HELLAVERSE AND THE 2026 WORLD CUP MADNESS
Alexander Balzano’s emotional rollercoaster over the 2026 World Cup results happened in two very distinct stages, moving from immense cultural pride to absolute heartbreak. Because he carries both Japanese and Italian heritage, the qualifying rounds felt like a high-stakes family event. Here are headcanons on exactly how he found out the news, the chaotic group chats, and how Brandon Rogers stepped in to pick up the pieces.
🌟 The High: Group Chat Hype with Kimiko Glenn
• The Midnight Text Cascade: Alexander first learned that Japan officially secured their 2026 World Cup spot through a barrage of capitalised texts and football emojis from Kimiko Glenn. They had a pact to monitor the Samurai Blue's progress closely.
• The Victory FaceTime: Minutes after the qualification was sealed, Kimiko FaceTimed him while wearing a matching jersey. Alexander was practically bouncing around his and Brandon's living room, bragging about the technical brilliance of the Japanese squad
• .The Blue Samurai Hype-Man: Alexander immediately ordered a custom Samurai Blue kit and draft-made a collaborative social media post with Kimiko to celebrate. For a solid 48 hours, he was on cloud nine, confidently telling Brandon that "half of his DNA was locked in for a deep tournament run."
💔 The Low: The Playoff Disaster in Zenica
• The Dreaded Penalty Kicks: Alexander stayed up late on March 31, 2026, to watch Italy's high-stakes European playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He expected a tough match, but he was entirely unprepared for the sheer anxiety of a penalty shootout.
• The Reality Check: When Italy missed their final critical spot-kick, losing the shootout 4-1 after a grueling 1-1 draw, the commentator’s voice dropped into a somber tone to announce a historic sporting tragedy: Italy had failed to qualify for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup.
• The Silent Processing: Alexander didn't yell or throw anything; he just sat on the edge of the sofa, staring blankly at the TV screen as the Bosnian fans celebrated in Zenica. The sudden, crushing weight of the Azzurri missing out on the biggest tournament on Earth completely zapped his energy.
🛋️ Brandon’s Intervention and Consolation
• Reading the Room: Brandon walked into the room carrying snacks for what he hoped would be a post-game celebration, but he immediately picked up on the heavy, dead silence. Seeing Alexander slumped over with his head in his hands told Brandon everything he needed to know.
• The Unfiltered Distraction: Brandon didn't try to fake knowledge about soccer tactics or pretend he understood the intricate pain of Italian qualifying history. Instead, he wrapped an arm around Alexander and aggressively roasted the concept of sports in general, calling the tournament "an overpriced grass-running convention anyway" just to get Alexander to crack a smile.
• Creating a Safe Haven: Knowing how deeply Alexander feels his heritage, Brandon gently took his phone away to shield him from the immediate wave of brutal football memes and devastating sports headlines flooding social media.
• The Compromise: To fully lift Alexander's spirits, Brandon promised they would throw the absolute biggest, most obnoxious viewing parties for all of Japan's World Cup matches. He even offered to wear the Samurai Blue jersey himself—joking that it was the only time he'd willingly wear bright blue nylon for anyone.
WARUMONO CONSOLATION GATE
The television screen glowed with a harsh, unblinking light, casting a dull blue hue over the dark living room. On screen, the Bosnian team was sprint-sliding across the pitch in Zenica, while the Italian squad collapsed into a scattered heap of white jerseys and crushed spirits. The commentary had dissolved into a somber, muted drone. Italy was out. Again.
Alexander sat frozen on the edge of the sofa, his elbows resting on his knees and his face buried deep in his hands. The silence stretching through the apartment was heavy, broken only by the aggressive click of the kitchen door opening.
Brandon walked in balancing a massive wooden bowl of popcorn on his forearm and holding two cold bottles of beer by their necks. He took one look at the TV, then at the slumped, motionless figure of his fiancé. The triumphant, celebratory energy he had planned for completely dissolved.
Setting the snacks down on the coffee table with a soft clatter, Brandon bypassed the opposite end of the couch and dropped straight down right next to Alexander, sinking into the cushions.
"Hey," Brandon said, his voice uncharacteristically soft, stripped of its usual theatrical bite. He reached out, pressing a warm hand against the back of Alexander’s neck, his thumb gently massaging the tense muscle there. "Talk to me, babe. Is it officially a funeral on the field?"
Alexander let out a long, ragged breath through his nose, finally lifting his head. His eyes were wide with a mix of disbelief and sheer exhaustion. "Three times, Brandon. Three consecutive World Cups. Do you have any idea how statistically insane that is for a country with four stars on their chest? They lost the penalty shootout four to one. It wasn't even close at the end."
"I don't know what the stars mean, but I know that look," Brandon murmured. He wrapped his arm fully around Alexander’s shoulders, pulling him firmly against his side. "Come here. Lean into me before your brain completely short-circuits."
Alexander didn't resist. He let his head fall onto Brandon’s shoulder, staring blankly at the scrolling sports tickers on the bottom of the screen. "Half of my family is going to be insufferable, and the other half is going to act like someone actually died. My phone is already vibrating itself off the table with texts from the cousins in Rome. It’s embarrassing."
