Not All Hood's latest episode features a tribute to Malcolm-Jamal Warner's 'curiosity, warmth and elegance'

2nd Annual Living Legends Gala - Source: Getty
Malcolm-Jamal Warner speaks during the 2nd Annual Living Legends Gala in Atlanta. (Image via Getty/Derek White)

Not All Hood is honoring the late Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

During a live episode of the podcast, The Cosby Show actor's co-host, Candace Kelley, paid her respects to him, a week after he died by drowning. His friends, including executive producer Layne Fontes and creative director Troy Harris, Jr., also made an appearance, People Magazine has reported.

At one point in the Friday, July 25 episode, titled 'Malcolm Left the Mic On,' Jessica Miesel, Malcolm's The Resident co-star, paid her respects by recalling his persona:

"I was so struck by his endless curiosity and his warmth and his elegance, but mainly his ability to make me and others feel like an equal. I never felt like he was looking down at anybody else."

She also said that this attribute was "at his core" before lauding his ability to bring humor with him wherever he went:

“His laugh was just one of my favorite sounds in the whole world, and he was the king of adding a button to the end of a scene, you know even doing a serious surgery scene and he would add something completely silly to the end of it."

Malcolm-Jamal Warner's life and legacy are explored as tributes come pouring in

Many who knew Malcolm-Jamal Warner appeared on the podcast, including Touré and Kimberly Latrice Jones. Ahead of the event, a flyer was shared online, acknowledging his legacy and knack for Black storytelling. Its accompanying caption read:

"The lines will be open for people in the community to speak," the flyer said. "Some people talk. Malcolm connected. He held space. He asked real questions. He made us feel seen. This moment isn’t just about what we lost, it’s about what we keep: The lessons. The laughter. The light."

Other guests who appeared included Erika Alexander, Lamman Rucker, Isaac Hayes III, Dr. Daniel Black, Kimberly Latrice Jones, and Dr. Jay Barnett, The Vibe reported. It also featured behind-the-scenes footage of Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

The beloved 54-year-old actor's demise was confirmed on July 21, and at the time, several outlets reported that he died of accidental drowning at a beach in Costa Rica. The Vibe has also reported that his eight-year-old daughter was with him at the time. Those surfing nearby were able to rescue her as they hauled her onto the surfboard and rushed her to safety.

However, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was swept away by the strong currents. Medical emergency responders reportedly performed revival measures on him for 45 minutes before pronouncing him dead. His official cause of death was ruled asphyxiation by submersion.

Candace Kelley, who co-hosted the podcast with him, also honored his legacy:

He really was on a mission to make sure that the tropes about the Black community are not continued," Kelley said. "We'd have these conversations because all the dramas on TV are about gangs and the street and drugs and kingpins." She added, "But a lot of people don't know that he often turned down a lot of parts in these types of shows. He'd say, 'It's good writing, but it's not a good message.'"

Kelley called their podcast "a continuation" of Malcolm-Jamal Warner's legacy from The Cosby Show:

"He really, really cared about carrying the torch that he had from The Cosby Show, and that torch was, 'Remember how they see us and do not co-sign.'" She added, "Because we have options and can do better, we can change how we're seen and really in that way change the course of humanity."

She also remembered Malcolm-Jamal Warner's kindness and generosity, saying:

"He wanted to be remembered like that; he has said that, he just wants to be remembered as a good person, and by all accounts, he's got that down. He really did. That was really sincere."

Kimberly Latrice Jones, an author and activist, also weighed in:

"Making a connection with me was not fleeting for him," she said, before recalling some of his words of support as she tackled seizures caused by epilepsy.

According to the podcast's website:

"NOT ALL HOOD (NAH) takes a provocative look at the vastly different lived experiences and identities of Blacks in America. The layered nuances are explored through conversations and guests who share their journeys and versions of Black confirmation about topics including Black masculinity, love and media representation. Infused with pop culture, music, and headlining news, the show addresses the evolution, exhilaration, and triumphs of being rooted in a myriad of versions of Black America."

Kelley recently spoke with People Magazine, confirming that the podcast will continue in the absence of Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

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Edited by Amey Mirashi