Keke Palmer leaned in and asked SZA, 35, about her brief romance with singer Drake.
Keke Palmer wanted SZA to reveal whether the rapper was a good kisser or not. (Photo Credits: YouTube)
What’s more entertaining than hot wings and celebrity banter? Add a dash of nostalgia, a bit of awkwardness and you’ve got the perfect recipe for SZA’s recent appearance on Hot Ones. The Grammy-winning artist joined her co-stars Keke Palmer and Issa Rae to promote their upcoming comedy, One of Them Days and let’s just say things got spicy. The trio was deep into a game of Truth or Death Wing, when Palmer, never one to shy away from a good question, decided to stir the pot. The actress leaned in and asked SZA, 35, about her brief romance with singer Drake. Specifically, Palmer wanted the tea on whether the God’s Plan rapper was a good kisser.
Without missing a beat and clearly bracing herself for the chaos to come, SZA replied, “That’s why I said F*** you in advance.” It was the kind of response that showed Palmer wasn’t about to let her off the hook that easily. The Nope star quickly enlisted Issa Rae in her mission to crack SZA. Together, they applied the pressure, leaving the singer to squirm in her seat and stare down a plate of fiery wings, the only escape from spilling details about a fling that took place when she was just 19.
“I don’t want to; it hurts!” SZA exclaimed, half-laughing, half-pleading. “We were children! 2009? We were children,” she said.
But Palmer wasn’t giving up. “It’s a simple good or no good,” she asked, clearly enjoying herself. Rae, ever the instigator, added, “And the fact that you don’t want to say is very telling.”
By this point, SZA had had enough. “Y’all trying to double-team me into guilt because you know I’m affected by it? F**k y’all,” she declared before reluctantly taking a nibble off the wing and opting out of answering.
Watch the episode here:
The mention of SZA and Drake’s 2009 romance isn’t exactly breaking news. Back in 2020, Drake casually name-dropped her in Mr Right Now, rapping, “Wait ‘cause I used to date SZA back in ‘08 / If you cool with it, she can still play.” Shortly after the song’s release, SZA took to X (formerly Twitter) to set the record straight.
“So It was actually 2009 lol..in this case, a year of poetic rap license mattered, lol I think he just innocently rhymed 08 w wait. Anybody who really knows me and was around during this time can confirm..it’s all love all peace,” she clarified.
So It was actually 2009 lol 🙃.. in this case a year of poetic rap license mattered 🥴lol I think he jus innocently rhymed 08 w wait . Anybody who really knows me and was around during this time can confirm.. it’s all love all peace 🤝💎💫 .— SZA (@sza) October 5, 2020
Despite the public curiosity about their past, it’s clear there’s no bad blood between the two artists. In a 2022 interview with Audacy, SZA described her relationship with Drake as “cool” and expressed gratitude for his consistent positivity when talking about her. She added that the feeling was mutual, saying she holds him in high regard.
The two even collaborated on the track Slime You Out in September 2023 and Drake gave SZA another lyrical shoutout on his diss track Push Ups in April 2024. In the song, he referenced her, Travis Scott and 21 Savage as artists who have surpassed Kendrick Lamar, a nod to her impressive career trajectory.
While SZA may not have spilled the tea on Hot Ones, her playful dodging and witty remarks were just as satisfying as any confession might have been.
