Prime Video & Keke Palmer brought laughter and more to Essence Festival 2025!
This past weekend, the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola kicked off in New Orleans, LA. The yearly cultural celebration brings in thousands upon thousands of attendees to view, partake in, and immerse themselves in concerts, cinema screenings and panels, art exhibits, culinary tastings, and much much more.
This year, the event was buzzing with excitement as Prime Video descended upon eager festival goers delivering merch, showing teaser film footage, and even bringing entertainment guest to the main stage!
On Sunday July 6, the ever talented and funny Keke Palmer brought her fan-favorite podcast, “Baby, This is Keke Palmer,” to the Essence Festival mainstage! Fans were treated to a special live tapping featuring none other than Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and actress Kandi Burruss.
Keke kicked off the podcast by showing the overflowing audience an exclusive clip of her highly anticipated comedy-heist film, The Pickup which will premiere August 6th on Prime Video. Cheers and laughter erupted as the teaser clip involving Hollywood veteran actor Eddie Murphy was played for excited fans at the Festival.
The Pickup follows a routine cash pickup that takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.
Directed by Tim Story and written by Kevin Burrows & Matt Mider, this action packed dramedy is set to have audiences glued to their seats and bursting with laughter.
The Pickup stars Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer.
The film lands on Prime Video August 6, 2025! Check out the trailer below!
KeKe Palmer also performed at the evening concert portion of the festival. Belting out a jazzy rendition of “Sitting Up In My Room” by Brandy during the 2025 Essence Festival presented by Coca-Cola “Waiting To Exhale” musical tribute.
Prime Video was also on deck with a hydration station and a covered plus outdoor seating area to help festival goers take a break and stay hydrated during the humid New Orleans summer heat.
Attendees were treated with The Pickup film merch in the form of sleek black tumblers and keepsake cups. There were also fans and frisbees from Prime Video Original film Heads Of State starring Idris Elba, John Cena, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Heads of State recently debuted last week on July 2, 2025 and is streaming right now on Prime Video.
These two Prime Video Original films are action packed, hilarious, and perfect must see summer movies!
