Heartwarming moment Tiffany Haddish stops comedy show to thank social worker who ‘saved her life’

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Tiffany Haddish paused her comedy show and asked the lights to come up when she spotted a social worker in the audience who she credits with helping her through a difficult time.

The comedian and actress, famous for roles in movies like Girls Trip and The Secret Life Of Pets 2, shared a video on Instagram from December 23rd. The video captures the moment someone in the audience called out to her, asking if she recognized them.

‘I don’t know if you remember, my name is Coleta Lewis?’ yelled out Haddish’s former social worker.

Shocked, the 46-year-old repeated her name and went closer to the edge of the stage.

Visibly upset, Haddish asked for the lights to be turned on. The video then shows them sharing a close, emotional hug in the spotlight.

‘You saved my life. I’m where I’m at right now because of you,’ she said.

The LA native said Lewis encouraged her and was among the first to believe in her comedy career.

She thanked her and said, ‘I love you,’ as the crowd erupted in applause.

Tiffany Haddish explained that after getting into trouble at school, Lewis offered her a choice for the summer: attend comedy camp at The Laugh Factory or go to psychiatric therapy.

Once she started succeeding in drama competitions, she questioned Lewis about which substances involved drugs, and he responded by saying that anyone who used drugs would also need to attend therapy.

‘That changed my whole life,’ said the comedian.

Still surprised to see Lewis, she apologized to the audience and described the performance as an unusual reunion.

Haddish said if it weren’t for Lewis, she would ‘probably have had like six baby daddies and s***.’

The comedian shared in a post’s comments that she’s thinking about leaving stand-up and feels she needs a clear sign to continue.

I recall being on stage and thinking, ‘This is it – the end of my stand-up career, and a fitting way to go out.’ Then, unexpectedly, someone outside my family showed genuine belief in me – it felt like a gift from a higher power.

She expressed her gratitude to Lewis once more for rescuing her and sending her to the comedy camp, a place she now considered her true home.

Haddish shared that God reaffirmed his presence in her life and answered her prayers by prompting a friend to drive all the way from Georgia to Alabama simply to express her pride.

‘Coleta, I am forever grateful God made you, and you never gave up on me. Thank you.’

Tiffany Haddish often speaks about her difficult childhood. When she was around 13, she and her siblings entered the foster care system after her mother was seriously injured in a car accident.

From that experience, she’s an advocate for foster youth and reform in that space.

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2025-12-28 06:18