One of the culture’s favorite Black power couples, Khadeen and Devale Ellis, are gearing up for another chapter in their ever-evolving family business expansion. Their podcast, Confidentially, will relaunch as Ellis Ever After on April 16, ushering in a new era for the platform after 15 seasons of Dead Ass with Khadeen and Devale.
The pair told HelloBeautiful they are looking forward to diving deeper with their audience to reflect the growth they’ve experienced over the past few years — both in their marriage and professionally.
“When Khadeen and I first started Deadass, it started as a joke, you know, it was Deadass podcast where a husband and a wife read each other publicly. We just don’t wanna contribute to that anymore,” Devale said, speaking of the fresh new direction of the popular podcast. “Let’s show people what it’s like after you’ve gotten past that. Let’s show them what it’s like when you’re happily ever after.”
Happily ever after for the Ellises looks like bouncing between their roles as internet and podcast personalities, acting roles (Devale’s Netflix film Meet Me Next Christmas hit the #1 spot on the streaming platform), and parenting duties, as they support their bustling nest of four boys. And to add to their enterprising ventures, the duo just co-produced one of Broadway’s buzziest shows in decades, Othello, starring Denzyl Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Devale said investing in Broadway was a no-brainer for the two art lovers. ”We want to be able to help amplify Black voices in all different mediums, not just TV and film, but also on the stage. So for us, becoming a part of Othello was allowing other people to see like, you know what, there are Black people in these spaces creating these spaces for other Black people.”
With the Ellis’ hands in so many glitzy-entertainment pockets, red carpet glam just comes as a perk of the job at this point. But even after countless TV show premieres and film debuts, the couple still finds dressing up for one another a treat. Devale gushed about Khadeen’s Tyler Perry Studio opening fit with the giddiness of a teen boy.
“You wore a bead dress. Your hair had bumps. It was kinda like a Marilyn Monroe curl. I love that your legs were out. And that old Hollywood glam reminded me of when I was a kid watching red carpets, and you would see these women there, and you’d be like, man, she’s so beautiful,” he said.
The nude-colored dress featured a plunging halter-neckline, daring thigh-high slit, with gold fringe accents designed by Elizabeth Flores NYC.
Khadeen said her favorite style moment of her hubby’s career was a red and blue coordinated shirt and pant moment designed by GRAY (formerly Grayscale) that he rocked for the Sisters season 1 red carpet premiere.
“It wasn’t as much even about what you were wearing, but it was just seeing you walk in a dream,” Khadeen said.
“Like you were just beaming that night. And you were just so proud of the accomplishment. You felt like you had made a step into the direction that you were ordained,” she said.
The pair also noted that the look was an on-screen nod to their kids who were watching the magic back home.
“I think you said you wore the colors because of the boys, the blue and red, because Spiderman came out,” she said.
“They watch everything,” Devale said of their supportive boys, “They’re like, ‘Daddy, what channels are you gonna be on?” Devale said.
Whether in Hollywood or at home, it’s clear that family is the core of the Ellis legacy, and in ways, they are just getting started. We will have to keep our ears peeled to the pod to hear what life Ever After really looks like for them.