What REALLY Happens In the Villa? with Love Island’s JaNa Craig

We all fell for JaNa Craig on Love Island USA last season, and today, she’s revealing what really goes down in the Villa. From swerving producers’ “suggestions” to run-ins with HR and how those Islander cliques actually form, JaNa is spilling all the behind-the-scenes secrets. And trust—she is NOT holding back. As if that ain’t enough, she’s dishing on the new spinoff Beyond the Villa, including lasting love with Kenny, which castmate she’s actively dodging, and why Keke just might be the next PPG recruit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:05Keke Palmer?

  My guest today is someone I have been dying to talk to since the moment she walked into the villa last season on Love Island, U.S. Now, she may have taken a few L's in the beginning, but she came out on top with a new man and a girl's by her side. Shout out to the Power Proof Gang. She is the queen of confidence and an inspiration for so many black women who don't want to settle in love or life. That's the power of representation in reality TV, y'all. Now, she's revealing what's next, so Janai, welcome to the show.

• 1:04Keke Palmer?

  This episode is presented in partnership with Airbnb. Baby, summer's calling and she's got one thing on her mind: your next getaway. My take: plan your trip by searching guest favorites on Airbnb because these most loved homes are ready for your next adventure. Let's get into it. Hey, boo!

• 1:25Speaker 01

  How are you?

• 1:26Keke Palmer?

  Oh my God, I'm loving this ball, baby.

• 1:28Speaker 01

  You're right. Thank you, baby.

• 1:30Keke Palmer?

  How are you, girl?

• 1:32Speaker 01

  I'm good.

• 1:32Keke Palmer?

  I am so excited to tell you the show. You know, I talked to Serena and I knew I couldn't go any further. I had to also talk to you. Thank you for coming to the show.

• 1:40Speaker 01

  Anything for you.

• 1:41Keke Palmer?

  It's been a year since Love Island premiered. I mean, time flew by so fast. How are you? How are things with Kenny?

• 1:48Speaker 01

  We're good. Everything's good. We've just been chilling.

• 1:52Keke Palmer?

  Yeah. I mean, isn't it so weird? Like, you go from being on this villa, cameras in your face, everything being so on 10, to then having the calm of, like, real life?

• 2:02Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 2:03Keke Palmer?

  How was that adjustment initially? Because now it's settled in.

• 2:06Speaker 01

  Mm-hmm. You're right, it has settled in now, thank God. Everything was so fast. Like, I kind of don't even remember, like, if I'm being honest. August till like December. I look at pictures like, oh my gosh, I did do that. I'm like, can you remember when we went here? He's like, no. I'm like, me either. But wow, gets to know that we went to Japan, you know what I mean? Like stuff like that. Yeah, it was a lot. But like, now that we've slowed down, it's so weird, like, um, we're still like learning more about one another.

• 2:32Keke Palmer?

  Sure, yeah.

• 2:33Speaker 01

  Yes, like, and it's so, it's like things that you should have known like a while ago, but since like, everything was so fast, we're just so focused on like supporting each other, like getting stuff done.

• 2:42Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 2:42Speaker 01

  But like now that it's slowed down, like every day he like becomes my best friend more and more. And it's so exciting. Yeah, like I feel like we're still like that honeymoon phase.

• 2:50Keke Palmer?

  Where do y'all live? Like, are you like different states, same state?

• 2:52Speaker 01

  Yes, okay, so he's in Dallas.

• 2:54Keke Palmer?

  Okay.

• 2:55Speaker 01

  I'm in Vegas.

• 2:56Keke Palmer?

  Okay.

• 2:57Speaker 01

  Mm-hmm, and then we're both here in LA for the summer.

• 2:59Keke Palmer?

  Oh, that's awesome. So usually you guys are traveling back and forth, but then now you guys actually get some more like consistent time in LA.

• 3:05Speaker 01

  Yes, ma'am.

• 3:05Keke Palmer?

  How y'all like in LA? LA's different. I don't know how much you've spent time here before, but.

• 3:09Speaker 01

  It's a little different, you know? I lived in San Diego. I was just in a state, so I guess my, like, I remember the Cali vibes, but like, you know?

• 3:17Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 3:18Speaker 01

  This traffic thing is just like not cute.

• 3:20Keke Palmer?

  It's traffic, it's a lot of industry, and I'm sure you, you know, you and the PPG, y'all are the hottest thing in town, so it's probably a lot. Has there been a highlight this year?

• 3:29Speaker 01

  Oh, yeah, okay. I think the highlight of this year is definitely the Grammys.

• 3:33Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh.

• 3:34Speaker 01

  Yes. The fact that we got invited, we're like, y'all want us at the Grammys?

• 3:39Keke Palmer?

  Period, period. What, what was the experience like? Cause I don't actually think that I've ever actually been to the Grammys before.

• 3:45Speaker 01

  It was a lot.

• 3:46Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 3:46Speaker 01

  It's good, it's really fun, it's really fun, but it's a lot of waiting. It was like a lot of waiting.

• 3:50Keke Palmer?

  No, the shows are usually long unless you have something to do. Like, I do like to work at events. So I know that like I'm doing this and then going home. Sometimes it's, it's a lot to get into the party vibe.

• 4:00Speaker 01

  Yeah, you're right.

• 4:01Keke Palmer?

  What's happening? Yeah, no, seriously. Um, so was there a moment where you realized coming off this show, the extent of your popularity? Because when you guys in the villa, you can't talk to anybody, you can't, you know, you don't really know how the public is responding to you outside of the voting nights. So when was that moment where you realized, oh, I'm really making an impact and people are really like rocking with me?

• 4:22Speaker 01

  That's a, okay, good question. Okay, so we have no idea what's going on inside the villa, right? And then it wasn't until like the last day, they tell us that we're getting a reunion. And I don't know if you've seen the other seasons, but only like maybe the first two or three seasons got a reunion and then they stopped it.

• 4:36Keke Palmer?

  Okay, for the US one.

• 4:38Speaker 01

  For the, mm-hmm. So like you would have to do so good that America would wanna see like a reunion. So we're like, a reunion, that means like we're doing good. And then the top producer took us aside, like, I just want you guys to know, cuz we don't get your phone until two days after each episode airs. So like, we couldn't get our phone until two days after, so that you guys don't know who like won or not, you know, or won. But, um, he goes in the kitchen, he goes, I'm so proud of each and every one of you guys, this has been my favorite one, he's filmed every single one.

• 5:05Keke Palmer?

  Y'all was though, he didn't lie.

• 5:07Speaker 01

  Yeah, we did, wow, I thought we did good. But, um, he was like, you're bigger than Bridgerton and your lives are gonna change forever. And there's something about one of the producers, says your life, like, you're bigger than Bridgerton, cuz Bridgerton.

• 5:18Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 5:19Speaker 01

  Like, everyone watched that one, it's from last year, yeah.

• 5:21Keke Palmer?

  No, but it really was like that, and specifically because of like you and Serena, like PPG, but also like for me. Like, I remember when I saw the clips of y'all, I felt so seen, in a way that I don't feel like I'm always seen.

• 5:33Speaker 01

  That's how you make us feel.

• 5:34Keke Palmer?

  Oh, stop!

• 5:35Speaker 01

  I'm so serious.

• 5:36Keke Palmer?

  Girl!

• 5:37Speaker 01

  You make us feel like that, that's so crazy.

• 5:38Keke Palmer?

  Oh my god, it really, I really perceived that because, I mean, if it feels the way that I'm saying, then I know it's deep. Because it's just like, yeah, like, I relate to her, and watching you guys on the show, I immediately was like, this girl is my friend, she is me.

• 5:50Speaker 01

  Oh, we try, we try to make, uh, we try to make this just proud.

• 5:53Keke Palmer?

  No, you really tried. Y'all really did, held it together, but still wasn't robotic, you know what I'm saying? Like, we saw moments on the show where you were vulnerable, where you like, hey, like, am I, am I not that girl? Because I've been sure that I'm that girl.

• 6:05Speaker 01

  Sis, for a whole second, I was like, I know, I'm like, you know, aight. But the way they were treating me, I'm like, I know about that life, like, what is the issue? I was so confused.

• 6:12Keke Palmer?

  It's tough, and honestly, we know it's tough in the real world, right? It's tough finding love and without cameras around. And then it is even more when people are watching you in real time, figure it out with somebody.

• 6:22Speaker 01

  Mm-hmm.

• 6:23Keke Palmer?

  Um, before I get into like, obviously how you found Kenny and that moment before, I'm curious, when you came back home, how your relationships were impacted by being on the show, right? Because even for me, growing up in the industry, I remember when I became popular, even my family member was like, can we take pics? So I'm curious, have you experienced that? Like, how has things, have they shifted since this popularity?

• 6:43Speaker 01

  Yeah, that's actually a good question, um, yeah, no, my family, so my family's like, half of them from South Side of Chicago, the other side's from Atlanta.

• 6:50Keke Palmer?

  Okay, that's like my, I'm from Chicago.

• 6:51Speaker 01

  Since there, yeah. I thought we were sisters.