"Then don't look at it," Brandon said flatly. With his free hand, he snatched Alexander’s phone off the table and flipped it face-down onto a pile of magazines across the room. "There. The cousins can scream into the void for the night. You’re banned from the internet until tomorrow."
Alexander let out a weak, breathless laugh, the tight knot in his chest loosening just a fraction. "You can't just ban me from the World Cup news, Brandon."
"Watch me. I’m your fiancé; it’s in the contract under 'saving you from yourself,'" Brandon replied, shifting slightly to look down at him. A familiar, wicked spark returned to his eyes. "Besides, look at the bright side. Soccer is just ninety minutes of grown men in neon shorts doing synchronized cardio and pretending they got shot by a sniper whenever someone steps on their shoelaces. You're crying over a sport where the ultimate prize is a shiny gold paperweight."
"It's the most prestigious trophy in the world," Alexander groaned, though a genuine smile was finally breaking through his gloomy expression.
"It's a metaphor for stress, and you don't need it," Brandon countered, giving his shoulder a firm squeeze. "Listen to me. Italy messed up. They blew it. But you still have Japan, right? Kimiko was practically foaming at the mouth with excitement earlier. You’ve still got skin in the game."
Alexander shifted, looking up at Brandon. The heavy weight of the defeat was still there, but Brandon's presence was grounding him. "Yeah. Japan is in. They looked incredible in qualifiers."
"Exactly," Brandon said, grabbing one of the beers and pressing the cold glass into Alexander's hand. "So here is the new plan. We are completely abandoning Europe. We are going full Samurai Blue. I will personally buy the most obnoxious, oversized blue flag you can find, and we will hang it out the window. If anyone asks about Italy, we tell them we don't know her."
Alexander chuckled, taking a sip of the beer. The bitter taste helped snap him out of the stupor. "You'd really wear the jersey for the matches? You hate sportswear."
"I will wear the jersey, I will paint a little flag on my cheek, and I will scream at the referee like I actually know what offsides means," Brandon promised, his tone fiercely loyal. He leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to the side of Alexander’s head. "But tonight, you’re allowed to be miserable. Lean on me, eat some stale popcorn, and let's turn off this garbage match."
Alexander let out a long, genuine sigh of relief, dropping his head back onto Brandon’s shoulder as Brandon picked up the remote and clicked the TV off, plunging the room into a warm, quiet dark. "Thanks, Brandon."
"Anytime, babe. Now pass the popcorn."
Soccer is like a religion for Latin American countries, and Brazil takes it to staggering heights
Every school in Brazil has soccer as part of their PE cirriculum, and for the 2026 world cup, the Brazilian national team's plane is literally baptized with a firetruck load of Holy Water before take off, as thousands of Brazilians gather to chant Portuguese prayers
For the Hellaverse crew, since a number of them are Latinos, the excitement is all time high
Vivziepop, having calmed down from the brief disappointment of El Salvador not being in the 2026 world cup, watched as her Mexican costars instantly began pre World Cup prayer rituals ( led by Jace Coronado ), Joel Perez and Adrian Ferbeyre crying about how neither Puerto Rico nor Cuba made it to the 2026 world cup ( since Adrian is of French and Cuban descent ), but cheered up when they see France being in the 2026 world cup
Vivziepop, Richard Horvitz and Kristen Lazarian try their damn best to help maintain the Hellaverse studios in London, Sydney, LA and NYC to be functional, fun and positive ( albeit often chaotic ) workplaces for everyone amidst the exciting world cup season. After all, the 2026 Tony Awards is also coming soon
🗽 NYC Studio: The Prayer Altars vs. The Broadway Push
• The Ritual Redirection: To prevent Jace Coronado’s elaborate pre-match prayer rituals and burning incense from triggering the Radio City Music Hall smoke alarms, Vivziepop establishes a designated "Spiritual & Sporting Sanctuary" in the breakroom. She handles the Mexico hype by ordering green-white-and-red catering, while gently reminding Jace that the script deadlines for upcoming projects wait for no saint.
• The Tony Awards Command Center: With the 79th Annual Tony Awards taking place live from Radio City Music Hall, Kristen Lazarian sets up a massive whiteboard tracker dividing the room. One half monitors the Broadway rehearsal schedules and nominee seating charts, while the other half tracks the World Cup group stages. Kristen successfully bargains with the theatre-loving crew: "Two hours of animation tracking, then we can watch the pre-game highlights."
🌆 LA Studio: Managing the Tears and the Triumph
• The Franco-Cuban Consolation: When Joel Perez and Adrian Ferbeyre break down in tears over Puerto Rico and Cuba missing out on the tournament, Richard Horvitz intervenes with expert voice-director energy. He hands them a massive box of pastries and dramatically redirects their passion toward France's campaign. Richard loudly proclaims that "the French squad needs their theatrical energy to survive the group stage," immediately getting them to channel their tears into cheering for Les Bleus
• .The "Quiet on Set" Multi-Tasking: To keep the Los Angeles animators focused during critical daytime match broadcasts, Vivziepop implements a strict "One Earbud In, One Earbud Out" rule. Staff are allowed to stream matches on small corner screens at their desks, provided that the audio is muted so voice-recording sessions can continue without sudden background roars of "¡GOOOOOAL!" interrupting the track takes.
