‘Hey, that’s me’: Familiar face in a famous place

Donovon McKnight, 36, in Atlanta in early May 2024. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice Donovon McKnight, professionally known as Kent King, does not flaunt his wealth or wear it on his body. At 36, McKnight is humble, his demeanor unassuming, sitting outside Bold Monk Brewery. To those familiar with him on social media, Mcknight runs a marketing business called “Kentcultivate.” However, to the wider world, he is known as the infamous GIF of a little Black boy crying a single tear, a clip from his guest appearance on “The Chris Rock Show.” McKnight’s venture into the entertainment industry began unexpectedly at a Halloween party in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he caught the attention of casting directors at just five years old. “I stumbled into a room filled with casting directors. Even at five years old, I could hold a conversation,” McKnight remembered. He and his family eventually found representation in talent agent Shirley Faison, mother of “Scrubs” actor Donald Faison. McKnight’s charisma paved the way for a career leading him to work alongside notable figures like Chris Rock and even Halle Berry, his “first girlfriend,” whom he appeared in “Losing Isaiah” as Amir. “My first girlfriend was Halle...