• 6:55Speaker 01

  So, um, you know, they ain't shy.

• 6:56Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 6:57Speaker 01

  So I'll just be minding my business. Every day I get a call, like a FaceTime, like, this is my neighbor. They want to say hi to you. I'm like, hi, neighbor. This is my mailman. I'm like, hi, Mr. Mailman. And like my baby cousins are like in dance classes, so they'd FaceTime me. He's like, they don't believe that you're my cousin. I'm like, I'm your cousin. Like, hey, and stuff like that. Yeah. It's cute. It's sweet, but like, um, they're just like, so you know, you gotta get everybody a Christmas present, right? And I'm like, I already was.

• 7:19Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh.

• 7:20Speaker 01

  They're just the most, but it's been good. Like, they've been supporting me a lot. Um, my church, um, I know, I, but they're like, Janae, like, when do you cuss? It was so bad. Yeah, there was, no, it was so bad. Yes, my mom's like, no, the church is like, yeah. When they tell me that, my heart dropped. I'm like, oh, I'm about to get in trouble. But they were very proud of me, you know, like, you know, God forbid kids, so like, you know, let's turn it down and, you know, no more bikinis. I was like, sorry.

• 7:46Keke Palmer?

  The body was eating you out.

• 7:47Speaker 01

  I was trying.

• 7:48Keke Palmer?

  So I need the bikinis to continue.

• 7:49Speaker 01

  I was trying.

• 7:51Keke Palmer?

  So when you think about the Janae that entered the villa, and you think about the Janae that's now outside of the villa, what is the biggest difference? What do you think, you know, changed you the most from that experience?

• 7:59Speaker 01

  Oh, my gosh, that's such a good question. Okay, so I pride myself in always being like humble.

• 8:04Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 8:04Speaker 01

  Right? So I try to be like double humble, which is not even a thing. You know what I mean? Like, right? Well, like, I don't know. I think I've just been way more grateful. Like, I always woke up with like gratitude. And like every morning, I'm like, God is good. Life is good. Everything's okay. I'm healthy. I'm smart. I'm strong, right? I'm kind to others and others will be kind to me. But ever since the villa, I have to tell myself that like twice a day now. I don't know why, but like, right before I got in here, I'm like, everything's gonna be good. Kiki loves you. You love Kiki. Everything's fine. You know what I mean? Like, stuff like that, but I don't know. Like, I've, I've just been so grateful. I get, I will say I'm more nervous. I've never had anxiety.

• 8:38Keke Palmer?

  Yes. Well, that's what, when you said that, that's what it sounded like to me, like, but I mean, it's, it's very natural. I mean, I think for me, I've always, I think I was an anxious person before I was in the industry.

• 8:47Speaker 01

  I can never tell. I feel like you've been in since day one, like since you were a baby.

• 8:50Keke Palmer?

  I was just about to say, it's probably hard for me to tell because I've been doing it for so long. But I do think being popular or being famous or being somebody in front of the camera, it will make you more anxious because you're constantly being perceived. So it's, it's a natural thing. But the remedy.

• 9:03Speaker 01

  Give me some advice, please.

• 9:04Keke Palmer?

  I was gonna say, the remedy, I think is what you just said, like the grat- like having gratitude, like. I mean, nothing really can go too wrong. At the end of the day, I just be myself.

• 9:14Speaker 01

  Right.

• 9:14Keke Palmer?

  And if they don't like me, then hey, you know, they don't like me, but all I can do is give my best. And that's how I've always dealt with it. And I, and I'm the same way. Like, I will repeat stuff. I'm like, this is the thing, this is the thing, this is the thing. And it helps me get through, so I just keep doing it, you know?

• 9:28Speaker 01

  So proud of you. Yeah, I was like, if she can do it, I can do it. But like, oh my gosh, the amount of like, I think it's just a lot. Right? I was like, never, ever anxious, never nervous.

• 9:35Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 9:36Speaker 01

  Ever. Like, I was like, like, I signed up for like the talent shows. I was like prom queen. I was like, I got this.

• 9:41Keke Palmer?

  Girl, prom queen, I read that. I was like, mama was prom queen. And then you grew up in Hawaii, which also is tea too, on the beach.

• 9:48Speaker 01

  Sound like that, mhm.

• 9:49Keke Palmer?

  I live for that. So wait, real quick with the prom queen thing, because I think that's like every girl's dream. I definitely wanted to be prom queen. I didn't go to high school, but I would have loved to, and I would have loved to be prom queen.

• 9:57Speaker 01

  True Jackson was like.

• 9:58Keke Palmer?

  Right, I was the VP. I was the VP. What did it feel like becoming prom queen?

• 10:03Speaker 01

  Oh my, it's so funny because, okay, I know this sounds like very, um, how do I say this?

• 10:11Speaker 01

  I kind of, respectfully, humbly, sorry Jesus, but I knew, only because my mom was prom queen, my brother was prom king. It's something in our family where like, we just like are very outgoing. And I've been like, I was in Hawaii since third grade. So like, I grew with all my family, like, and friends. And I was always like the only black girl in class. I was very like kind and outgoing. So like, I kind of knew. I knew so bad that I made my mom fly to California to get five, four dresses for me. So we already knew. So she flew out there, picked the four dresses that I saw, flew them back, we each had one, I picked one. And like, when they said my name, I was like, oh my gosh. And then I was like, Janae, go. Like, we knew, like.

• 10:47Keke Palmer?

  Do you feel like that helped you with being in the villa or anything like that? Meaning like, I mean, I do feel like it's kind of like being a, a public, like, person?

• 10:56Speaker 01

  Yeah, I mean, yes. I do this thing where like, maybe, how to explain it? Because I was raised in Japan and I was like all over Asia, military brats.

• 11:03Keke Palmer?

  Okay, boom.

• 11:04Speaker 01

  Right?

• 11:04Keke Palmer?

  I'm like, this is a fabulous childhood.

• 11:06Speaker 01

  No, like the way me and God, I was like, okay, God, good. But, um. The thing was like, I did this thing like growing up where I was always like the only black girl. So like, I could either be like uncomfortable and shy, or I can just like, let me just be like not like, I don't want to like, to show people I'm like shy or uncomfortable in any room. So I would just like vibe with everyone, like I'd introduce myself and stuff, like all over the world, I made all these friends. And like even in third grade, my first day of school, like I was like, what's your name, wanna be my friend, like I was never shy. So I do this thing where like I just like, adapt to others, I try to build rapport, all that cute stuff. So in the villa, my first day, I'm just like, the second I saw Serena, I was fine.

• 11:43Keke Palmer?

  My girl with this suit, we're ready to go into politics.

• 11:45Speaker 01

  We're ready.

• 11:46Keke Palmer?

  I live for everything that you just said, and I do feel like we saw that in you in the show. Like that confidence and that kinda like, yeah, even if I am the only or one of few, like who gives a ****, I'm here to serve. Yes, and that was the energy we needed to see for a long time. On Love Island, seriously.

• 12:07Keke Palmer?

  Summer is here, and you know what that means. It's time to live your best life. This couples trip I took to Turks and Caicos a while back lives rent-free in my mind. Okay, let me paint the picture. I stayed in this gorgeous Airbnb right on the beach, waking up to the sound of waves and stepping out onto the pristine white sand. That memory is still giving me summertime magic. Now whether you're for a beachfront paradise like I had, a cozy cabin in the woods, or a chic city apartment, Airbnb's got amazing homes waiting for you. We're talking better locations, more privacy, and the kind of space that'll have you feeling like the star of your own summer blockbuster. So don't let the summer slip away. Book your Airbnb now and get ready to live that main character life.

• 12:51Keke Palmer?

  Trust me, you're gonna have a time. Baby, I have never, and I mean never, been more devastated than when I found out that some of y'all been sneaking around behind Domino's back just to get your stuffed crust fix. Now, you know us Virgos are incredibly loyal, steadfast even. Cheating, especially on something as serious as Parmesan stuffed crust pizza, ain't gonna fly in this house. I saw y'all slide into those other pizza spots, drive-throughs, ordering that cheese-filled crust like Domino's, and I wouldn't find out about your little rendezvous. But sweetie, the healing starts today because Domino's just dropped their own stuffed crust, and now y'all got no excuse to keep stepping out on them like this. It's time to put those pizza cheating ways to rest.

• 13:36Keke Palmer?

  Domino's new Parmesan stuffed crust is serving pure decadence with that buttery handmade dough wrapped around a cascading stream of 100% melty goodness. These are the cheese pools of your dreams. It's very much a goofy movie level of ooey gooey cheesy deliciousness. And of course, your girl can't forget about that signature garlic seasoning and Parmesan sprinkle dance on top of that perfectly baked crust, making every single taste taste like it was blessed by the pizza gods themselves. Good to think about it now. I'm already imagining the Parm stuffed pie I've been plotting on. Next time I'm placing my order, you best believe I'm having mushrooms, grilled onions, and some extra peppers just to, you know, keep the vegetables on top. Now, this is the kind of commitment I'm talking about.

