Hollywood veteran Keenen Ivory Wayans appears to be eluding the general public currently, a lot in order that even his family members can’t attain him.
In line with his youthful brother Marlon, the comedy legend modified his telephone quantity with out telling anybody, leaving his siblings fully in the dead of night. It seems the “In Residing Shade” creator isn’t simply off the radar for the general public — generally, he ghosts his circle of relatives too.
Throughout a latest interview with Individuals, Marlon and Damon Wayans revealed that Keenen’s sudden quantity change created an enormous uproar in certainly one of their many household group chats.
The revelation got here whereas the brothers have been selling Keenen’s characteristic on Damon’s present “Poppa’s Home,” on CBS.
The episode, which aired March 24, brings a number of Wayans relations collectively on one display screen, together with Marlon, Damon Sr., nephew Damon Wayans Jr., and sister Kim Wayans, who directed the installment.
However behind the scenes, the true reunion was lacking a key participant.
“Keenen modified his quantity. Some random dude’s received Keenen’s previous quantity now,” Marlon defined. “Our household group chat blew up with everybody like, ‘Who’s this? Phil, is that you simply?’”
Keenen’s absence isn’t simply felt within the group chat — he was additionally lacking from the Wayans household’s induction into the NAACP Picture Awards Corridor of Fame in February.
9 relations accepted the distinguished honor onstage on the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in coordinated outfits, celebrating the decades-long affect of their leisure dynasty.
However Keenen and his youthful brother Shawn have been nowhere to be discovered, fueling hypothesis amongst followers about their whereabouts.
I want Keenan Ivory Wayans was together with his household on the NAACP awards. I really feel his voice is important in black tradition. I pray he’s wholesome and in good spirits.
— IG: Mickey.Factz (@MickeyFactz) February 23, 2025
The Wayans household retains in contact by way of a number of group chats, a necessity given their busy schedules and bicoastal lives. However in line with Damon, the sheer quantity of messages will be overwhelming.
“I’ve muted like 4 of them, every with 192 messages,” he admitted. “After which somebody jumps in on a dialog we thought was over, and now it begins yet again.”
Marlon recalled how Damon’s daughter Kyla as soon as discovered herself trapped in one of many household’s infinite chats. “She was so irritated, however we simply stored texting to get on her nerves,” he admitted.
Whereas followers proceed to marvel why Keenen has seemingly checked out, the reply is likely to be much less dramatic than some suppose — he simply may not be that tech savvy. His struggles with know-how have been on full show in 2020, when a easy video message became an surprising viral second.
In the course of the pandemic, Keenen tried to file a graduation speech for graduating seniors, however issues didn’t go as deliberate.
The video captured him asking somebody off-camera, “So I simply push that purple button?” earlier than launching into his inspirational message.
After congratulating the category of 2020, the “Low Down Soiled Disgrace” star tried to finish the recording however by chance stood up—revealing he wasn’t carrying pants, leaving his non-public elements uncovered.
The clip, which needed to be blurred when shared by The Shade Room on social media, showcased his signature humor, even unintentionally. He captioned it, “#oldn*ggatrynauseinstagram.”
Keenen’s obvious battle with know-how might clarify why he’s been so arduous to succeed in. Not like his youthful siblings, who recurrently have interaction with followers on-line, Keenen’s social media presence is sort of nonexistent. His final Instagram put up, shared in January 2024, reveals him getting a haircut, and he has but to publicly acknowledge his household’s NAACP Picture Award honor.
Regardless of the thriller surrounding him, one factor stays true: the Wayans household at all times retains it humorous. Whether or not it’s dropping contact as a consequence of a telephone quantity change, getting misplaced in chaotic group chats, or scuffling with primary tech features.
As Marlon and Damon proceed selling “Poppa’s Home,” the absence of their trailblazing older brother stays a speaking level. However for a household constructed on comedy, it’s simply one other chapter of their ongoing legacy of laughter.
