Debbie Allen and Kirk Franklin’s unexpected dance at the 2026 EBONY Power 100 Gala has become one of the night’s most talked-about moments, after video of the two longtime entertainers moving together on the floor spread widely online.
The interaction took place Monday night (Nov. 9) at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. Franklin, who opened the evening, was performing his recent single “This Time” with GloRilla when he stepped into the audience. There he crossed paths with Allen, who was dressed in a black gown with a red sequined wrap. The pair danced closely as the track played; Allen turned and moved with him while Franklin kept a hand on her shoulder. She reached up and touched his face. Toward the end of the brief exchange, Franklin pointed at her and mouthed “Call me.” Allen looked toward the camera before walking away. A guest nearby could be heard laughing.
Both artists have long marriages. Allen has been married to former NBA player Norm Nixon since 1984. Franklin has been married to Tammy Franklin since 1996. The clip’s circulation prompted a range of responses. Many viewers treated the moment as playful, noting Allen’s energy at 76 and the casual chemistry between two established figures. Others questioned the optics, particularly because Franklin was performing a gospel-leaning track. Allen’s son, Norman Nixon Jr., later posted critically about the interaction, saying Franklin had gone too far and owed apologies to the families involved.
The EBONY Power 100 Gala, hosted by Tisha Campbell, honored a wide group of Black leaders across entertainment, sports, business, and media, including Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion, Alicia Keys, Brandy, and Lena Waithe. Franklin’s performance of “This Time” came early in the program; the song, released in September, continues his long practice of pairing gospel foundations with contemporary collaborators. He has spent much of his career navigating the space between church audiences and mainstream visibility, a tension that resurfaced in some of the online commentary.
Neither Allen nor Franklin what are you doing has commented publicly on the video. For now, the clip stands as a spontaneous side moment from a night built around celebrating cultural influence, one that briefly pulled focus from the stage to the dance floor.