• 14:20Keke Palmer?

  No more pizza cheating needed when Domino's is bringing this level of excellence to the table. Order Domino's new Parmesan stuffed crust pizza on the Domino's app and use code KIKI to get any three topping Parmesan stuffed crust pizza for $11.99. Price is higher for some locations. You must ask for this limited time offer. Prices, participation, delivery area, and charges may vary. Delivery orders subject to local store's delivery charge. I'll let you, girl.

• 14:49Keke Palmer?

  But before Love Island, you were an entrepreneur. Like, what made you? Like, tell me a little bit about what your entrepreneurial pursuits were.

• 14:56Speaker 01

  Of course. Okay, so fun fact, I think I've lived like about nine lives before Love Island.

• 15:00Keke Palmer?

  Come on, Cat.

• 15:03Speaker 01

  But, um, I remember, like, okay, I started all the way from like in high school. I would buy like chocolate bars from the grocery store, from the commissary for 50 cents.

• 15:11Keke Palmer?

  Come on, Candy Store lady.

• 15:12Speaker 01

  And then sell them for $2. Exactly. So I've been like, you know, a little Miss Entrepreneur, but like, I just told myself I would never depend on a man for anything.

• 15:19Keke Palmer?

  And that's right.

• 15:20Speaker 01

  Yes, ma'am. And I was like, I couldn't, because like, you know, unfortunately, my mom did. My mom was such a good wife and such a good mom. And then when my dad left, I saw the struggle. And man, that struggle, I was like, I could not do that. Like, why would you? Think they're just a man. So then I got like three jobs at sixteen and one of them was like sell chocolate bars and candies. And I liked, I was like, man, one day I made like a hundred dollars. I'm like, hold on, I'm rich.

• 15:41Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, I know how to do this.

• 15:42Speaker 01

  It was insane. It was so easy. Yeah. And then when I went off to college, my major, like you don't need a business administration like degree to run a business. You just really need Google and YouTube. So I changed it to, it's really that simple, like self-explanatory. So I changed it to communication so that I could have like really good communication skills with my future employees. Cause I was thinking long-term, but I first did, um, I sold lashes, period. Yeah, they're called Nene Collection and um, business was booming and then COVID hit. So like that business kind of, and then I was born in COVID. So then I started to learn how to day trade and the foreign exchange market. And I just love analyzing charts. It's like very therapeutic to me. Like I like, so I started investing like in stocks and learning how stocks work. So like, it was just, I don't know. I told myself somehow, some way I'm gonna do it.

• 16:28Speaker 01

  And then um, my Airbnb business came out on about, cause I was scrolling on Instagram. I saw all these like young kids like successfully like killing it in Airbnb. So then I went to like Dallas and I, it's so crazy, I was Kenny Los in Dallas, cause like I already knew about Dallas. Cause I got my Airbnbs there. Um, and then the laws changed in Dallas where like you basically can only have midterm rentals. So after that business shut down, I was like, I don't know what I'm, I'm gonna do, but I'm gonna do it. I started studying um, Amazon and then I did Amazon FBA.

• 16:56Keke Palmer?

  Girl, you're our sponsors.

• 16:57Speaker 01

  Hustler, yeah.

• 16:59Keke Palmer?

  Yes, Airbnb and Amazon.

• 17:01Speaker 01

  Love you, Amazon.

• 17:02Keke Palmer?

  This is all real.

• 17:04Speaker 01

  But um, I now sold products on Amazon, Amazon FBA, and then I went up into the villa. So then I had to hire like a VA to like manage myself.

• 17:12Keke Palmer?

  You're literally a hustler. That Chicago side of your family is coming through strong. Because one thing we're gonna do is find a job and a gig. How do you think that helped you in the villa? Like, did you, obviously you were going to the villa for love, but hearing you talk, you're a smart young woman. So you knew that there would also be opportunities coming out of the villa, whether there's love or something else, otherwise.

• 17:30Speaker 01

  You know, it's so crazy, even like in the villa, I mean, like thinking of the outside, I don't think any of us thought that it would be like to this extreme.

• 17:37Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 17:38Speaker 01

  Like Keke Palmer knows who I am.

• 17:40Keke Palmer?

  I watched you every day in my bedroom eating food.

• 17:42Speaker 01

  I would have never thought.

• 17:45Speaker 01

  I would have never thought, you know what I mean? So like, inside the villa, the way I use like my entrepreneur, like I guess, side of me, was just to literally never give up and pivot. Like every time a boy left me, I'm like, I'm just gonna pivot and we're gonna go to someone else. Like, man, the amount of L's I took up in that villa. But like, I could have gone home.

• 18:01Keke Palmer?

  But you made it look like fashion. You really did, you really, I, I, cause I felt like it was, I don't know, I just never once felt like, oh no, poor Jeanette, I just never felt that.

• 18:11Speaker 01

  Right, I didn't want anybody.

• 18:12Keke Palmer?

  You just ate, you were like, this is crazy, they're crazy. But I'm, my moment is coming. And your moment came.

• 18:19Speaker 01

  Shout out to Kenny.

• 18:20Keke Palmer?

  Shout out to Kenny. I know Kenny was young and he wasn't necessarily what you were thinking at first when you found out about that age. But, like, how did you get to the point of opening yourself up to him? I mean, obviously, he's cute and he was nice, but.

• 18:31Speaker 01

  He's cute, so then, yeah, so the second he told me his age, I, I'm looking at like, oh no, no, not, not a babysitter, like, I can't be a babysitter, that's insane, right? But the crazy part, I, twenty, he's twenty, what is he, twenty-four? And I was twenty-seven. So I was like, oh, you're so cute. Like, I went from like, is he handsome to, he's cute, right? But the crazy part is, I don't know if Serena told you, but like, the night before he came in, um, you know, Serena was still like on edge of what she wanted. I knew for a fact that I was single at that moment, so I was like, this sucks. And we're venting like how it's like so not fair, specifically for black girls. Like, we felt like we were getting the short end of the stick. And she was like so frustrated, and I was like, oh my gosh, I feel your, like, girl, you're not alone, stuff, right? I'm like, we should just like manifest what we want. So she's like, what do you want? And I was like, I need a Latino man.

• 19:14Speaker 01

  Because I already had a vanilla and I already had chocolate. I already had chocolate, the first guy, the second one, vanilla. So I was just up. And then she was like, okay, okay, and I'm like, he has to be at least six one, and she was like.

• 19:23Keke Palmer?

  Yes!

• 19:23Speaker 01

  Yes, and then I said, it was crazy.

• 19:27Keke Palmer?

  Afro Latino. I know, that's right.

• 19:31Speaker 01

  And I was like, he needs to be from New York. And she's like, why? I'm like, I don't know, the ones from New York are just like a different. And I didn't tell her, specifically the Bronx. But I said in my head, he's gonna be from Brooklyn or he's gonna be from the Bronx.

• 19:41Keke Palmer?

  You need to stop.

• 19:42Speaker 01

  I put this on everything Serena to this day. So when he came in, he was, um, at first he had mentioned something about Dallas. But I'm like, oh, but where are you from originally? He's like, I'm from New York. And I went, and I'm like, oh, that's cool. I'm like, oh, like, what are you, like, are you like, uh, Mexican? He goes, I'm Dominican. I said.

• 19:56Keke Palmer?

  Afro Latina?

• 19:57Speaker 01

  Yes, I was like. Serena, she's like, Jane Dunbar. And I'm like, she goes like, how tall are you? Six, three. And we're like, oh, my gosh.

• 20:04Keke Palmer?

  Yeah. I love when me and my girl start gagging together.

• 20:07Speaker 01

  It's insane.

• 20:08Keke Palmer?

  It's almost better than the news from the guy.

• 20:10Speaker 01

  Yes, it was insane. So me and her looking at each other, I'm like, don't, don't. But then he pulls like Lea Faur chat first and then me.

• 20:16Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh, yeah.

• 20:18Speaker 01

  Well, if you're gonna pull anyone, it's gonna be my best friends.

• 20:20Keke Palmer?

  Period.

• 20:20Speaker 01

  Not mad, not mad, yeah.

• 20:21Keke Palmer?

  And you chose correct.

• 20:25Speaker 01

  But then, yeah, I was like, I manifested him. It was so weird. So I'm like, you might be the one because I'm not.

• 20:29Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh. And so what, I mean, we missed so many mo- and I don't say we missed, but you know, we don't get to see every- Right, we don't get to see everything. So what were some of those things that we, that are like on the cutting room floor?

• 20:39Speaker 01

  Um, you missed Serena go in at the fire pit. Y'all didn't see the full fire pit. Yeah, whoo, child, let me, might get in trouble. But Serena really like expressed herself way better than what the cameras showed. What the recoupling? I'll tell you that when the cameras are all, but she went in as she should. Like, you guys are proud of her?

• 20:58Keke Palmer?

