BET+ ANNOUNCES NEW CAST MEMBERS FOR "LIL KEV"

Gerald "Slink" Johnson, Jamar Neighbors, Cree Summer, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams, and more join Kevin Hart, Wanda Sykes, and Deon Cole for the Adult Animated Comedy Series

"Lil Kev" premieres March 6, 2025 only on BET+

Los Angeles, CA, February 12, 2025 - Today, BET+ and Hartbeat, announced that Gerald "Slink" Johnson, series regular, and guest stars Jamar Neighbors, Cree Summer, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, and Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams have joined the highly anticipated adult animated series "Lil Kev," premiering on March 6, 2025, only on BET+. Also set to guest star are Wé Ani, Mo Collins, Affion Crockett, Tyree Elaine, Justin Hires, Rick Ingraham, Jayden Libran, Freddy Lockhart, and Aiko Tanaka.

Set in 1993 North Philadelphia, the adult animated series "Lil Kev" follows 12-year-old Kevin Hart, whose wild imagination and unshakable optimism constantly collide with his neighborhood's harsh realities. At the same time, his no-nonsense mother Nancy (Sykes) juggles night shifts as an E.R. nurse while waging a one-woman war to keep Kev on track - no easy feat with his mischievous older brother Robert (Neighbors) blazing all the wrong trails, his trainwreck father Henry's outrageous attempts to win Nancy back, and his ex-con uncle Richard Jr.'s (Cole) questionable life advice. Through it all, Lil Kev navigates his rocky upbringing with humor, hustle, and heart, surrounded by the unforgettable characters who will propel him to comedy superstardom.

Gerald "Slink" Johnson (Black Jesus, White Men Can't Jump) plays "Henry" who has a troubled past tainted by addiction. Henry's many vices have doomed his relationship with Nancy. Still, despite his many problems and underneath all the liquor, Henry is a good man with a good heart who wants to be a good dad to Kev and Robert.

Jamar Neighbors (Keanu, The Carmichael Show) plays "Robert," Kev's much taller 16-year-old "glass half-empty" older brother. Kev calls him "Negative Ned" because he constantly shits all over Kevin's dreams and covers up his shitting-overs with the catch-all excuse that he's "just keeping it real." Robert is a hustler who's all about making cash money.

Cree Summer (Abbott Elementary, Atlantis: The Lost Empire) plays "Gerald," Kev's larger-than-life best friend known for his sharp humor and constant trash talk. He's really good at playing the dozens because he's been talked about so much he had to learn how to fight back.

Anjelah Johnson-Reyes (Mad TV, Anjelah Johnson: Not Fancy) plays "Marisol," Nancy's shady best friend and coworker at the hospital. Marisol grew up hard, and because of this, developed thick skin and street savvy. It is extremely apparent she has the hots for the city councilman, Coleman Bridges.

Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams (The Ms. Pat Show, Ms. Pat Settles It) plays "Tiki," a short-tempered woman who won't let anything stand in the way of a hair appointment. She is also Dirty Dante's mom and a gambling addict who rides the highs and lows of life at the casino. Tiki lives life on her own terms and doesn't care what people think.

Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley, Jeff Clanagan, Mike Stein, and Candice Wilson Cherry will executive produce for Hartbeat, the studio on the project. Hartbeat's Tiffany Brown acts as co-executive producer. Matthew Claybrooks and Michael Price serve as both EPs and showrunners. Alex Bulkley and Corey Campodonico will also executive produce for ShadowMachine. ShadowMachine led animation for the series, and Musa Brooker acts as supervising director. Jason Harvey and Rose Catherine Pinkney will executive produce for BET+.

See below for additional recurring guest stars:

WÉ ANI as "RHE RHE"

Rhe Rhe is the object of Kevin's affection. Rhe Rhe is super cute, super sweet, and super smart. She's never received anything lower than an A on her report card. Her goal is to be a brain surgeon one day. She rocks dookie braids and Tim's on the regular and puts hot sauce on everything she eats.

MO COLLINS as "MRS. O'LADY"

Mrs. O'Lady is a 90-something senior who fondly remembers the neighborhood in the old days before her family abandoned her, leaving her the only white resident of the neighborhood. She's kind but prejudiced and prone to saying outrageous things at the drop of a hat.

