Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Thanks Keke Palmer for ‘Making Me Famous,’ Aaron Pierre Breaks Out Viral ‘Mufasa’ Dance Moves and More Inside ABFF Honors

variety.com:

Angelique Jackson Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor enjoyed a surprise early birthday celebration at the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors ceremony on Monday night — complete with a cake, sparkling candles and the well-heeled crowd singing her “Happy Birthday” (the Stevie Wonder version, of course).

Ellis-Taylor was among the special honorees at the awards show, feted not just for turning another year older, but for delivering another year full of dazzling performances, including in the best picture Oscar-nominated film “Nickel Boys.” Though the spotlight was on Elllis-Taylor, she seemed less interested in accepting her well-deserved flowers than in doling them out to her fellow honorees. “Keke Palmer made me famous,” Ellis-Taylor declared as she took the stage at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills to accept ABFF’s Excellence in the Arts trophy from her “Origin” director Ava DuVernay.

A dozen years ago, Ellis-Taylor and Palmer — who was honored with the Renaissance Award for her varied career accomplishments thus far — co-starred in the Lifetime TV movie “Abducted: The Carlina White Story.” According to Ellis-Taylor, Palmer and her mother Sharon Palmer fought to ensure that she had the opportunity to do meaty work that reached a wide audience. “And I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since,” Ellis-Taylor said. “Because it was the first time I felt the line between who I was and who I played merged.” Ellis-Taylor also saluted Marla Gibbs, the evening’s Hollywood Legacy award honoree, explaining that one cannot be honored “alongside” an icon like “The Jeffersons” and “227” alum, “because [she] will always be in the distance — unreachable, unmatched.