  I just feel like the casting was so good on this season. And if Love Island is listening and y'all ever decide to do an HBCU, just call me for the hosting. Okay, call me. Y'all do an HBCU, Love Island type of like extravaganza for Juneteenth or something. I will be your host. So let me know because this casting was really, really well done. Because I felt we saw all the different ex, like, like nuances of cultural backgrounds. Not just putting pieces together to say check off. It felt like all the people could actually connect on what they're interested in.

• 21:32Speaker 01

  Isn't that crazy?

• 21:33Keke Palmer?

  And that's why I think it was such a great cast was because everybody was like, even if they're different backgrounds, they was on the same page.

• 21:39Speaker 01

  Period.

• 21:39Keke Palmer?

  You know, and that was, that's important. I mean, what was your mentality coming into the villa when it came to friends? Especially like just meeting people that were gonna be, I mean, sometimes it is solo and lonely for the black girls on the show.

• 21:50Speaker 01

  Came in solo and walked out solo. Like, we try to be good friends with them, but I think they're just there for such a short amount of time. But I told myself, um, obviously go straight for the black girls. The good thing about me is I base people off their personality first.

• 22:01Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 22:02Speaker 01

  Like, it doesn't matter what you look like, I don't care where you're from, but if you're a mean person. You see what I'm saying? Yes. So let me go for like the sweethearts, because I consider myself like a sweetheart. But every girl was such a girl's girl.

• 22:12Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 22:12Speaker 01

  Like, I thought I was a girl's girl until like when they saved me. I know, I thought it was going home, I was like, it's been fun. And they say, I'm like, y'all want me to still stay?

• 22:19Keke Palmer?

  Every girl was a girl's girl. And I was like, to see you guys actually really form a clique that's still maintained outside of the show. I mean, that must have been shocking for y'all. Like, was there any moment where you felt like, I don't want to say the producers, but the producers and/or the public pitting you against each other or trying to create any type of wars?

• 22:36Speaker 01

  Hundred percent. So the thing about the producers is like, they will never make you do something you don't want to do, but they would like suggest something like, hey, like, it seemed like, you know, Kenny hurt your feelings yesterday. Did you want to go talk to someone else instead? And I was like, no, people hurt feelings. And I mean, he's like, okay, well, like, you know, I know you wouldn't want to vent to Serena, but why don't you vent to like someone else? I'm like, no, that's my girl. I need to vent to her. Like, they try to like make you do that. I was like, okay, well, just so you know, I think you should do this instead. Cause I'm like, thanks for your opinion, but no, no, no, nice try. You know what I mean? Yeah.

• 23:06Keke Palmer?

  But what do you say? Because at the end of the day, I'm sure being on the show, you're thinking to yourself like, I also don't want to piss, I still want my TV time.

• 23:12Speaker 01

  Yes, like, oh, first, me and Kenny got no airtime, apparently. I haven't, like, I mean, I've seen the majority of it, cause like, it's so hard watching yourself. But like, people are like, y'all got no airtime. I'm like, we know. But I think it's because we talked about God a lot.

• 23:22Keke Palmer?

  It was like Blink and y'all was in love.

• 23:24Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 23:24Keke Palmer?

  We were like, yes. You know, but we did see it, but it was also kind of like, damn, they are, she's tired of.

• 23:31Speaker 01

  Cause why did I think that too? People are like, Jane, you're so desperate. I'm like, no, there was days that you guys missed. We actually had conversations. It looked like that, huh?

• 23:37Keke Palmer?

  But we're also used to reality TV, so we know. We can fill in the holes, you know what I'm saying? For the most part, but I'm always curious of that because it's a balance, right? It's like, at the end of the day, I want to stay on the show and have an experience, but also like, I want to be true to myself.

• 23:49Speaker 01

  Exactly. And that was, I think, what set our season apart from the others was like, every time, I would assume that the other seasons would just like fall into the suggestions of production. So many times, they told us not to do something and we did it. We didn't care. They told me do not walk off set. I walked off set because I was upset. I'm like, did not care. And every single time they told us to do something, I kind of felt we all purposely like just didn't do it. Just because like we're some bad little kids.

• 24:09Keke Palmer?

  Well, also I live for the banding together energy.

• 24:11Speaker 01

  Yeah. And I told them, I was like, if I go home, just signal Leah, Serena going home. And then they're like, please don't go home. I'm like, I'm leaving. Like, I was so upset. I'm like, let's go, girls. I'm like, let's go. And there's so many times. But then like, I know that one moment, like Serena really needs to talk to like Cordell one more time. Leah needs to talk to Megan one more time. So like, Jane, can we just stay for one more day? And if you sleep on it, in the morning, if you want to go, we will all go. And I'm so grateful. That they made me sleep on it that night because like that was the day after Casa More. I'm like, this is ghetto, this is Roger.

• 24:36Keke Palmer?

  Oh my gosh, Casa More is so much and like the girls are coming in and so much, so ready to rub your man's back. It's like, why y'all so ready?

• 24:43Speaker 01

  They told us, they told us one day like, we promised you guys were girls, girls. I'm like.

• 24:46Keke Palmer?

  It's like, I feel like they're like, you'll get extra ten dollars if you kiss him on the neck. It's like, why is everybody so ready to be freaked out? That was just so pissing me off.

• 24:54Speaker 01

  We actually got in trouble, fun fact. We got in trouble because so one day, the day after Casa More.

• 24:59Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, yeah.

• 24:59Speaker 01

  The following day, it's not like we were, I don't think we were mean to the Casa More girls. We just didn't care to talk to them because it's like.

• 25:05Keke Palmer?

  Because we know what y'all was up to. Y'all over there like a football player on the field, ready to crash your head for extra cash. I know what's going on. They were too ready.

• 25:15Speaker 01

  You are my favorite person.

• 25:17Keke Palmer?

  They were too ready to get your man.

• 25:18Speaker 01

  They were too ready. I'm talking about, you know, your mom's watching, right? Exactly. And I think like production, basically long story short, HR came.

• 25:25Keke Palmer?

  Okay, get them together.

• 25:27Speaker 01

  I was, oh, no, but, no, for us. We were in trouble.

• 25:30Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, because I do remember that moment where it felt like we, I knew that time was cut. Like, I knew that there was a time lapse because everybody was like in that corner and it was like, we had to. You know, you knew that things went left.

• 25:40Speaker 01

  It was crazy. It was Liv and someone in the, in the makeup room. So the first night, the girls were too scared. They thought that we were intimidating. So they waited outside the makeup room until we like got ready for bed and we're like, don't care. And then went to bed and they got to the makeup room. And then the next morning, they were like, we wanted to do our makeup, but like, I don't think they're welcoming. I'm like, okay, so wait outside. Like, we were not playing. So we're doing our makeup and mind you, I want to go home at this point. Like, I'm already over it. Can he try to me? I don't care to be here, right? I'm sitting outside and Kayla goes, Janae, like Liv and Serena, someone was with Liv, I think it was Serena. They're in the makeup room arguing with the Casa More girls. I said, Tom, the shine, I took my shoes off so quick and I'm running. I was like, what's good? Because I told them if I go, I'm going out with a bang. Literal bang. I was so upset, right? Kiki, I was running and I was ready. I get to the front, I go up the stairs and who's there?

• 26:23Speaker 01

  HR with the other two producers that are never on set, they're up in the air. And I was like, and I had all this moment, I was like, what are you doing here, Janae? I was like, just checking on my girls. Like, no, come here. So they called all the girls into the makeup room and they were like, for you OGs to be so distant from the other girls. Like, we picked you guys because of your personalities, because of your kindness. Like, we know your hearts. Mind you, I'm here with shades on. So the girls are like, we're on the room. I'm just like.

• 26:46Keke Palmer?

  And that ain't even real, y'all. We ain't got to go so far, but we can't be chum chum chum.

• 26:52Speaker 01

  See what I'm saying? They tried us. And so we have to go in a circle and basically everyone apologized. I was signing because I'm like, I ain't doing nothing. So what am I apologizing for? I ain't doing nothing, right? And then they went around, the girls were like crying, the customer girls were crying, like, we're really sorry. Like, we hate that we're in this position. Like, we're rooting for you, girls, but like, you know, like, we deserve love too. And I'm just like, just don't call yourself a girl's girl. Because me personally, in productions, like, hey, you're not an OG. You're going to come in as a customer girl. I would be like, send me home, back to America. Because I would never in my life be a customer girl. I've seen the other shows, I see how it works. I would never sign up to break up a relationship. That's just not me. So I'm like...

• 27:25Keke Palmer?

  It's tough, you know what I mean? And sometimes you might find somebody during the customer time where it's like, okay, clearly this person was left. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Things went wrong and there's opportunity. But it's, it's very rare. But speaking of Rob, really quick, I wanted to do a sideline. And what was up with Liv? And I loved Liv, right? But then she made me really upset.

• 27:41Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 27:42Keke Palmer?

  When she came and Lea did all that stuff. What was that about? Like, why would she just suddenly get so vicious like that?

• 27:48Speaker 01

  It was, I know, right?

• 27:49Keke Palmer?

  Like, did I miss something?

