Kenan Thompson, the longest-tenured cast member in Saturday Night Live history and a foundational pillar of Black millennial comedy, finally received his flowers from his hometown. On February 12, 2026, the City of Atlanta and Fulton County issued dual proclamations, officially declaring it “Kenan Thompson Day.”
While many know him as the versatile anchor of Studio 8H in New York, the ceremony served as a necessary reminder of Kenan’s deep-rooted connection to the A. Thompson’s creative journey didn’t start at NBC; it was nurtured in the classrooms of Tri-Cities High School and the stages of the Alliance Theater School, the Atlanta Boy Choir, and the Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta.
City Councilmember Eshé Collins, who formally delivered the city’s declaration, talked about his roots in College Park and the Cascade community. “Atlanta is a special place,” Collins said. “One thing we want to continue to foster is our children knowing that they can be who they see in front of them.”
“It feels monumental, man,” Thompson said during the ceremony. “It’s so funny to me that a lot of people don’t know that I’m from here. I haven’t done anything but represent Atlanta. I just haven’t lived here since high school.”
The timing of the honor wasn’t accidental. The event doubled as a hometown launch for Thompson’s second book, a children’s title called Unfunny Bunny. The story follows a bunny learning the ropes of comedy, a theme of perseverance and finding one’s voice that mirrors Kenan’s own three-decade career.
The week leading up to the proclamation saw Thompson visiting schools across the city, reading to students and proving that despite the global fame, he remains an accessible mentor. As a father of two, Thompson noted that the book is born from the daily joys and efforts of parenting, aimed at inspiring the next generation of Atlanta dreamers.
The celebration was orchestrated by entertainment executive Shanti Das, who spent months coordinating with Thompson’s team to ensure Atlanta was a primary stop on his book tour. Collaborating with Ryan Wilson of The Gathering Spot and the Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, the event brought together Atlanta leadership, including Fulton County Commissioner Marvin S. Arrington Jr. and Director Phillana Williams.
Kenan Thompson has been an Emmy winner, a producer, and a cultural icon for over thirty years. From The Mighty Ducks and All That to his record-breaking run on SNL, he has been a consistent source of representation for Black men in entertainment.
Photo Credit: Enoch McKie