🦘 Sydney & 🎡 London Studios: Global Coordination Under Pressure
• The Time-Zone Survival Kits: Managing the massive time zone differences between the London and Sydney offices during a global tournament is a logistical nightmare. Kristen Lazarian coordinates "World Cup Survival Packs" for both hubs, packed with heavy caffeine for the UK crew staying up late and breakfast platters for the Australian animators waking up at dawn to catch the matches before their shifts officially start.
• The Hype-Level Compromise: Richard Horvitz keeps the global Slack and Discord channels organized by creating highly specific, muted channels for sports chatter. Anyone found posting massive match spoilers or screaming in the main production channels is playfully threatened with a Richard-voiced corporate lecture, ensuring the global workflow remains incredibly fun, positive, and completely functional.
ON THE MEXICAN TEAM PRE MATCH PRAYER CEREMONY
🕯️ The Master of Ceremonies and Ars Goetia Grace
• The Royal Physicality: As the movement model for Queen Amethyst and Prince Vassago, Jace Coronado commands the Broadway loft with an unshakeable, aristocratic posture. Even while lighting votive candles and wearing a customized, oversized Mexican national team jersey, his hand gestures carry the exact fluid, bird-like elegance he uses to map out the physical presence of the Ars Goetia royalty.
• The Choreographer’s Grid: Jace treats the entire Broadway loft like a high-end dance floor. He uses his background as the Speedy Gonzales film choreographer to perfectly block out the seating arrangements. He expertly positions the massive line-up of comedy legends, directors, and families so everyone has a perfect view of the primary altar, ensuring the heavy incense smoke flows directly toward the open loft windows instead of triggering the building's sensitive fire alarms.
🎸 The Legendary Guest List and Cinematic Cross-Overs
• The Animation and Comedy Royalty Hub: Jorge Gutiérrez and Sandra Equihua sit near the front, nodding approvingly at the striking visual layout of the altar. Behind them, Gabriel Iglesias, Frankie, and Claudia Valdez share a laugh with Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong, Paul Rodriguez, and George Lopez. The comedy icons keep their voices down out of respect for the prayer, but Cheech and Tommy occasionally whisper jokes about whether the burning copal incense could be swapped out for something a little more "their style.
• "The Family and Voice Cast Contingent: Ann Serrano, Laura Martinez, and the Lopez and Rodriguez kids sit in a tight, supportive circle alongside Harvey Guillén and Cristina Vee. Harvey looks on with immense pride, seeing Jace use the same commanding presence that anchors the physical identity of his own character, Prince Vassago. Cristina Vee and Krystina Alabado quietly help Claudia Valdez pass out traditional pan dulce and custom Mexican team rosaries to the guests.
🎹 The Musical Backdrop and Directorial Watch
• The Pan-Latino Musical Gift: Lin-Manuel Miranda sits in the corner huddled over his laptop, managing the sound system. Despite being of Cuban and Puerto Rican descent, Lin channels his chief composer energy into queuing up a sweeping, emotional playlist of Mexican gospel and folk prayer tracks. Next to him, Vanessa Nadal handles a high-definition video camera, capturing the beautiful chaos of the room—from the flickering candles to George Lopez wiping away a stray tear during a particularly moving verse.
• The Quiet Support and Regal Observation: Robert Lenzi stands near the back walls, doing his absolute best to be the most helpful, supportive partner possible by quietly managing the refreshment table and making sure everyone has cold water. Meanwhile, Jonathan Freeman (the voice of King Paimon) watches Jace’s master of ceremonies routine with a sharp, theatrical eye. Jonathan occasionally whispers to Harvey that Jace's dramatic, sweeping arm movements are "supremely fitting for the physical lineage of King Paimon and Queen Amethyst's household."
🇩🇴 The Heartbreak at the Studio Gates
• The Sudden Reality Check: Marcello Hernandez found out about the final qualification standings right before he was supposed to leave for the Broadway lofts. He completely broke down, sitting on a trunk in the dressing room, ugly crying into a Dominican Republic flag. As the voice of Alexandros, he usually has boundless, energetic charm, but the realization that neither Cuba nor the Dominican Republic would be on the pitch in 2026 left him entirely devastated.
• The Shared Grief: Ana Amelia Battle Cabral found him in this state and immediately dropped her bags to crouch down beside him. Being Dominican herself, she didn't try to sugarcoat the sports tragedy. Instead, she let him vent his pure frustration, bringing him tissues and holding his hands as he rattled off all the "what-ifs" and missed opportunities of the qualifying matches.
🕊️ Ana Amelia’s Steady Consolation
• The Perfect Pivot: Ana Amelia gently reminded Marcello that his heritage runs deep, and his talent is currently bringing Latino stories to the global stage via the Speedy Gonzales movie. She told him that while their islands wouldn't be on the turf this year, their voices, music, and presence were completely dominating the cultural landscape.
• The "Eye-Makeup" Rescue: Knowing Marcello had to look presentable for the high-profile gathering at the Broadway loft, Ana Amelia took charge of his recovery. She used cold water compresses to get the swelling down around his eyes, lightly joking that "Prince Belavoris of Sloth wouldn't want to be seen looking this exhausted in front of King Paimon himself."