• 27:50Speaker 01

  I watched the episode too, and I was like, did I miss something? I was there. I know. So the thing about Liv is...

• 27:54Keke Palmer?

  I didn't get it.

• 27:55Speaker 01

  So you gotta remember, Liv was like really young. She was, she was 22 at the time. She was very ride or die.

• 27:59Keke Palmer?

  For who and for what?

• 28:01Speaker 01

  Right.

• 28:02Keke Palmer?

  I just didn't get it. And she was seeming so like down for the girls, but then it was like... I'm sorry, what?

• 28:08Speaker 01

  And so at my elimination, you know, she was obviously like riding, like, Janie's not going anywhere. So I'm like, oh, my love for you is strong. I got your back, right? The Rob situation, I don't know. So what you guys didn't see is like, respectfully, like, we're obviously all Big One family. But on our break days, it would be Rob, Liv, Kayla, and Erin, like that four. And then it would be literally PPG, like me, Leah, Serena. Um, so we had break days on Fridays. Every, was it Fridays? Yeah, every Friday was like a break day where like you have to be separate from the guys and girls. But like, we always kind of mingle in a way. Or like the days like during lunchtime, lunch break and stuff, is when the cameras aren't on, you get to relax and chill. Like, you play card games. Uh, me and Leah would play volleyball for like hours. Serena would take naps because she was always so tired, right?

• 28:51Speaker 01

  But, um, there'd be times like in between sessions where you can take a break and you could just chill with your peoples. And like, in between the breaks, or even like when we can free to run when there's cameras even rolling. I don't know if you guys noticed, it was always me, Leah, Serena, right? With like, as one by one they came in, like eventually it was Cordell, all of us, like, you know, it was a thing. And then the others, not that it was ever separate because we're still family, but we're still separate. You see what I'm saying? So I, I would assume that Liv decided to have Rob's back because... They were like a four Z and then like we were like a six C or whatever. You know what I mean? Like whenever. So it was always like separate. So I would just assume like she had his back because like they were just close from the jump, even though we were all close. But like, I don't know. I don't know. And I felt the need. So when they started arguing, I had to mind my business because I don't know what they're arguing about.

• 29:36Speaker 01

  Oh, I know what they're arguing about. Sending Andrea home. And mind you, that argument was Leah.

• 29:41Keke Palmer?

  I mean, when they played it back in the reunion, it wasn't like Leah was so aggressively being like, send her home. It was like very lightweight. We don't know her.

• 29:50Speaker 01

  You know, with the energy. And she was, she was making it clear, Andrea's making it clear that she's like, I'm so all in for Rob. Like, it's gonna be hard to turn my head. Where the show is about being open to multiple people. Cause like when a new bombshell comes in, it's not fair to that new bombshell that everyone's closed off. People like Janaye, who has no choice but to be open, is gonna give them the time of day, right? So that was like, like Leah's made points. Like she says she's very clear to be closed off on Rob.

• 30:12Keke Palmer?

  And everybody's in love until the camera says cut.

• 30:14Speaker 01

  Exactly.

• 30:14Keke Palmer?

  Cause where's Andrea and Rob now?

• 30:17Keke Palmer?

  Like, give me a break. No F's, no J's, no T's.

• 30:20Speaker 01

  Exactly. No, but when Rob didn't wanna go home with her.

• 30:22Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, like he stayed, babe.

• 30:24Speaker 01

  You know what I'm saying? Like, maybe he don't want to go. Yeah.

• 30:26Keke Palmer?

  What was that about?

• 30:31Keke Palmer?

  Sometimes you get so invested, you know?

• 30:33Speaker 01

  So invested, I know. Really. I'm on the sidelines. Cause I got saved. So I couldn't be involved. I felt so bad. When the argument happened, I had to wait till they like hashed out and then I come in comfort because mind you, I was one of the girls that got like on the sideline. So I don't know what the conversation was. I don't know. Like, I was like, I know for a fact Leah wouldn't do that. Cause Leah's petty, but she's not that petty. She would never, ever. And so when you guys saw that at the reunion, I'm like, see, I knew she wouldn't do that. Right? But mind you, I still wasn't there. And like, I was so grateful to all four girls for saving me. I'm always gonna be team both. But like PPG, PPG's forever. So I'm like, I gotta run to Leah, of course. And then later on, I checked on Liv, of course. I'm like, I'm running to Lily. Cause Lily's my sister.

• 31:08Speaker 01

  Yeah, but I still, I felt so bad for all of them. But like, yeah, I, when people ask me about that question, I'm like, I got saved that day. So like, I don't have no idea what happened. I'm just grateful to be here and I love them both, but.

• 31:19Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, but you, you know, you see what's going on.

• 31:21Speaker 01

  Yeah, but when that happened, it really divided us.

• 31:23Keke Palmer?

  I know it did. Cause it divided me. And I was at home kind of like, what just happened here? I almost had to turn it off for a few days. Girl, I'm blaming you. Because I was just kinda like, what, what, what was this about? And how he was able to just start up so much ruckus, Rob was.

• 31:35Speaker 01

  The way that Rob had an effect on everyone.

• 31:37Keke Palmer?

  I didn't get it.

• 31:37Speaker 01

  I love Robbie. But I'm like, what do y'all see that? I don't like, I love him. He's the sweetest guy. But every girl that came into our villa was like, Rob. I'm like.

• 31:46Keke Palmer?

  And then it became such a storyline that I think also that made people be engaged.

• 31:49Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 31:50Keke Palmer?

  So you're still with your guy, obviously, Kenny. We've talked about that at the top. I want to know on that, on the show, when he came back and he was crying, he was, I mean, I didn't expect for his emotion to be so raw. What were you thinking then? Were you taken aback?

• 32:03Speaker 01

  Yeah, so when he cried, I wasn't there. So like.

• 32:07Keke Palmer?

  Oh, you didn't see this?

• 32:08Speaker 01

  No, I had no idea he cried until like day, like even his next day, they didn't tell me. I didn't, I didn't know he cried until like the customer girls left. Like, it was insane. So the second that happened, I told production, I'm leaving, I'm, I'm walking off set. But you're not allowed to walk off set. But that's why, I don't give a, I was already, I was already done. I was so done.

• 32:31Keke Palmer?

  Summer reading, more like summer listening. I've been living for Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life on Audible. Okay, it's got everything. A mysterious heiress, competing biographers, and that slow burn romance that makes you want to just throw your phone across the room, but don't because how else are you going to keep up listening? That would be crazy. And that's what I love about Audible. You can dive into these amazing stories while doing literally everything else. Working out, listen. Meal prep, listen. Pretending to clean, but really just dancing with the vacuum. Baby, listen. With over a million titles and thousands included with membership. Mm-hmm. Audible's got all the audiobook, podcasts, and originals you could want.

• 33:16Keke Palmer?

  Your imagination deserves this. Head to audible.com for a free 30-day trial and your first audiobook is on me. Visit audible.com slash K E K E and sign up today. There's more to imagine when you listen. Y'all, in celebration of their 20th anniversary, Apple Podcasts just named our show one of the 20 podcasts they love. Can you believe it? These are the shows they say bring the best stories, the freshest voices, and are changing the game in how we all listen. I mean, what an honor. We are so proud to be a part of this moment and excited to help shape the next 20 years of podcasting. If you're just joining us, go check out some of our favorite episodes. This is what we do on Baby. This is Keke Palmer.

• 34:00Speaker 01

  So I walked off set and I was like, get me psyched now, like I'm losing my mind, like I wanna go home.

• 34:04Keke Palmer?

  Go you better, yes.

• 34:05Speaker 01

  Yeah, I was like, I need to go home. I was like, I will pay any price for an Uber, like get me to the airport. I can't. And like, can you just have one conversation with Kenny? And I was like, absolutely not. Like, this is so embarrassing. Like, I'm the oldest girl at this point. The other older girl already got sent home. I'm like, I'm too grown for this. Like, I don't need this. Like, he tells her, that's fine. Mind you, the thing that people don't understand, like me and Kenny were together for like four days and a break day before we went to Casa Amor. So we were like, you know, like, why are you so attached so soon? It looked like it was only one or two days, but it was like, we had a, we had a date in the ocean. It was so beautiful. We spent the whole day. It was like a six hour film day then. And then he had like the, the day of just like roaming around. And that day is when you would think he'd pull everyone else, cause he just got there. I thought he was gonna pull Liv, I thought he was gonna pull everyone else.

• 34:47Speaker 01

  We sat and talked that whole day. It was insane. I'm like, go pull someone else. I was like, you're making the girls jealous. Kenny, right? The third day was a challenge, the muscle challenge, and then he picked me, right? And then the fourth day was a break day, fifth day, we wake up and the Casa Amor, the boys are going to Casa Amor. So I felt like we had enough time to realize, like, don't try me.

• 35:05Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 35:05Speaker 01

  Don't try me, right?

• 35:06Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 35:06Speaker 01

  So when that happened, I was like, okay, you tried it. That's cool. Bye, right? But then they made me go back on set. I was so upset. Go back on set. We had that moment. I started crying. I gave him a hug. I was like, I genuinely wish nothing but the best. Go for her, cause what you're not gonna do is pick between two girls.

