Jay Ellis’ Spirit Tunnel Strikes Have the Web Raving. Does It Dethrone Aaron Pierre’s?

Jay Ellis is making strikes.

The actor, 43, appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Present on Monday, April 14, and turned heads along with his dancing expertise on the present’s signature spirit tunnel. The spirit tunnel, the place crew members serenade the present’s friends as they make their option to the studio, has taken the web by storm and turn into a staple on the daytime discuss present.

Ellis’ huge second got here when he stopped by the present to advertise his new movie Freaky Tales. As he made his means down the spirit tunnel, the crew started to chant, “Jay to the E-L, L to the I-S, he’s the actor, that is an enormous issue!” The cheer was sung to the tune of Jay-Z’s “Izzo (H.O.V.A.).”

The Insecure alum’s clean strikes now have followers debating if he has formally dethroned one other viral favourite: Aaron Pierre.

Pierre appeared on the present in January 2025 to advertise Mufasa: The Lion King. The video famously featured the spirit tunnel chanting “Aaron Pierre, that is Mufasa!” and has garnered practically 70 million views and greater than 6 million likes on TikTok.

Hudson later informed viewers in February 2025 that the present needed to flip off the feedback, joking that Pierre was “too sizzling for y’all to deal with.” Pierre reacted to the eye later that month, telling PEOPLE on the American Black Movie Pageant Honors: “Effectively, that is the primary time I’ve heard that and I do not know what to say. It is all love. And I actually imagine it is all very joyful.”

He continued, “I obtain that and I am grateful for that. , it is a particular factor. So, thanks.”

Now, commenters on Ellis’ spirit tunnel second are sending him love, too. One Instagram person wrote within the present’s remark part, “Okay so Jay undoubtedly simply made it into my prime 10 favourite spirit tunnels 😂😂😂😂.” Ellis’ former Insecure costar Yvonne Orji added, “@jayrellis oh you thought it was a live performance. You stated run it again and dip it low! I looovve it! Take yo time Black Man and provides us all this pleasure.”

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Ellis responded to the spirit tunnel with a cheeky remark, writing, “Nobody let me out the home ever once more…”

One fan confessed, “Aaron Pierre DasMufasa will all the time be the one. However this can be a very shut second. The interplay, the power stage, the dropping it low, the operating it again?! Effectively accomplished @jayrellis. 🙌🏾.”

On TikTok, one fan joked within the remark part, “He stated Aaron Pierre whoooo”

In his interview on Hudson, the actor spoke about his lately launched movie Freaky Tales, through which he stars reverse SAG Award winner Pedro Pascal, in addition to his journey with fatherhood. Ellis and his spouse, Nina Seničar, share daughter Nora Grace, 6, and son Noa Grey, born on July 11, 2024.

“Hear, my daughter completely loves him. It’s superb to see her turn into an enormous sister. She’s tried to stuff him in her backpack and take him to highschool as a result of she loves him a lot, nevertheless it’s been a lovely factor. I do not know who’s operating the home. My home is loopy,” stated Ellis.

Freaky Tales was launched in theaters on April 4.