🕯️ Arriving at the Broadway Loft
• The Pivot to Solidarity: By the time Ana Amelia guided Marcello through the doors of the Broadway loft, his tears had dried, replaced by a fierce sense of pan-Latino solidarity. Harvey Guillén, Joel Perez, Cristina Vee, and Krystina Alabado—his close co-stars from the Speedy Gonzales film—immediately spotted his red eyes and swarmed him with massive, tight hugs, quietly welcoming him into the circle.
• Channeling Energy into the Altar: Jace Coronado noticed Marcello's arrival and immediately handed him a candle, inviting him to place it on the main altar. Guided by Ana Amelia's encouraging nod, Marcello dedicated his prayers to the Mexican squad, deciding that if the Caribbean couldn't take the trophy home, he would scream, cheer, and manifest a historic victory for his Mexican brothers and sisters instead.
✈️ The Reactions to the Brazilian Plane Baptism
• The Awe and the Math: In the Los Angeles studio, the animators and voice actors huddled around the main breakroom monitors, watching the live helicopter footage from Rio de Janeiro. The entire room went dead silent as a fleet of airport fire trucks unleashed a massive, high-pressure torrent of Holy Water completely engulfing the Brazilian national team's Boeing aircraft while thousands of fans chanted Portuguese prayers on the tarmac.
• The Goetia Commentary: Watching the sheer scale of the Brazilian turnout, the cast members who voice the Ars Goetia characters jokingly pointed out that the display of devotion rivalled a royal demonic ceremony. They marvelled at how football in Brazil transcends sport, operating as a literal, unshakeable religion where an entire nation stops functioning just to bless a fuselage for sporting safe passage.
📺 Spotting the Broadway Loft on the Global Broadcast
• The Viral Split-Screen: The atmosphere shifted from awe to absolute hysterics when the international broadcast cut to a segment titled "Global Devotion: How Diaspora Communities Rally for 2026." Suddenly, the screen filled with panning shots of the Broadway lofts in New York City, clearly showing the Hellaverse crew's very own Mexican Pre-Match Prayer Ritual.
• The Background Sightings: The global Slack and Discord channels instantly exploded with rapid-fire screenshots and caps-lock messages. The London and Sydney offices began laughing out loud as they spotted the high-profile comedy legends, voice actors, and directors serious-faced under thick clouds of copal incense, perfectly orchestrated by a sweeping, regal gesture from Jace Coronado in the background.
🎭 The Cast's Internal Roasting and Hype
• The Zoom-In Breakthroughs: The crew completely lost it when the camera briefly zoomed past the main altar and caught Marcello Hernandez—eyes still a little puffy but full of intense passion—vigorously shaking a pair of maracas to the rhythm of Lin-Manuel Miranda's background gospel tracks. The juxtaposition of high-level Broadway production talent and raw, unfiltered football superstition was comedic gold for the rest of the studios.
• The Unifying Studio Spirit: Rather than causing a distraction, the chaotic and beautiful news coverage injected a massive wave of positive energy into all four global hubs. Vivziepop, Richard Horvitz, and Kristen Lazarian leaned into the fun, projecting the news broadcast onto the main editing bays, proving that the vibrant, unstoppable spirit of their Latino colleagues had officially set the tone for the wildest, most energetic World Cup season the studio had ever seen.
Scarlett Strallen ( voice of St Clare, St Gretchen and Emilia Vielmo ) and Natalie McQueen ( voice of St Desdemona Schiaparelli ) are also excited for the UK Team, and the news show a crowd gathered at Heathrow Airport to send the UK Team off with ' Its Coming Home ' song
And while watching the news, Scarlett and Natalie are also singing along, and Bryce Pinkham and Scarlett's kids, Winifred and Wilder, are dancing along, much to the adoring amusement of Josh Groban ( Ipos ) and Bryce Pinkham
🇬🇧 The Heathrow Send-Off Spark
• The Viral Airport Footage: Scarlett Strallen and Natalie McQueen were completely glued to the green room television when a special international broadcast cut to London's Heathrow Airport. The screen was flooded with a massive, roaring sea of fans wave-flashing Union Jacks as the UK National Team boarded their flight. The sheer, overwhelming patriotism of the crowd immediately lit a fire under the two West End and Broadway powerhouses.
• The Anthem Harmony: The second the crowd on the news broadcast broke out into a massive, synchronized rendition of "Three Lions (It's Coming Home)," Scarlett and Natalie didn't hesitate. They instantly locked eyes and launched into a flawless, West End-caliber vocal harmony, blasting the iconic football anthem across the workspace and turning a standard news segment into an impromptu musical theater production.
🕺 The Green Room Conga Line
• The Toddler Dance-Off: The pure energy of the song immediately caught the attention of Scarlett's kids, Winifred and Wilder. Moving with chaotic, uninhibited kid energy, they began jumping up and down on the rug, matching the frantic rhythm of the football fans on screen. Natalie happily egged them on, changing the lyrics to match the kids' names and turning the entire backstage lounge into a mini stadium terrace.
• The Broadway Back-Up: Bryce Pinkham quickly joined the fun, dropping his script to scoop up Wilder and lead an animated, highly theatrical conga line around the coffee table. He matched Scarlett's high notes with dramatic opera-style chest thumping, fully leaning into the UK football hype despite being an American, simply to keep the family momentum going ahead of the busy weekend.