• 35:20Keke Palmer?

  I'm not playing that game.

• 35:21Speaker 01

  Could never be me, right?

• 35:22Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 35:22Speaker 01

  So I said bye. And then I walk off set. I told, I talked to Psy, I'm like, get me an Uber right now. But while that's happening, he sees Leanne and Serena and starts crying in their eyes, like, I'm crying. But like, obviously I should feel bad. I'm like, as you should.

• 35:34Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 35:34Speaker 01

  Drop a tear.

• 35:35Keke Palmer?

  I love the tears.

• 35:36Speaker 01

  Me? Are you good?

• 35:38Keke Palmer?

  Loved it. And I was happy when it came to, because I wanted that moment for you. And I wanted to know that he was a good guy, you know? And I did end up feeling that way. I mean, now, having been together for a year and some change, like, what do you think has impacted your relationship and made it stronger? How have you guys been able to grow? I mean, time can do it, but I mean, is there anything else you would say?

• 35:57Speaker 01

  Yeah, I guess like, okay, so he's Catholic, I'm Baptist, but he keeps on going to Baptist churches for me, which I am so grateful for. My man, right? So like, my favorite thing to do with him, I'm so serious, is to go to church. Yeah, I see that how he gets really like, like puts his hands in the air, we're praying, Bible study, all that stuff. We wanna start doing like a Bible study series on TikTok, cause we're just so cute. But my favorite part about him is his relationship with God. Cause if you have a relationship with God, that's all you need. You see what I'm saying? Like, everything else I know.

• 36:26Keke Palmer?

  My mom in the back checking her hair.

• 36:27Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 36:28Keke Palmer?

  What?

• 36:29Speaker 01

  Yeah, so you know, so like that's my favorite part, right? That's my only priority. I'm like, you gotta be a child of God. Everything else will be like, fine. So the fact that he told me that you like, he like, went to like a Quaker school.

• 36:40Keke Palmer?

  Not, not familiar either.

• 36:41Speaker 01

  Me either.

• 36:42Keke Palmer?

  I heard a question mark in your voice, I said same.

• 36:45Speaker 01

  The first thing he told us on the bill that he went to a Quaker school is like, what's that? It's like, it's a Catholic school that doesn't believe in violence.

• 36:51Keke Palmer?

  Great.

• 36:52Speaker 01

  I said so.

• 36:52Keke Palmer?

  What's the Catholic school that does? Like, what is that? What's that called?

• 36:58Speaker 01

  It's crazy. But yeah, so like, I don't know. Like, what brought us closer together is definitely just like the religion-based relationship. Mm-hmm. And like, we barely get quality time, but like, I love.

• 37:08Keke Palmer?

  Barely get quality time? Why even?

• 37:09Speaker 01

  Yeah, like, quality time was like a whole day. Like, we never had a whole day of nothing. Like, either I gotta go do something.

• 37:15Keke Palmer?

  Cause y'all are working.

• 37:16Speaker 01

  And then always working.

• 37:17Keke Palmer?

  Love a job.

• 37:17Speaker 01

  Love a job, God is good, love a job. Keep me employed, please.

• 37:20Keke Palmer?

  Okay.

• 37:21Speaker 01

  But, um, yeah, it's very like rare, but we go on trips together. Even when we go on trips, we have to make sure we get like the content or whatever. So technically, we do have a lot of quality time, but like, when we're just like chilling in bed, watching like TV or show, just like Uber Eats, like that's my favorite. But I know, hey, no makeup on. He likes to rub my braids.

• 37:36Keke Palmer?

  Yes, wig words! Yes!

• 37:40Speaker 01

  I get home from work, he goes, let me help you. Takes out the, and I'm like, it's so comfortable. It's just, I feel so free. Yes. He loves rubbing my braids. I was like, go ahead, Kenny.

• 37:49Keke Palmer?

  One thing I love that we saw on the show too, that I think again, like, obviously it's about love, but what was cool about you and PPG and just the girls on the show was that you guys encouraged each other to have the love that maybe sometimes we don't even want for ourselves. How do you feel your friendships impacted your ability to maintain, you know, not even just this relationship with Kenny, but how you view love in general? Because when your girls are holding you down and loving you, I think it really lets you know, like, if my home, if my homegirls are treating me better than this, then I don't need this, you know? So how did that impact your view of love?

• 38:18Speaker 01

  You're so right. Oh, my gosh, that's such a good question. So like, obviously, my roster wasn't the best.

• 38:22Keke Palmer?

  Oh, that's why, yeah. At least she had a roster.

• 38:27Keke Palmer?

  It's hard out here.

• 38:29Speaker 01

  No, believe it's not a flex me running through them. Believe me, I was running through, sent them home, everything. But like, that's such a good, I saw how like, what they went through. And that was very motivating, like if Serena can forgive Cordell. Woo, Jesus, proud of her, I can forgive Kenny. You know what I mean, like mine wasn't that deep. So like, that was very motivational. And then like, every time I have a conversation with a guy, I'd run back to them and they'd be like, "Janae, do you not know how pretty you are, how smart you are, how kind you are? Like, don't you ever settle." They reminded me never, ever to settle, start to send the first one home, you feel me? And then the second one, that's a whole other story. But like, when I would talk to my girls and vent to them, they would just remind me like, "Yes, like, that's so good, like, you're being open, you're being humble, good job." Like, "No, Janae, like, you're better than this, like, absolutely not."

• 39:12Speaker 01

  You know what I mean, like, they just like motivated me and they reminded me of who I was. Even though we just met, it was so insane, but like, I was so grateful. Without them, like, who, I would, who knows?

• 39:22Keke Palmer?

  That was the best thing to see, because I think with love, falling in love, desiring love, having a great foundation of friends, family of course, but like, really good friends.

• 39:29Speaker 01

  Yeah.

• 39:29Keke Palmer?

  It's so important to see, and we saw that for you girls, so I love that. Now, another thing about PPG was y'all was sneaky, okay, going on a missions.

• 39:36Speaker 01

  We was nosy, that was our job, yeah.

• 39:38Keke Palmer?

  What was the best tea that you found that wasn't shown? If you can remember.

• 39:43Speaker 01

  Oh my gosh, yes, okay, so, because PPG, originally we were TLC.

• 39:46Keke Palmer?

  Oh, come on, Crazy Sexy Cool.

• 39:50Speaker 01

  Yes, but like, you know, we can't sing songs in the villa. So we turned to PPG, pop up gang, and we would do cartwheels, backflip, crawl around, right? The craziest one, which they didn't air, and production actually was like, "Can you guys get down, like, stop being nosy." Um, it was when Ciara, she, the girl from Casa Amor.

• 40:08Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 40:09Speaker 01

  She was with Miguel, now Leah and Miguel are back to a thing, so she started to explore other things. And then she decided to go with the guy that Liv brought back, Kane, right? Kane, unbeknownst to us, was very handsome, very sweet, very kind, but a little bit on the jealous side, right? So, a new bombshell comes in, and it's, um... Harrison.

• 40:30Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 40:30Speaker 01

  Right? Harrison pulls Ciara for a date. Kane loses his... Because he's just like, absolutely not like, why would she agree to that? But Harrison got a text and like sent the text to... Like, she had to go.

• 40:40Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, it was about a show.

• 40:42Speaker 01

  She got picked, right? So, we wanted to know so bad, because we knew that while she's on a date, Kane's like irritated. Like, if she, if she likes him, then that's it for us and blah blah. We're like, what? Like, this is how the show goes. Like, have you not seen this show? Like, you gotta be okay with her talking to other guys. So she comes back. And then she was like, how, we like, how did it go? And she tells us like, "Oh, I actually really like him." And we were like, "You gotta go tell Kane." And she's like, "Yeah, I'm gonna tell him." So she goes to tell Kane. But we know that Kane's feelings in type of way. Like, if she likes him, then we're done. Like, I'm not gonna pick her and da-da-da, right? So, PPG we go. Ladies, assemble. So when they go have that conversation, we crawl up the stairs. And we can hear him like, just letting you know, like, if that's what you want, then we should cut off things here. And she's just like, so, all we heard her say specifically was,

• 41:27Speaker 01

  "So, if I tell you, if I go on another date with him, you're gonna cut me off." And he was like, "Absolutely." Like, it was insane. So then we go, "Oh, no, this is good." So we're listening. And then the producers are like, "Get down." Like, you can't listen to that one. I'm like, "We're listening to that one." I'm like, "No, just like, respect the privacy." And we're like, "Bleugh." So then we crawled backwards. And when she tells us what happened, we had to act like surprised. Like, "He said what, girl?"

• 41:46Keke Palmer?

  Ah!

