Comedian Akilah Hughes has recently come under fire for her comments regarding Elisa Pugliese, the wife of Keegan-Michael Key, during a comedy set aired on April 27, 2026. Hughes, 35, referred to Key and Peele using the code 'Lock & Banana' and claimed that Pugliese has been detrimental to Key's career, alleging that she caused setbacks, including shelving a comedy show they were involved in. The backlash on social media has been intense, with many deeming her remarks as 'outlandish and fabricated.' Hughes further shared a story about a conversation with Jordan Peele's wife, Chelsea Peretti, who allegedly warned her about Pugliese, drawing a controversial comparison to Phil Hartman's wife, Brynn, who tragically killed Hartman before taking her own life in 1988. Hughes also recounted an alleged text message criticizing Pugliese, which added fuel to the controversy. Despite the backlash, Hughes' sketch has garnered significant attention, amassing over 200,000 views on YouTube and going viral across various social media platforms.