🎭 Josh Groban's Regal Amusement
• The Prince Ipos Perspective: Sitting comfortably on the nearby armchair, Josh Groban (the voice of Prince Ipos) watched the unfolding chaos with a wide, adoring grin. He took slow sips from his coffee, thoroughly entertained by the juxtaposition of his co-stars' elite vocal ranges being used to belt out a 90s sports anthem while two toddlers aggressively danced to it.
• The Theatre-Football Compromise: As the song wrapped up with an theatrical, multi-part final note from Scarlett and Natalie, Josh clapped loudly, jokingly rating the performance a perfect ten. With the 79th Annual Tony Awards taking place this Sunday evening, June 7, 2026, at Radio City Music Hall, Josh playfully pointed out that if the UK squad could match even half of the Strallen-McQueen energy on the pitch, the World Cup trophy would be wrapped up before the group stages even concluded.
Back in the London Hellaverse studios lofts, the London Hellaverse crew - which included Sarah Brightman ( voice of Amethyst ), Jack Davenport ( Dante Alighieri ), Michelle Gomez ( Beatrice Portinari ), Jeremy Irons ( voice of Rodrigo Borgia and St Augustine ), and Sinead Cusack ( voice of Vannozza dei Cattanei and St Brigid ), and a bunch of other RSC and West End folks - are exchanging tea and biscuits while watching the BBC news of the UK Team taking off in Heathrow Airport
🫖 The Elite West End Tea Service
• The Royal Tea Protocol: In the sprawling London studio loft, the gathering is a highly refined affair, starkly contrasting with the chaotic energy of the New York and Los Angeles hubs. Sarah Brightman and Sinéad Cusack manage a massive sterling silver teapot, passing around porcelain cups of Earl Grey and English Breakfast alongside stacks of shortbread and digestive biscuits.
• The Shakespearean Commentary: As the BBC News broadcast fills the room with the roaring chants of "It's Coming Home" from Heathrow Airport, the Royal Shakespeare Company veterans treat the football coverage like high drama. Jeremy Irons leans back in a leather armchair, swirling his tea and analyzing the UK team's tactical formation with the deep, booming gravity he usually reserves for a St. Augustine monologue
⚽ Dante, Beatrice, and the British Hype
• The Florentine Exile Jokes: Jack Davenport and Michelle Gomez sit together on a plush sofa, highly amused by the juxtaposition of their characters. Jack jokingly laments that while Dante Alighieri traversed the nine circles of Hell, it pales in comparison to the emotional torment of watching England survive a World Cup penalty shootout. Michelle completely agrees, adopting her sharpest Beatrice tone to declare that the UK team will need actual divine intervention to bring the trophy home this summer
• .The Borgia Cynicism: When the news cameras show the British team waving from the aircraft steps, Jeremy Irons and Sinéad Cusack share a witty, theatrical chuckle. Jeremy remarks that the level of political maneuvering, high stakes, and intense strategy required to survive the group stages is exactly what Rodrigo Borgia and Vannozza dei Cattanei would have thoroughly enjoyed executing in Renaissance Rome.
🎭 The Grand Hellaverse Hype-Link
• The Amethyst Blessing: Sarah Brightman, radiating the regal elegance fitting for the matriarch of the Goetia household, lifts her teacup toward the television screen in a mock-royal toast. She playfully notes that while Jace Coronado is organizing massive prayer altars across the Atlantic in New York, the London loft is providing the UK squad with the elegant, dignified, and highly theatrical vocal support they truly deserve.
• The Global Studio Synergy: As the news segment draws to a close, the entire London crew breaks out into a polite, synchronized round of applause, entirely unfazed by the global chaos. They seamlessly transition the conversation from World Cup odds straight back to their West End production notes, proving that even with football fever sweeping the globe, the British hub maintains its classic, unflappable charm.
[GROUP CHAT: Divine and Infernal Comedies]
Richard Horvitz:@Jace_Coronado SIR. EXPLAIN YOURSELF IMMEDIATELY. 📺🚨
Natalie McQueen: Oh my god, please tell me everyone else is watching BBC World News right now?! I am screaming 😭😭😭
Scarlett Strallen: We just saw it in the green room! Winifred and Wilder are literally pointing at the telly shouting “Look, it’s Uncle Jace!”
Cristina Vee: OH NO IT’S ON THE ACTUAL NEWS?! 😂💀
Harvey Guillén: [Screenshot_BBCNews_GlobalDevotion.png]
Look at him. Absolute icon. Look at that posture! Queen Amethyst could never.
Bryce Pinkham: I am weeping. The panning shot of the altar was breathtaking, but then the camera slowly drifts left and there is Marcello shaking maracas like his actual life depends on it.
Marcello Hernandez: Listen, my eyes were swollen from crying about Cuba and the DR, okay?! I had to channel that trauma into the rhythm section! 🇨🇺🇩🇴
Ana Amelia Battle Cabral: He is not exaggerating. I had to apply cold compresses to his face ten minutes before the news crew walked into the loft. He gave his soul to those maracas.
Jack Davenport: Truly a masterclass in physical theatre, Marcello. Dante himself didn’t witness that level of purgatorial passion.