• 41:47Speaker 01

  Girl, we heard it. Yeah, definitely heard it. It was insane, but that was the craziest one. They didn't show that one. That's my favorite one. That's my favorite mission. We've been on a lot of missions. We went on so many missions. And I think you guys only saw like one or two. So when we got off the villa and you guys knew what PPG was, like, how did you guys know what PPG was? Because we only did a couple of missions. And like, I didn't know that they aired like only one or two, but we did like, we were nosey. We were... Well, we don't like this when a girl doesn't stand on business. So when girls came in, like, "How was your conversation with Rob?" "Oh, it was good. What did you talk about?" Like, you know. "No, we don't know. Tell us." "Oh, like, you know, like, okay, fine." So the next time we had a conversation, we just got nosey. We snuck in and aired it for ourselves, yeah.

• 42:23Keke Palmer?

  Oh, my gosh, okay. So tell me, if you can, because I know you guys have a group chat. What is the most like, the last text in the group chat out of context that you can share?

• 42:36Speaker 01

  Okay, not that one. Let me scroll.

• 42:40Speaker 01

  Not that one either. Hmm, I have like photographic memories, I'm almost like.

• 42:47Speaker 01

  No, I don't, we gonna get cancelled, okay.

• 42:48Keke Palmer?

  Oh my gosh!

• 42:50Speaker 01

  It's so bad, okay, I will say. Okay, so Leah and Miguel, they have like this big baby, because they wanna like practice being like parents, right? And the baby cries and whines and.

• 42:59Keke Palmer?

  Oh my gosh, I feel like I'm in a Boy Meets World episode.

• 43:01Speaker 01

  Yes! And so we were like, Leah, how's it go?

• 43:06Speaker 01

  Leah, how's it going and stuff, and let's just say in the nicest way. I don't think she wants to be a parent anytime soon. She's like, come get this damn baby. She was just like, it wants to stop crying, like all it does is cry. She said she tossed it to Miguel, thank god he caught it. Mind you, it's a fake baby, but you have to practice, like it's fake, she was, no, get this baby away from me.

• 43:23Keke Palmer?

  I'm telling you, a baby, having a baby, fake baby, you know, it will do. It will definitely show you a lot about your relationship.

• 43:30Speaker 01

  Yes, and I babysat it for like an hour at the park, and I could understand her pain, like it just kept on crying, mind you, it's fake. So when production wasn't looking, I just pulled the battery out, it's a baby here. Yes, and then it went to sleep. It went to sleep now for a very long time.

• 43:44Keke Palmer?

  Howling, so how's everything going with this new show? I mean, the fact that you guys have a show of your own, that's never been, as far as I know, that's never been done. That's never happened before, a spinoff in this way. So how's it been filming it?

• 43:58Speaker 01

  It's been like a roller coaster, but in a good way.

• 44:00Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, because it's in the real world, you're not like in a villa, it's not as, you know, controlled of an environment, like.

• 44:05Speaker 01

  Exactly.

• 44:05Keke Palmer?

  You have your friends and family on the show, like, how does this work?

• 44:08Speaker 01

  Yeah, we get to bring in our friends, most of my best friend was on, I think Kayla's like family was on. You're right, you can really bring, if you want to come on, please.

• 44:14Keke Palmer?

  Serena!

• 44:15Speaker 01

  You should have lunch with like me and Serena.

• 44:16Keke Palmer?

  Are we on now?

• 44:17Speaker 01

  Yes, we're actively filming now, oh. No, I don't know, we gotta prove, it's so hard to get approval for things, but um, you should come to lunch with like me and Serena.

• 44:25Keke Palmer?

  Oh my gosh, I would love, because we have a big guest. I've only, Serena didn't get to come on the show like this.

• 44:30Speaker 01

  I know, she told me to FaceTime you, um, before you go, yeah.

• 44:33Keke Palmer?

  Oh my gosh, yeah, like I really, really loved it, but it's so funny, because I met Serena like at the NAACP Awards like a year prior or something, before she did the show, and I didn't even realize, I was like, girl, we go way back.

• 44:42Speaker 01

  She told me, she was so excited.

• 44:43Keke Palmer?

  It was so good, so I would love to, I would literally live, like, hey y'all, so was Tivu. I would live for that.

• 44:49Speaker 01

  Can we add that to the list, please? Yeah, it's active right now. We're like halfway through.

• 44:54Keke Palmer?

  Okay.

• 44:55Speaker 01

  It was like eight weeks.

• 44:55Keke Palmer?

  What do you think some of the themes and the topics would be of the, I mean, I know you don't get to see it.

• 45:00Speaker 01

  Yeah, that's the thing. So they told us that it would be a show where like they follow us around like our daily lives and like just like an everyday thing. And like, that's what it is for the most part. But like, um, being in LA, we just thought like, like, I think the perfect opportunity is for them to air, like, to record this. Cause this is what I do. Like, I get to go on podcasts. I meet like my idols and stuff like that. And Queen. And like, you know, like we fly around doing the most crazy stuff. They're not really grasping that. And I think that's what we thought it was. They're grasping like very intimate moments. Like, like we all went to like Serena's house and Serena and Lee and I really opened up about like personal things that we never thought we would. But like, give us a glass of wine.

• 45:35Keke Palmer?

  And here we go, baby.

• 45:37Speaker 01

  You know what I'm saying? Yes. But, um, it's been like up and down.

• 45:40Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 45:41Speaker 01

  Um, there's a lot of cast members. There's like 11 of us, right? And we just didn't know the full cast.

• 45:47Keke Palmer?

  Do I know, get to know who was all on it?

• 45:48Speaker 01

  Oh, yeah. So obviously me, Leah, Serena, Cordell, Kenny Miguel, Kendall, Liv, Kayla, Aaron, and Connor.

• 45:56Keke Palmer?

  Okay. Now, what's the tea with Kendall?

• 46:01Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 46:03Keke Palmer?

  Cause there's a lot going on there. And a lot of the people was like, you know.

• 46:05Speaker 01

  He ain't so funny.

• 46:07Keke Palmer?

  A lot of the people were like, feeling like he was microaggressive. There's been conversations around that. You know, they'd be like, how did y'all feel inside the house?

• 46:15Speaker 01

  Yeah. So Kendall is, um, so like it sucks. We all view each other as like family. You know what I mean? He's like the annoying little brother. Yeah. Like annoying little brother doesn't mean to be annoying, but like, so I tell people all the time, Kendall is messy, but he doesn't mean to be messy. I.

• 46:28Keke Palmer?

  That's how messy people are.

• 46:29Speaker 01

  You see what I'm saying? Like, uh, fact. But like, he had such a good relationship with Serena. We all had good relationships. So when we watched back the show and saw how he was like egging Cordell to like be Team Daya over Serena, it really hurts Serena's feelings. Cause like, we didn't see that happening. I'm like, damn, I didn't see that coming. And he had like a lot of times like, by the way, I was kind of messy, but like, he just kind of like avoided it. So it wasn't so we watched it for like, damn, Kendall, you're actually kind of an op, but not really, but an op. And then, um, I saw like where he backed her up in a corner, I guess is what they're saying. That very, like pressured everyone. I wish I was there. I was like, I don't remember him backing up. You know I would have been there. So I'm like, Serena, I'm so sorry that I wasn't there. She's like, it's fine. I was just like in the kitchen. I'm like, no, it's not okay. Like,

• 47:10Speaker 01

  you shouldn't have done that, especially from a black man to a black woman. You don't do that. We're supposed to have each other's back all the time. So it was very disappointing. I talked to him, uh, he apologized to her, you know, since then, it's like, it's like whatever is like even outside the villa. The only people other than PPG, like we've been like a like glue, like we're always together. The only people that like um hang out with the others is like me and Kenny, cuz Kendall and Kenny both lived in Dallas.

• 47:34Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 47:34Speaker 01

  Yeah, so Ki- Kendall just moved to LA right before the show aired, but before that, they were like, you know, so whenever I went to go visit, Kenny, Kendall was always like around, but in a good way, whatever. So, so yeah, I had to pep talk him a few times.

• 47:45Keke Palmer?

  Even though those moments were uncomfortable, I do think that they gave the opportunity for us to talk about things uh on reality TV in a way that we never had before. Like on the new show, do you guys get to at least explore that topic or talk about what those boundaries? Like, do you guys get to go into some of the, yeah, the dynamics that we saw on the show in a more deeper kind of like, hey, let's talk about it type way?

• 48:06Speaker 01

  Yeah, yeah. So I don't know if they're gonna air it all, but like we gave our two cents after watching it and like, you know, like we hate how some things were cut, you know, if I'm being honest.

• 48:14Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 48:14Speaker 01

  And uh we got to talk more, like I'm avoiding a specific someone cuz I just don't like care to.

• 48:21Keke Palmer?

  Who is it?

• 48:22Speaker 01

  I'll think of the cast. I'll give you the, I'll give you the last. Liv, Kayla, Kendall, Aaron Connor. One of those. I just don't care to associate myself with it just because like it's, there's no beef, there's no nothing, but like, since before the, the show that we're filming now and between Love Island and this show, I've never hung out with like, like him.

