Aaron Pierre Reacts to Jennifer Hudson Having to Turn Off Comments on Viral Spirit Tunnel Clip (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

“Did she?” theMufasa: The Lion Kingstar, 30, said after PEOPLE revealed theJennifer Hudson Showhost’s decision while chatting at the American Black Film Festival Honors on Monday, Feb. 17.

“Well, that’s the first time I’ve heard that and I don’t know what to say,” Pierre said with a laugh at the annual awards season gala, held at Los Angeles’ SLS Hotel, where he was being honored with the Rising Star Award.

Aaron Pierre at the 2025 Annual American Black Film Festival Honors on Feb. 17.Frazer Harrison/Getty

Frazer Harrison/Getty

But at the end of the day, “it’s all love,” the actor,who voices Mufasa inThe Lion Kingprequel, told PEOPLE of the internet’s enthusiasm for him — and particularly, his viral clip from December.

“And I really believe it’s all very joyful,” he continued. “I receive that and I’m grateful for that. You know, it’s a special thing. So, thank you.”

In his tunnel clip, Pierre smiled and rocked his hips while synchronizing his footsteps to the beat of the backstage member’s handclaps as they sang him a custom song: “Aaron Pierre, that’s Mufasa.”

He also gave each person a high-five and turned before reaching the end of the hallway to tell the group, “Thank you!”

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“This is a happy place y’all,” she said, “because it turns out he was too hot for all y’all to handle.”

“This thing has gotten out of hand, okay,” she said after showing the clip, adding that “you can’t tell [Mpasi] she wasn’t here that day.”

source: people.com