Michelle Gomez: It was the thick cloud of copal incense for me. It looked less like a football prayer and more like a high-stakes summoning ritual in the Ars Goetia palace. @Jonathan_Freeman come look at your fictional family.
Jonathan Freeman: I watched the entire broadcast from my dressing room. I must say, Jace’s sweeping arm movements while lighting the votives were deeply majestic. King Paimon highly approves of the theatricality. 👑
Jace Coronado: Look, the Mexican squad needs all the divine intervention they can get! 🇲🇽🕯️ And for the record, @Lin_Manuel, your gospel track layout was so loud the news anchor had to practically shout over the microphone.
Lin-Manuel Miranda: Hey, I provide the atmosphere, the universe handles the broadcast! 🎹🔥 Besides, Vanessa’s footage is way better than what the news aired. I’ll upload the director’s cut to the drive later.
Sarah Brightman: It was absolutely beautiful, darlings. The London loft is currently having tea and biscuits, and we all toasted our teacups to the screen. Elegant, chaotic, and wonderfully Latino. 🫖✨
Jeremy Irons: A spectacular display of faith and strategy. Rodrigo Borgia would have thoroughly respected the logistical organization of putting George Lopez and Cheech Marin in the front pews.
Vivziepop: Guys, my phone is literally melting. The animators in the LA and Sydney offices are spamming the production channels with memes of Marcello’s face. I’m trying to keep the studio functional for the Tony push on Sunday, but you guys are making it impossible! 😭❤️
Joel Perez: If Mexico wins their first match, we are doing a full procession through Radio City Music Hall in our formalwear. No exceptions.
Richard Horvitz: Deal. But until then, EVERYONE BACK TO WORK. We have animations to ship! 🎬💥
HELLAVERSE TWITTER FANS ON THAT
OH MY GOD??? I was watching the world cup news broadcast about fans in NYC and they literally panned through a Broadway loft and JACE CORONADO WAS LEADING A MEXICAN TEAM PRAYER RITUAL?! With the full Queen Amethyst posture?? 😭🕯️🇲🇽 #Hellaverse #WorldCup2026
@stolas_enjoyer: wait wait wait hold on, is that actually him?!
@GoetiaGossip: YES!! And look at the front row! That is literally Gabriel Iglesias, George Lopez, and Jorge Gutiérrez. The entire Speedy Gonzales movie cast is in the building!!
Can we talk about Marcello Hernandez in the background of the news clip? He looks like he just survived a tragedy but he is shaking those maracas with the fury of a thousand suns 💀💀 standard Prince Belavoris energy tbh.
[Embedded Video Clip]: A 5-second zoomed-in, slowed-down GIF of Marcello Hernandez aggressively shaking maracas under a thick cloud of copal incense, his eyes visibly red.
@helluva_connoisseur: Rumor has it he was ugly crying right before this because Cuba and the DR didn't qualify, and Ana Amelia had to put ice packs on his face. They are so real for this.
@marcellos_maracas: The pan-Latino solidarity is off the charts. He said "if my islands can't play, I'm manifesting a victory for Mexico." We love a supportive king.
Vivzie, Richard, and Kristen are in the trenches trying to keep the NYC, LA, London, and Sydney studios functional and all the cast members are doing is planning World Cup viewing parties and Tony Awards rehearsals. The chaos is immaculate.
@animator_grind: As someone who works in animation, I just know the Hellaverse global Slack channels are completely unusable right now. Imagine trying to approve an animatic and your phone is just vibrating off the desk with football memes.
While the NYC crew is summoning wins with incense, the London Hellaverse loft is apparently having a polite tea session watching the Heathrow send-off. Someone said Sarah Brightman, Jeremy Irons, and Michelle Gomez were literally toasting their teacups to the telly when "It's Coming Home" played 🫖🇬🇧 #ThreeLions
@theatre_geek26: Don't forget Scarlett Strallen and Natalie McQueen belt-harmonizing the anthem in the Broadway green room while Bryce Pinkham led the toddlers in a conga line! Josh Groban was apparently just sitting there clapping like a proud dad.
@WestEndWitch: The vocal power in that green room... the UK team better win the group stages or they're letting down theatre royalty.
The Tony Awards are this Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Radio City Music Hall, and the Hellaverse cast is already talking about doing a full football procession down the red carpet in their formalwear if Mexico wins their opening match. I need someone to live-stream Vanessa Nadal’s camera roll immediately.
@paimon_starlord: Jonathan Freeman watching Jace's master of ceremonies routine and saying it's "supremely fitting for the Goetia household" on the group chat is the highlight of my week. The boundary between the show and reality has completely dissolved and I love it here.
LOONEY TUNES FANS ON THAT
LOONEY TUNES FANS WAKE UP!!! The entire cast of the upcoming Speedy Gonzales movie was spotted on the international news doing a pre-match World Cup prayer ritual in NYC! 🇲🇽🔥 Jorge Gutiérrez and Sandra Equihua were right up front! This movie is going to have so much raw, unfiltered Latino energy I can’t handle it.
@Acme_Archives: Wait, that was the Speedy cast?! I saw Gabriel Iglesias, Cheech Marin, and Tommy Chong in the pews but I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me! 🏎️💨
@ArribaSpeedy: Yes!! And Paul Rodriguez and George Lopez were right there next to them. It’s literally a summit of legendary Mexican comedy royalty praying for the national team.
