One of the internet’s favorite traditions will continue for a seventh year in 2022 when Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench get together for Thanksgiving.
On Tuesday, Hinton posted a photo to Instagram of himself and Dench outside a Cheesecake Factory restaurant with the caption, “To answer all your questions, yes Thanksgiving year 7 is planned out! See you guys Thursday! 🦃🖤”
Hinton and Dench first met in 2016, when Dench mistakenly texted Hinton while trying to reach her grandson about plans for Thanksgiving. Despite the mistake, Hinton jokingly invited himself over.
Somebody grandma is coming in clutch this year!! Ayee!!! pic.twitter.com/QGrx83nHLl
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) November 15, 2016
“Of course you can,” Dench replied. “That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone!”
Hinton stayed true to his promise and showed up with his girlfriend, and Dench welcomed the two with open arms. Screenshots of their text interactions and photos from the meal were shared thousands of times, making Hinton and Dench social media icons.
There have been plenty of ups and downs for the group since that first Thanksgiving dinner in 2016.
In 2020, the pair celebrated Thanksgiving without Dench’s husband, Lonnie, who died of complications from COVID-19.
“As some of you may have already found out tonight Lonnie did not make it,” Hinton tweeted in April of 2020. “Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face, so I thank every single one of you guys for that!”
As some of you may have already found out tonight Lonnie did not make it… he passed away Sunday morning😔 but Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face so I thank every single one of you guys for that!🙏🏽❤️ https://t.co/tNvals0FMh
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) April 9, 2020
Despite the loss, Hinton and Dench continued their tradition in 2020 with a small, socially-distanced get-together outside Dench’s home. The tradition continued in 2021 and now, per Hinton’s post to Instagram, it looks like this sweet get-together is still going strong in 2022.
According to Good Morning America, Hinton and Dench’s story is even in the works to become a feature film at Netflix.
“We are excited to share our story with the world. We hope it inspires more people to reach out and make connections that they wouldn’t ordinarily make,” Hinton and Dench said in a statement shared by Netflix in December 2021. “We are so blessed to find a genuine friendship brought together by God from a mistaken text message. ”
By KNXV and Simplemost staff.