Janelle Monáe briefly interrupts a Zoom interview The Hollywood Reporter to get up from a chair and allow the camera to get a better look at a key part of her ensemble — a black T-shirt with her face on it and text that reads “Monáe Manor: From the Mad Mind of Janelle Monáe.”
The commercial promotes a new activation at the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, a spooky maze on the grounds of Griffith Park where the 10-time Grammy Award nominee has been seen in recent weeks making killer movies alongside the Hayride’s resident “fright actors,” sometimes with a chainsaw in hand. It’s just one slice of the Halloween pie Monáe has added to her schedule in 2024 as she continues her ascent as the newest “HalloQueen” in town. And it’s all a dream come true for the Kansan native.
“I’ve dreamed of having my own haunted house experience for many, many, many nightmares,” said The age of pleasure the singer whose visage has appeared on the walls and whose screams are heard everywhere. “The best reviews I get are from people who say they’re done screaming.”
Janelle Monáe and LA Haunted Hayride founder Melissa Carbone pose outside Monáe Manor on the grounds of Griffith Park in Los Angeles on October 10, 2024.
Photo Credit: Kelly Balch and Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group
It’s to Monáe’s credit that she was intimately involved in the details, said Haunted Hayride creator Melissa Carbone. “Janelle is an artist in every sense of the word, and she wants data on everything,” says the entrepreneur who founded the LA Haunted Hayride in 2009, before it was acquired by Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group, which now runs the operation along with many others. around the world. United States. “We turned it around really quickly, but it was very enjoyable, all of it.” And there’s more to come: Carbone teased plans for the “world’s biggest Halloween project” to debut next year, with Monáe likely on board for those screams, too.
Meanwhile, this month horror fans can find her hosting AMC’s FearFest, the network’s favorite block of horror-centric programming presenting a countdown of top titles and enjoying her childhood favorites. Kim Granito, Chief Marketing Officer for AMC Networks said: “Janelle Monáe is a force of nature and Halloween icon whose enthusiasm for horror knows no bounds. From epic costumes and genre film screenings to her haunted mansion – she’s the perfect host to lead fans through this massive programming event. We are honored to call AMC’s FearFest HalloQueen.”
Lastly, in addition to showing off her original look this year and hosting her beloved Wondaween party, Monáe, who previously starred in the horror flick. Antebellumhas teamed up with Google Shopping to highlight a unique Halloween experience that finds Monáe unveiling a custom costume with the platform via Instagram. Monáe will also be doing two shopping sprees that will allow fans to create their own creative Halloween looks. “Google Lens allows people to buy what they see, and with Janelle’s cultural influence during the Halloween season, it only made sense to team up to show shoppers how they can easily recreate their favorite Halloween looks by Janelle, using AI,” he explained. Stephanie Horton, senior director of global consumer marketing and commerce.
While it’s all kept her pretty busy, Monáe says it’s just a taste of what the future holds for Halloweens to come. “I’m planting the seeds,” says the 38-year-old star, who recently starred as Leatherface for a Cinespia screening of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. “I’m all for an experience.”
It’s an experience her friends are more than happy to share, despite their fears. “She commits herself completely to the fantasy and takes other people on that journey, bringing them into a world. She does everything to create a whole world where people can just disconnect and be present,” he says Insecure star Kendrick Sampson. “A necessary escape, especially now or anytime.”