Can we talk about Jace Coronado being the choreographer for the Speedy movie AND the Master of Ceremonies for this prayer ritual? The way he was commanding that loft with the thick clouds of incense... he treats football logistics like a high-end dance routine. 🕯️✨
@Mouse_Capades: Literally! And Lin-Manuel Miranda is the chief composer for the film, so of course he was in the corner managing the sound system, blasting Mexican gospel music so loud the news anchors could barely report over it 😂
The real star of the broadcast was Marcello Hernandez. Someone zoomed in on his face and he looked like he had been ugly crying because Cuba and the Dominican Republic didn't make the tournament, but he was still shaking those maracas with 1000% effort to support his Mexican co-stars 😭🇨🇺🇩🇴
[Attached Media]: A viral side-by-side edit of Marcello Hernandez shaking maracas in real life next to a classic, blurry frame of Speedy Gonzales running at supersonic speed.
@Carrot_Cruncher: He’s part of the Speedy cast too! Along with Harvey Guillén, Joel Perez, Cristina Vee, and Krystina Alabado. The pan-Latino solidarity in that room was beautiful. Harvey and Cristina looked so proud of everyone.
@Looney_Legends_26: Honestly, if the movie has even half the emotional intensity of Marcello’s maraca performance, it’s winning an Oscar.
Vivziepop and Lin-Manuel Miranda are probably sweating bullets trying to keep their projects on track. The Tony Awards are tomorrow night (Sunday, June 7!) [2], and this entire cast is out here threatening to do a full football procession down the red carpet at Radio City Music Hall if Mexico wins their match [2]. 🎭⚽
@Looney_Fanatic: Let them celebrate! Brazil literally baptized their actual team plane with a firetruck full of Holy Water in Rio, so a Broadway loft prayer ritual and a red carpet march is completely reasonable by comparison. ✈️🇧🇷
@WB_Animation_Nut: Fair point. This is officially the most chaotic, high-energy World Cup season ever. Arriba!
GABRIEL IGLESIAS ON THE PRAYER CEREMONY
The spotlight slammed down onto the center of the stage, reflecting off the bright, multicolored floral print of Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias’s signature Hawaiian shirt [shopping: 1]. The crowd at the packed theater erupted into a wall of cheers and applause, whistling loudly as Gabriel took the microphone off the stand, grinning ear to ear.
He waited for the noise to simmer down, pacing the stage for a moment before letting out his classic, high-pitched chuckle.
"Oh my god, you guys look amazing tonight!" Gabriel boomed into the mic, his voice instantly filling the venue. "It is so good to be here. But man... I am exhausted. I am so tired, you guys, and it’s not even from touring. No, no. It’s because the 2026 World Cup is starting, and if you are Mexican, or you know a Mexican, you know that football isn't a sport. It is a full-blown, mandatory spiritual experience."
The crowd laughed loudly, with a few people in the front rows shouting and waving Mexican flags.
"I'm serious!" Gabriel said, putting a hand over his heart. "I was in New York City this past weekend because I'm working on the new Speedy Gonzales movie with my boy Jorge Gutiérrez and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Right? Amazing crew. But since the tournament is here, the cast decided we couldn't just watch the game. We had to do a traditional Mexican Pre-Match Prayer Ceremony."
He paused, lowering his voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "Now, when they told me 'prayer ceremony,' I thought we were gonna sit in a circle, say a quick Padre Nuestro, eat some tamales, and call it a day. Simple. Casual. Nooo, señor. They hosted it in these giant, fancy Broadway lofts, and Jace Coronado—the choreographer for the movie—was the Master of Ceremonies. You guys, Jace didn't just walk into the room. He glided."
Gabriel dramatically straightened his spine, lifting his chin and throwing his arms out in a sweeping, elegant gesture, perfectly mimicking Jace's regal movement modeling posture.
"He was wearing an oversized Mexico jersey, but he looked like royalty, man! He was floating around the room, lighting candles, and burning so much copal incense that within five minutes, the entire loft looked like a haunted house. I’m sitting in the front row next to Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, and the smoke is so thick, Tommy leans over to me and whispers—" Gabriel dropped his voice into a perfect, raspy, slow-motion impression of Tommy Chong "—‘Hey, man... I don’t think this is sage... but I really, really like the vibe.’"
The audience completely lost it, roaring with laughter and clapping as Gabriel walked across the stage, letting the joke land.
"But it gets better!" Gabriel chuckled, wiping a mock tear from his eye. "We are in the middle of these deep, solemn prayers, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is in the corner on his laptop acting like a DJ, blasting this heavy, booming Mexican gospel music. And then... the international news crew walks in. BBC World News. Live broadcast. They pan the camera across the room, past the beautiful altar, past me trying not to inhale a pound of incense, and the camera lands on Marcello Hernandez."
Gabriel paused, shaking his head with a look of pure, affectionate pity.
