Celebrity sightings on the New York City subway are always a bit unexpected. They can be planned photo ops, like the time Jay-Z met an abuelita on his way to a performance at Barclays Center in 2012, or spontaneous decisions, like the times that Jake Gyllenhaal sat next to unsuspecting passengers on the N train. Either way, they are always a wild surprise.
That’s exactly what Janet Jackson and Daddy Yankee did last week, when they shocked fans by riding the subway on Saturday during a trip to New York. The reggaeton icon joined Jackson to take the subway for the first time (they recently released their collaboration “Made for Now”). In a clip shared with Remezcla, the music legends hop on the A/C/E line at 59th Street-Columbus Circle for an appearance at Harlem Week, an annual celebration showcasing the neighborhood’s heritage and cultural legacy. During the appearance, the Big Boss and Jackson graced the Harlem Stage at 135th Street and accepted a key to the city from State Assemblywoman Inez Dickens. The video shows fans eagerly crowd around the pop stars yelling “Can I marry you?” and vying for a snapshot.
Once they’re on the train, Jackson smiles next to the reggaeton icon, joking that it’s her first subway ride ever. “It’s my first train ride so he’s educating me,” she laughs. Meanwhile, Yankee is a seasoned subway rider (though his rep told Remezcla this is the first time he takes public transit in 15 years). On Instagram, Yankee posted a photo from the subway ride with the caption, “Remembering when I would take the subway to go to studios in NY.” A few fans give their condolences to Jackson, whose father recently passed, while another references Janet’s iconic “All for You” video, which was set in an animated subway car.
The jury is still out on whether or not there was functional air conditioning on Jackson and Yankee’s car, but you can watch the full clip below:
Update, 8/22/2018 10:35 a.m.: This post has been updated to clarify that Daddy Yankee and Janet Jackson had the idea to ride the subway together.