Also, it’s nothing wrong with saying “I plead the 5th” when asked a question you don’t wanna answer.🤣”
