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Black Panther has already broken a slew of box office records and doesn’t seem to show any signs of stopping; with an incredible, predominately black ensemble cast led by Chadwick Boseman, the Ryan Coogler-directed flick has changed the game for Marvel and inspired countless fans. A few of these fans were lucky enough to have the chance to talk to T’Challa himself thanks to a heart-warming segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the results will make you wish you could hop a ride to Wakanda and get your own hug from the king.
For the segment, fans were told to speak on camera to a Black Panther poster and discuss what the film meant to them. Little did they know that Boseman and Jimmy Fallon were waiting behind a curtain to surprise them, ready to pop out at the right moment. When Boseman revealed himself, fan reactions ranged from screams, excited jumps, and total shock. The actor became visibly emotional when fans thanked him for representing them on screen, and for paving the way for them to create their own art.
“For me, as the mother of a young son, my son’s childhood has been defined by Barack Obama and now Black Panther. So thank you,” one woman said, holding her son close to her. The two dropped their jaws when Boseman revealed himself, embracing him for a hug. Fans admitted they’d seen the movie multiple times (one even confessed to having seen a bootleg), thanked him for representing their community with grace and poise. Boseman’s wholesome, warm reactions to every encounter are enough to make your heart grow three sizes (even with Fallon awkwardly third-wheeling him).
In a news cycle that’s mostly filled with doom and gloom, it’s pretty healing to watch such a surprisingly emotional segment, and it’s by far the best one The Tonight Show has ever done. Wakanda forever.