AFFION CROCKETT as "DARNELL"

Darnell is one of Uncle Richard Jr.'s boys from prison. Omar met his cellmate Darnell, and then became lovers, though they most definitely do not fit the stereotype of gay men. Tough as nails and jail-hardened, they are struggling with life on the outside, and in their apartment down the street from the Harts, they live as if still in the joint - sleeping in bunk beds, lights out at ten, a toilet/sink - the whole deal. Richard is clueless about their "situation," even though the "situation" is pretty obvious.

TYREE ELAINE as "SAPPHIRE"

Sapphire is one of Richard's two baby mamas and Lauryn's mother. She is impatient and frustrated with Richard for his lack of fathering.

JESS HILARIOUS as "LORETTA"

Loretta is a vivacious woman who knows how to party. She is one of Nancy's closest friends and a local good-time girl (now, a woman). She is known by the unfortunate moniker "Loose Coochie Loretta."

KIMOY LEE as "SOUPY"

Soupy is Kevin's other best friend. He got his nickname because he loves soup so much, he fakes being sick so his mom makes him more of it. Soupy is a bit slow-witted, really bony, and awkward-looking.

JUSTIN HIRES as "CHIN CHECK"

Chin Check is Kevin's nemesis and school bully. Chin Check robs people for sport and he chin checks fools as a form of greeting. Chin Check struggles with a learning disability and is just starting to learn how to read.

RICK INGRAHAM as "LUCKY"

Lucky is a one-legged homeless man in Kev's neighborhood. He is not the most inspiring person, but still a fixture in the neighborhood.

JAYDEN LIBRAN as "OMAR"

Omar is one of Uncle Richard Jr.'s boys from prison. Omar was cellmates with Darnell, they became lovers, though they most definitely do not fit the stereotype of gay men. Tough as nails and jail-hardened, they are struggling with life on the outside, and in their apartment down the street from the Harts, they live as if still in the joint.

FREDDY LOCKHART as "PRINCIPAL JOHNSON"

Freddy is Kev's bullhorn-toting middle school principal who makes use of his bullhorn any chance he gets.

AIKO TANAKA as "MRS. PARK"

Mrs. Park is the Asian lady who owns the local bodega, where Nancy does all her shopping, and Kevin and his buddies hang out and buy fruit roll-ups and X-Treme Hot Cheese Balls. Mrs. Park barks out prices and store rules to all that enter her establishment but is hardly ever seen, except through the four-inch bulletproof glass separating her from her customers. She has a shotgun that she treats like a pet, even giving it a name - "Blasty."

Also appearing throughout the season are Loretta Devine, DJ Quik, Kyle Erby, Mélia Mills, Nicole Aimée Schreiber, Clayton Thomas, and Doc Willis.

About Hartbeat

Founded by Kevin Hart, Hartbeat is the global, multi-platform entertainment company creating content and experiences at the intersection of comedy and culture - with a mission to keep the world laughing together. Hartbeat finances, develops, and produces content for all platforms; connects with consumers around the world through events and the company's expansive distribution network; and co-creates entertainment and builds award-winning IP alongside brands. Hartbeat's flagship consumer brand, the LOL! Network, reaches audiences across its O&O social media, audio, and OTT partners. Led by an award-winning team, Hartbeat is a valuable partner to the biggest entertainment companies, platforms and brands in the world, driving cultural currency and generating sales, subscriptions, buzz, and conversation with some of the most coveted audiences.

About BET+

BET+ is the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience, with exclusive originals and thousands of TV episodes and movies from the best Black creators. A joint venture between BET and Tyler Perry Studios, BET+ allows users to stream Black culture including hit movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, award shows, and specials, all in one place. The service from BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, is the official home of Tyler Perry's film, TV and stage works. The subscription video-on-demand service also provides users with access to original content including Emmy-nominated The Ms. Pat Show from Lee Daniels, Martin: The Reunion, Diarra from Detroit, and College Hill: Celebrity Edition, and exclusive originals from Carl Weber including The Family Business and The Family Business: New Orleans to name a few. BET+ Essential, the limited-ad tier, provides access to the same great content with minimal ads from trusted advertisers. Visit BET.Plus to learn more and follow @BETPlus on social to join the conversation and get the latest.

About BET MEDIA GROUP:

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA; PARAP), is the world's largest media company dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Black audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is a thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international.

