Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Celebrates Birthday and Honors Keke Palmer at ABFF Gala!

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Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor was surprised with an early birthday celebration at the 2025 American Black Film Festival Honors ceremony on Monday night. The event featured a cake, sparkling candles, and the audience serenading her with the Stevie Wonder rendition of “Happy Birthday”.

At the awards ceremony, Ellis-Taylor was one of the distinguished recipients, not only celebrated for marking another year in life, but for providing yet another year of exceptional performances, including those seen in the Academy Award-nominated best picture “Nickel Boys.” Despite the attention focused on her, Elllis-Taylor appeared more eager to distribute the accolades to her fellow honorees rather than accept them herself.

At the awards event, Ellis-Taylor was one of the select honorees, not only praised for reaching another birthday milestone, but for delivering a year filled with captivating performances, such as in the Oscar-nominated film “Nickel Boys.” Instead of enjoying her well-earned recognition, she seemed more inclined to share it with her fellow honorees by giving them flowers.

Ellis-Taylor proudly stated, “Keke Palmer helped make me well-known,” as she stepped onto the stage at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills to receive the ABFF’s Excellence in the Arts award from her director Ava DuVernay on ‘Origin.’

About a dozen years ago, Ellis-Taylor and Palmer, who received the Renaissance Award for her diverse career achievements, shared the screen in the Lifetime TV film “Abducted: The Carlina White Story.” As told by Ellis-Taylor, Palmer and her mother Sharon Palmer worked hard to secure roles for her that were substantial and reached a broad audience.

Ellis-Taylor shared, “Ever since then, I’ve been searching for that same sensation, as it was the moment when my real self and the character I portrayed became one.

Ellis-Taylor paid tribute to Marla Gibbs, this evening’s recipient of the Hollywood Legacy award, stating that no one can share such an honor with someone as iconic as Gibbs from shows like “The Jeffersons” and “227”. Gibbs will forever remain a distant, unreachable, and unparalleled figure. For me, Gibbs was the epitome of a comedian. While others had Carol Burnett, we had Marla Gibbs.

Later, she expressed encouraging words to Aaron Pierre, the recipient of the Rising Star award. She admitted that she was only familiar with him through rumors, but what she had heard suggested that he could change the world.

She reserved her last accolade for Giancarlo Esposito, who also received the evening’s other Arts Excellence award. “I may have been born as a stirrer, though there was no clear label for it, until I witnessed you,” Ellis-Taylor expressed, reflecting on watching Esposito in Spike Lee’s film “Do the Right Thing.” “You provided me with words to express what was bubbling within me all along.

The thought-provoking and stirring statement (“How is it that there aren’t any brothers on that wall?”) sparked her activism in the future, as the film awakened her consciousness to the systemic injustices that require attention for the pursuit of equality. To put it differently, she found the rhetoric of “another chair at the table” unimpressive. Instead, she sought the entire structure and the land on which it stands. Ellis-Taylor passionately declared this because, in her view, it’s rightfully hers. … I appreciate ABFF for igniting my desire to demolish that wall, to dismantle that building, and reclaim the land.

Ellis-Taylor’s passionate speech stood out as particularly impactful on an evening that had a vibe closer to a church revival than a typical awards ceremony. To start off the formal event, a gospel choir from Victory Bible Church in Pasadena, California, sang a powerful version of “The Best Is Yet to Come,” by Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers, as a tribute to historically Black communities impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.

In this discussion show, led by comedian Zainab Johnson, there were heartfelt instances aplenty. For example, Anthony Mackie spoke about the guidance Esposito offered him, an aspiring actor from New Orleans, on becoming successful in Hollywood, years before they became Marvel co-stars; Palmer emphasized the significance of creators retaining ownership of their content; and Gibbs, at 93 years old, expressed her determination to keep going, using her mantra: “As long as you’re still here and still breathing, you have another chance.

However, contrary to a solemn event, it was quite the lively spectacle. For instance, Pierre received his award accompanied by the popular tune, “Aaron. Pierre. That’s Mufasaaaa,” produced for his grand entrance on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” The crew had cleverly composed this track for his “Spirit Tunnel” debut in December. Joining the fun, Pierre danced to the delight of the audience and even twirled, high-fiving the award presenter all while the crowd cheered and joined in the singing.

Scroll on for a look inside the ceremony:

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2025-02-18 21:48