Jay Ellis is making moves.
The actor, 43, appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Monday, April 14, and turned heads with his dancing skills on the show’s signature spirit tunnel. The spirit tunnel, where crew members serenade the show’s guests as they make their way to the studio, has taken the internet by storm and become a staple on the daytime talk show.
Ellis’ big moment came when he stopped by the show to promote his new film Freaky Tales. As he made his way down the spirit tunnel, the crew began to chant, “Jay to the E-L, L to the I-S, he is the actor, that’s a big factor!” The cheer was sung to the tune of Jay-Z’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A.).”
The Insecure alum’s smooth moves now have fans debating if he has officially dethroned another viral favorite: Aaron Pierre.
Pierre appeared on the show in January 2025 to promote Mufasa: The Lion King. The video famously featured the spirit tunnel chanting “Aaron Pierre, that’s Mufasa!” and has garnered nearly 70 million views and more than 6 million likes on TikTok.
Hudson later told viewers in February 2025 that the show had to turn off the comments, joking that Pierre was “too hot for y’all to handle.” Pierre reacted to the attention later that month, telling PEOPLE at the American Black Film Festival Honors: “Well, that’s the first time I’ve heard that and I don’t know what to say. It’s all love. 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.”
Now, commenters on Ellis’ spirit tunnel moment are sending him love, too. One Instagram user wrote in the show’s comment section, “Okay so Jay definitely just made it into my top 10 favorite spirit tunnels 😂😂😂😂.” Ellis’ former Insecure costar Yvonne Orji added, “@jayrellis oh you thought it was a concert. You said run it back and dip it low! I looovve it! Take yo time Black Man and give us all this joy.”
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Ellis responded to the spirit tunnel with a cheeky comment, writing, “No one let me out the house ever again…”
One fan confessed, “Aaron Pierre DasMufasa will always be the one. But this is a very close second. The interaction, the energy level, the dropping it low, the running it back?! Well done @jayrellis. 🙌🏾.”
On TikTok, one fan joked in the comment section, “He said Aaron Pierre whoooo”
In his interview on Hudson, the actor spoke about his recently released film Freaky Tales, in which he stars opposite SAG Award winner Pedro Pascal, as well as his journey with fatherhood. Ellis and his wife, Nina Seničar, share daughter Nora Grace, 6, and son Noa Gray, born on July 11, 2024.
“Listen, my daughter absolutely loves him. It is amazing to see her become a big sister. She’s tried to stuff him in her backpack and take him to school because she loves him so much, but it’s been a beautiful thing. I don’t know who is running the house. My house is crazy,” said Ellis.
Freaky Tales was released in theaters on April 4.
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