The series follows KoKo Johnson, played by Page Yang, a Korean-American girl raised by her Southern Black parents
Keke Palmer’s KeyTV Network has released the official trailer for Southern Fried Rice, a new original series set to premiere on October 22 with its first two episodes streaming on KeyTV’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
Created and written by Nakia Stephens, known for Heaux & Tell and Nepotista, and directed by Shayla Racquel, Southern Fried Rice stars Page Yang, Kordell Beckham, Choyce Brown, Ashley India, Jada Lewis, and Shaun Rose.
The series follows KoKo Johnson, played by Yang, a Korean-American girl raised by her Southern Black parents.
As she begins her journey at Wright University — a fictional, elite historically Black college in Atlanta and her late father’s alma mater — KoKo is immersed in an environment that both welcomes and challenges her. The story explores her struggle with cultural identity and belonging, as she faces being labelled a “culture vulture” while discovering who she truly is.
Kordell Beckham portrays Steve, a charismatic music major whose creativity and openness play a key role in KoKo’s journey of self-discovery. Through friendship, romance, and the realities of campus life, the series brings forward themes of heritage, authenticity, and connection in a modern context.
Southern Fried Rice is executive-produced by Keke Palmer, Sharon Palmer, Lenoria Addison, and Nakia Stephens, with Shanay Jackson Campbell serving as producer. The project was filmed entirely in Atlanta, reflecting the vibrant Southern backdrop integral to the story.