• 48:44Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 48:44Speaker 01

  And like I never cared to you cuz once you like talk about it on me, do me dirty, like it's cool, like I'm just gonna cut you off. And now we're on the show where like I kinda have to be in the same space, but like even if there wasn't cameras, when I don't mess, like I don't care to be around someone, I just don't. You know what I mean? Like an op, I don't associate myself with ops. So it's kinda been like annoying in that sense cuz I didn't think he would get cast just because, what's the reason? No offense, like, but you know, I can't take him on other people's plates. That's just like, I wasn't raised that way. So I gotta let it go, but my keep your distance from me, but like, things like that, like.

• 49:12Keke Palmer?

  Has the distance been kept?

• 49:14Speaker 01

  Respectfully, yes, yes. And production knows if I were to see him in a vicinity, drop my mic and on about my way. They don't have to play about me. But, but I know eventually, we're gonna have to be in the same room eventually. And like, there's gonna have to be a conversation that needs to like happen. But like, I personally just don't care for it. Like, it's so 2024. And it's not me, you know what I mean? Like, that was so last year, let it go. But out of respect and love for my supporters.

• 49:42Keke Palmer?

  Yeah.

• 49:42Speaker 01

  I know that they're like, you need to go get that apology. He deserved that apology. Like, we want that apology. I'm like, y'all want the apology, but I don't want the apology. Like, I don't care for it. Like, I'm good, you know what I mean? But, so like, that's, that's like annoying thing in the background.

• 49:52Keke Palmer?

  I can't wait to see what that dynamic is gonna be looking like. So the show is obviously called Beyond the Villa. We finally get to see life beyond the villa. I'm very excited. It is Kendall, Liv, Aaron, Kayla, obviously Serena, Cordell, Kenny, you. And, you know, I'm, I'm excited to see the show and to see what all explores. And these intimate conversations.

• 50:08Speaker 01

  Yeah, they get deep.

• 50:09Keke Palmer?

  What's going on with my folks after the show? This is so, it's so exciting. And congratulations on it, seriously.

• 50:15Speaker 01

  Thank you so much.

• 50:16Keke Palmer?

  Now, I mean, our interview, I guess, has to come to an end at some point.

• 50:19Speaker 01

  No, we're having so much fun.

• 50:20Keke Palmer?

  I know. But before you leave, I would love to play a game. Okay? Now, this game is gonna be putting the girla in girl's girl. So pretty much it's called Villa or Villain. And I'm gonna read you some situations. And if you side with the girls, you're gonna say villa. And if you side with the man, you're gonna say villain. Okay, are you ready?

• 50:39Speaker 01

  The guys are villains.

• 50:42Keke Palmer?

  Okay, um, your girl says she saw your new man on a dating app. He says she's lying. Villa or villain?

• 50:50Speaker 01

  Hundred percent villa.

• 50:52Keke Palmer?

  Okay, you believe the girl?

• 50:53Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 50:53Keke Palmer?

  Period.

• 50:54Speaker 01

  Cause what girl lie about that? Men lie way more than, yeah. Crazy.

• 50:59Keke Palmer?

  I love that. Okay, your boyfriend asks you to miss your best friend's birthday for an NBA game. Villa or villain? I mean, obviously, we know.

• 51:06Speaker 01

  Right? That's so much stuff, villa. I cuss him off for asking a dumb question.

• 51:11Keke Palmer?

  And I don't even like NBA.

• 51:12Speaker 01

  And he's missing the NBA too, and he's coming to the birthday. Like, what?

• 51:15Keke Palmer?

  Period. Cause you don't care about the game. Do you got tickets? It's the only way that makes sense. Um, okay, you see your girl making eyes at your man at the club, but she denies it when you confront her. Villa or villain? You know what the answer is.

• 51:29Speaker 01

  Yeah, she's a villain.

• 51:31Keke Palmer?

  Yeah, villain. I'm believing the guy in that scenario. Because I seen you, I seen you with my own eyes. I ain't my man.

• 51:38Keke Palmer?

  I ain't my man. No, no, no. Okay, um, your boyfriend hears that your friend was running her mouth about you. Villa or villain? Who you believing?

• 51:47Speaker 01

  My man.

• 51:48Keke Palmer?

  I'm believing, yeah, it's villain all day.

• 51:50Speaker 01

  Because he would do something like that. He would just lie about that.

• 51:52Keke Palmer?

  And how did he know this information?

• 51:54Speaker 01

  Type, if, yeah.

• 51:55Keke Palmer?

  You know what I mean? Type, yeah.

• 51:57Speaker 01

  I feel like this is just like real. I'm like, who, who? No, I'm kidding.

• 52:01Keke Palmer?

  Seriously, who said that, Portia? Okay.

• 52:06Keke Palmer?

  Your friend's planning a girl's trip, but your boo wants to make it a couple weekend. You know what to say.

• 52:11Speaker 01

  Sorry, baby. Villa.

• 52:12Keke Palmer?

  Villa. Come on, we can't do that. I don't want to be the girl that's like.

• 52:15Speaker 01

  I gotta bring my man.

• 52:17Keke Palmer?

  No. Leave his ass at home. That's too much when that happens. And we all love it. We love him so bad. He's so much fun when it's just us two.

• 52:25Speaker 01

  I'm about to cry.

• 52:25Keke Palmer?

  But that's not what's happening.

• 52:26Speaker 01

  Bags, you're the funny person.

• 52:28Keke Palmer?

  You know I'm not lying. Okay, last one. You and your friend like the same man, and he's coming between you two. Villa or villain?

• 52:37Speaker 01

  Um, N A not applicable because that could never happen. Nice try.

• 52:41Keke Palmer?

  Yes.

• 52:41Speaker 01

  Girls, girl, though, obviously villa, but like, could never happen.

• 52:44Keke Palmer?

  Obviously villa, but what if she says villain and she chooses him?

• 52:49Speaker 01

  Then that's on my friend. We gotta fight. I'm just kidding. No, I gotta fight you now, right? No, I'm kidding. No, that'd be crazy.

• 52:54Keke Palmer?

  That's a tough one, but that is the last one, and I've had so much fun with you, Janay.

• 52:59Speaker 01

  Thank you so much for having me.

• 53:00Keke Palmer?

  And one last thing before you go. I mean, what's next for you? We talked about all the entrepreneurship going on. I know you recently did an interview. You just did an interview with, uh, Dochi.

• 53:08Speaker 01

  I did.

• 53:08Keke Palmer?

  I mean, are we gonna see you do more hosting, like more public speaking?

• 53:11Speaker 01

  Yes. Um, so like my top instructions, like you're one of them?

• 53:15Keke Palmer?

  Oh, stop.

• 53:16Speaker 01

  The way you run the show and everything you do, I just love everything about you. I could never be like an actress or anything like.

• 53:21Keke Palmer?

  Yes, you could.

• 53:22Speaker 01

  You think so?

• 53:23Keke Palmer?

  Yes, girl.

• 53:23Speaker 01

  So like, I have this bucket list. Like, I never, like, I love hosting. Like, you could just be free and just like, look at how you are. You think so?

• 53:29Keke Palmer?

  Lala Anthony style. You're giving us hoes, you're giving us actors, you're giving us NBA. I mean, I don't know what Kenny, he's not an athlete, but he looks like one. So it matches.

• 53:38Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 53:38Keke Palmer?

  I love it.

• 53:39Speaker 01

  But I have this thing right now, like, I just say yes to everything until I figure out what it is.

• 53:42Keke Palmer?

  Come on, Sean Durant. Year of yes.

• 53:44Speaker 01

  Year of yes. We gotta keep on saying yes, but as of now, like, what do I like? I like the whole hosting. It seems like, it seems like so much fun.

• 53:51Keke Palmer?

  And we need that for the next generation. And back in the day, people would pop up out of the reality TV and they're like, "It's me, your host." Like, old girl from Bachelor, she's Rachel Lindsay.

• 54:00Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 54:01Keke Palmer?

  I mean, she's not got her own, I mean, she came from The Bachelorette.

• 54:04Speaker 01

  Literally.

• 54:05Keke Palmer?

  Or The Bachelor, you know which one.

• 54:06Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 54:07Keke Palmer?

  But I can see that, and we're manifesting that.

• 54:09Speaker 01

  And Jesus name it.

• 54:10Keke Palmer?

  And I can't wait to come on your show.

• 54:12Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 54:13Keke Palmer?

  Love to have you.

• 54:14Speaker 01

  Yes.

• 54:15Keke Palmer?

  Thanks so much, Janae.

• 54:16Speaker 01

  Thank you.

• 54:19Keke Palmer?

  Ooh, take me back to the villa, y'all. That conversation gave me life. And Janae's confidence is a whole vibe. I will be seated to see what the PPG is getting into this summer. And their Zodiac parent, I mean, Kenny's a Pisces, she's a Sagittarius. I am manifesting a Love Island engagement. Janae is such a perfect example of why we need more unapologetic black love and friendships on reality TV. Okay, we need to see real people, not just actors experiencing the full spectrum of emotions on screen, from heartbreak to unconditional love, or being a little messy now and then. You know, the more that show spotlight our stories, the more we spread that love. And that's what it's about. Until next time. You know it's your girl.