For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements, follow us on social @BET_PR.

"LIL KEV" FACT SHEET

PREMIERE DATE: March 6, 2025, only on BET+.

SERIES DESCRIPTION: Inspired by the childhood and comedy of our star Kevin Hart, our show takes a humorous, satirical, and sometimes politically subversive approach to real-life issues going on in the Black community...with no subject off limits. In North Philadelphia, Nancy Hart wages a one-woman war to safely raise Kev and his older brother Robert. What makes matters even more challenging is that her estranged husband is struggling to clean up his act. No matter the chaos they put her through, she's a loving mother...but it's tough love. We mean beat your ass with anything within arm's reach tough love. But it's not because she doesn't have a soft spot for her boys. She just knows she has to beat them with love to steer them on the right path. But no matter how much his mom tries to beat good sense into him, Lil Kev will not allow his soul to be broken. He has limitless energy and a crazy optimistic spirit that will eventually lead him to become the Kevin Hart we know today.

CAST:

KEVIN HART as "KEV"

Young Kevin Hart is highly imaginative, small in stature, yet big in heart. Like Napoleon, instead of viewing his compact size as a disability, he uses it as a weapon. Even through all the chaos of growing up in a crime-filled inner city, with a quick-tempered mother, drug addict father, pessimistic older brother, and ex-convict uncle, Kev maintains his ultimate goal of making it BIG at something and getting his family out of the hood one day. His confidence, imagination and constant daydreaming drive him to attempt insanely lofty goals, most of which he fails at miserably...then he gets back up off the ground and tries again.

WANDA SYKES as "NANCY"

Nancy Hart is the glue that holds the family together. She's intimidating, quick to whoop ass, hardworking and God-fearing. She works tremendously hard to pay the bills and put food on the table for her family. She sometimes works double shifts at the hospital where she's an ER nurse to make ends meet.

DEON COLE as "UNCLE RICHARD JR"

Uncle Richard Jr. is Nancy's ex-con, jail-bodied, thuggish, younger brother who lives in their basement rent-free, just as long as he agrees to walk the straight and narrow. He tries his best to stay clear of the crime scene because he respects his big sis and deep down is a little scared of her. Uncle Richard Jr. has two kids, both from different baby mommas. Richard doesn't know their names, so he just calls them LITTLE BOY and LITTLE GIRL. When he has them around he ends up pawning them off on Kevin or Robert to babysit because he has "shit to do".

GERALD "SLINK" JOHNSON as "HENRY"

"Henry" who has a troubled past tainted by addiction. Henry's many vices have doomed his relationship with Nancy. Still, despite his many problems and underneath all the liquor, Henry is a good man with a good heart who wants to be a good dad to Kev and Robert.

CREE SUMMER as "GERALD"

"Gerald," Kev's larger-than-life best friend known for his sharp humor and constant trash talk. He's really good at playing the dozens because he's been talked about so much he had to learn how to fight back.

ANJELAH JOHNSON-REYES as "MARISOL"

Marisol is Nancy's shady best friend and coworker at the hospital. Marisol grew up hard, and because of this, developed thick skin and street savvy. She's a bit oversexed and has the hots for the city councilman, Coleman Bridges.

WÉ ANI as "RHE RHE"

Rhe Rhe is the object of Kevin's affection. Rhe Rhe is super cute, super sweet, and super smart. She's never received anything lower than an A on her report card. Her goal is to be a brain surgeon one day. She rocks dookie braids and Tim's on the regular and puts hot sauce on everything she eats.

MO COLLINS as "MRS. O'LADY"

Mrs. O'Lady is a 90-something senior who fondly remembers the neighborhood in the old days before her family abandoned her, leaving her the only white resident of the neighborhood. She's kind but prejudiced and prone to saying outrageous things at the drop of a hat.

AFFION CROCKETT as "DARNELL"

Darnell is one of Uncle Richard Jr.'s boys from prison. Omar met his cellmate Darnell, and then became lovers, though they most definitely do not fit the stereotype of gay men. Tough as nails and jail-hardened, they are struggling with life on the outside, and in their apartment down the street from the Harts, they live as if still in the joint - sleeping in bunk beds, lights out at ten, a toilet/sink - the whole deal. Richard is clueless about their "situation," even though the "situation" is pretty obvious.

