Kenan Thompson says there’s one funny side effect of having such a long, recognizable career: fans regularly call him by the wrong name—and do it with total confidence.
In a recent interview, the Saturday Night Live mainstay said people often approach him and address him as Kel Mitchell, his longtime Nickelodeon costar from All That, Kenan & Kel, and Good Burger.
Thompson’s response is basically to roll with it. “Kel’s my brother, so I don’t mind pretending to be that name when people call me that,” he said, framing the mix-up as affection rather than annoyance.
The confusion, he suggested, comes from how closely the two were paired in the 90s—so for some fans, the memories blur into one shared “Kenan and Kel” identity. Thompson said he understands what people mean: they’re really just telling him they remember the work and it made them happy.
The timing also makes the story resonate strongly with nostalgia. Thompson and Mitchell have reunited more publicly in recent years, including appearances tied to Good Burger 2 and other joint moments that put the duo back in front of audiences who grew up with them—essentially refreshing the association for a new wave of viewers.
