Goodbye To ‘The Chi’: Inside Lena Waithe’s Season 8 Premiere Party In NYC | Essence
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Lena Waithe attends a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
The Big Apple played host to the farewell celebration for The Chi this week as cast members, creators, and longtime supporters gathered at The Paradise Club inside the Times Square EDITION ahead of the series’ eighth and final season. The Paramount+ event brought together many of the faces who helped build the Chicago-based drama into one of television’s longest-running portrayals of Black life over the past several years.
Creator Lena Waithe attended alongside stars Jacob Latimore, Birgundi Baker, Luke James, Jason Weaver, Hannaha Hall, Michael V. Epps, and Shamon Brown Jr., while executive producers Jewel Coronel and Justin Hillian also joined the celebration. Actor and executive producer Common appeared during the evening as additional guests from past and present seasons reunited on the red carpet before heading inside for the festivities.
Throughout the night, attendees reflected on the show’s impact since its 2018 debut and the stories explored across eight seasons. Waithe later joined Bevy Smith for a live conversation revisiting major moments from the series, discussing its evolution and the audience connection built over time. Guests also enjoyed live music and portrait sessions photographed by Lenny Santiago.
The final season of The Chi premieres May 22 on Paramount+, bringing the long-running drama to a close after nearly a decade on television.
The creator and cast of ‘The Chi.’
Lena Waithe and Luke James
Luke James, Lenny S., and Jacob Latimore
Larry Owens and Lena Waithe
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Larry Owens and Lena Waithe attend a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Cortez Smith (C) attends a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Lena Waithe, Kyla Pratt, and Punkie Johnson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Lena Waithe, Kyla Pratt, and Punkie Johnson attend a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Luke James, Michael V. Epps, Barton Fitzpatrick, Ahmad Ferguson, and Shamon Brown Jr.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Luke James, Michael V. Epps, Barton Fitzpatrick, Amari Noelle Ferguson, and Shamon Brown Jr. attend a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Lena Waithe and Bevy Smith speak onstage.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Lena Waithe and Bevy Smith speak onstage during a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Cortez Smith and Jason Weaver
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Cortez Smith and Jason Weaver attend a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Luke James, Yolanda Ross Jacob Latimore, Shamon Brown Jr., Lena Waithe, Birgundi Baker, Hannaha Hall, Michael V. Epps, and Jason Weaver
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Luke James, Yolanda Ross Jacob Latimore, Shamon Brown Jr., Lena Waithe, Birgundi Baker, Hannaha Hall, Michael V. Epps, and Jason Weaver attend a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Jacob Latimore and Birgundi Baker
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Jacob Latimore and Birgundi Baker attend a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Birgundi Baker attends a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Zaria Imani Primer attends a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
Shamon Brown Jr., Yolonda Ross, Birgundi Baker, and Jacob Latimore
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: (L-R) Shamon Brown Jr., Yolonda Ross, Birgundi Baker, and Jacob Latimore attend a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Kyla Pratt attends a screening event for The Chi S8 at The Paradise Club at The Times Square Edition Hotel on May 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for Paramount+)
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