TYREE ELAINE as "SAPPHIRE"

Sapphire is one of Richard's two baby mamas and Lauryn's mother. She is impatient and frustrated with Richard for his lack of fathering.

JESS HILARIOUS as "LORETTA"

Loretta is a vivacious woman who knows how to party. She is one of Nancy's closest friends and a local good-time girl (now, a woman). She is known by the unfortunate moniker "Loose Coochie Loretta."

JUSTIN HIRES as "CHIN CHECK"

Chin Check is Kevin's nemesis and school bully. Chin Check robs people for sport and he chin checks fools as a form of greeting. Chin Check struggles with a learning disability and is just starting to learn how to read.

RICK INGRAHAM as "LUCKY/GOVERNMENT AGENTP"

Lucky is a one-legged homeless man in Kev's neighborhood. He is not the most inspiring person, but still a fixture in the neighborhood.

KIMOY LEE as "SOUPY"

Soupy is Kevin's other best friend. He got his nickname because he loves soup so much, he fakes being sick so his mom makes him more of it. Soupy is a bit slow-witted, really bony, and awkward-looking.

JAYDEN LIBRAN as "OMAR"

Omar is one of Uncle Richard Jr.'s boys from prison. Omar was cellmates with Darnell, they became lovers, though they most definitely do not fit the stereotype of gay men. Tough as nails and jail-hardened, they are struggling with life on the outside, and in their apartment down the street from the Harts, they live as if still in the joint.

FREDDY LOCKHART as "PRINCIPLE JOHNSON"

Freddy is Kev's bullhorn-toting middle school principal who makes use of his bullhorn any chance he gets.

JAMAR NEIGHBORS as "ROBERT"

"Robert," Kev's much taller 16-year-old "glass half-empty" older brother. Kev calls him "Negative Ned" because he constantly shits all over Kevin's dreams and covers up his shitting-overs with the catch-all excuse that he's "just keeping it real." Robert is a hustler who's all about making cash money.

AIKO TANAKA as "MRS. PARK"

Mrs. Park is the Asian lady who owns the local bodega, where Nancy does all her shopping, and Kevin and his buddies hang out and buy fruit roll-ups and X-Treme Hot Cheese Balls. Mrs. Park barks out prices and store rules to all that enter her establishment but is hardly ever seen, except through the four-inch bulletproof glass separating her from her customers. She has a shotgun that she treats like a pet, even giving it a name - "Blasty."

COMEDIENNE "MS.PAT" WILLIAMS as "TIKI"

"Tiki," a short-tempered woman who won't let anything stand in the way of a hair appointment. She is also Dirty Dante's mom and a gambling addict who rides the highs and lows of life at the casino. Tiki lives life on her own terms and doesn't care what people think.

ABOUT BET+:

BET+ is the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience, with exclusive originals and thousands of TV episodes and movies from the best Black creators. A joint venture between BET and Tyler Perry Studios, BET+ allows users to stream Black culture including hit movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, award shows, and specials, all in one place. The service from BET Media Group, a subsidiary of Paramount Global, is the official home of Tyler Perry's film, TV and stage works. The subscription video-on-demand service also provides users with access to original content including Emmy-nominated The Ms. Pat Show from Lee Daniels, Martin: The Reunion, Diarra from Detroit, and College Hill: Celebrity Edition, and exclusive originals from Carl Weber including The Family Business and The Black Hamptons to name a few. BET+ Essential, the limited-ad tier, provides access to the same great content with minimal ads from trusted advertisers. Visit BET.Plus to learn more and follow @BETPlus on social to join the conversation and get the latest.

About Hartbeat

Founded by Kevin Hart, Hartbeat is the global, multi-platform entertainment company creating content and experiences at the intersection of comedy and culture - with a mission to keep the world laughing together. Hartbeat finances, develops, and produces content for all platforms; connects with consumers around the world through events and the company's expansive distribution network; and co-creates entertainment and builds award-winning IP alongside brands. Hartbeat's flagship consumer brand, the LOL! Network, reaches audiences across its O&O social media, audio, and OTT partners. Led by an award-winning team, Hartbeat is a valuable partner to the biggest entertainment companies, platforms and brands in the world, driving cultural currency and generating sales, subscriptions, buzz, and conversation with some of the most coveted audiences.