"My boy Marcello... he was ugly crying, you guys!" Gabriel wailed into the mic, making a distorted, sobbing face. "His eyes were bright red because Cuba and the Dominican Republic didn't qualify for the tournament. He was heartbroken! But because he’s a professional, and because the camera was on him, he grabbed a pair of maracas and started shaking them like his actual rent was due tomorrow! Just—" Gabriel made a frantic, high-pitched "shaka-shaka-shaka-shaka" noise into the microphone, his hand moving at lightning speed. "—sobbing his eyes out, but keeping the rhythm perfectly!"
The theater shook with laughter, several people doubling over in their seats.
"The next morning, the clip goes completely viral on Twitter," Gabriel said, grinning broadly as he wrapped up the story. "My phone is exploding. The Hellaverse fans and the Looney Tunes fans are joining forces online, making memes of Marcello's crying face next to a blurry photo of Speedy Gonzales running. Vivziepop is texting the group chat telling us we're destroying the studio's productivity. But hey—if Mexico goes out there and wins, you best believe I’m letting Jace bring that incense right onto the red carpet at the Tony Awards tomorrow night. Thank you guys, you've been incredible!"
Gabriel waved, flashing a massive smile as the crowd stood up, sending him off with a thunderous standing ovation.
During the Mexican Prayer ceremony, Natasha Rubin was with Cheech Marin, looking somewhat confused but supportive, and looking very lovely in a black mantilla veil and a black cocktail dress
And Cheech just couldnt take his eyes off of her, much to everyone else's amusement
Okay, we’ve all laughed at Marcello shaking the maracas, but can we PLEASE talk about Cheech Marin and Natasha Rubin at the Mexican prayer ritual?! 😭❤️ Natasha looked absolutely gorgeous in a black cocktail dress and a traditional lace mantilla veil, but she looked so beautifully confused by the chaotic energy of the room.
@Looney_Loops: Oh my god, I noticed that! She was trying so hard to be respectful and supportive of the Mexican squad, but you could tell she had no idea what Lin-Manuel’s booming gospel tracks or Jace’s dramatic incense swinging were leading up to.
@Acme_Animator: And Cheech!!! The man was completely captivated. The camera panned past the altar and caught him just staring at her with the most smitten, adoring eyes while holding his candle. He completely forgot about the football prayers for a hot second.
@Speedy_Updates_2026 • 14m
The juxtaposition of the Speedy Gonzales production team at this event is killing me. You have Jorge Gutiérrez and Sandra Equihua looking intensely focused on manifesting a victory, Marcello crying over the Caribbean teams, and then there's Cheech Marin completely entranced by Natasha Rubin looking like a classic cinematic icon in her black mantilla. 🎬✨
[Attached Image]: A high-definition screenshot from the BBC broadcast, circling Cheech Marin looking lovingly at Natasha Rubin while thick, dramatic clouds of copal incense swirl around them like a classic Hollywood romance movie.
@Hella_Tunes_Fan: Everyone else in the background is literally snickering. If you look closely at the edge of the frame, you can see Gabriel Iglesias and George Lopez nudging each other and smirking at Cheech. They completely caught him lacking on international television.
@Speedy_Updates_2026: Even Harvey Guillén and Cristina Vee had that exact "proud friend" smile watching them. The loft was filled with intense football anxiety, but Cheech and Natasha were living in a completely different genre of film.
@Classic_Cartoons_Daily • 28m
I am so obsessed with Natasha’s outfit choice for this. The black cocktail dress paired with the lace mantilla veil gave such an elegant, timeless, and respectful nod to the traditional solemnity of a prayer ritual, even if the actual loft was full of Broadway actors and comedy legends losing their minds over soccer. 🖤🕯️
@Warner_Bros_Nut: It’s the ultimate supportive partner move. She might not fully understand the terrifying depths of Mexican football superstition, but she showed up looking like absolute royalty to back the team. No wonder Cheech couldn't take his eyes off her.
@Classic_Cartoons_Daily: Honestly, Jace Coronado probably loved her aesthetic. With her regal elegance in that veil, she looked like she stepped straight out of a high-end Ars Goetia storyboard design.
@Tony_Awards_Watcher • 42m
Between the viral plane baptism in Brazil, Marcello’s maraca solo, and now Cheech and Natasha’s unspoken romance arc in the middle of a World Cup blessing, tomorrow night’s Tony Awards red carpet at Radio City Music Hall is going to be an absolute circus. The media is 100% going to ask Cheech about this broadcast. 🎭⚽
@Fluffy_Fanatic: Gabriel Iglesias already roasted them in his stand-up set tonight, so the secret is out! I need the cameras to track Cheech and Natasha on the red carpet tomorrow to see if she wears another iconic veil.
A funny aspect of the Mexican prayer ceremony is that, while Gabriel Iglesias and his comedian best friends in tow ( including Martin Moreno, who is the voice of Slowpoke Rodriguez ) all show up in oversized Mexican team Jerseys, their respective wives all show up in fancy mantilla veils or baila folklorico dresses
Claudia shows up in a pretty Mexican black baila folklorico dress with rainbow floral patterns, with a single red rose on her hair.
It is a hilarious contrast indeed, and Paul Rodriguez Jr and Frankie Iglesias are both cackling at the contrasts of their parents
Everyone else there is either wearing summertime church outfits or Mexican team jerseys
Jonathan was also there in a crisp maroon silk shirt, black pants, dress shoes and a single gold pendant, looking somewhat confused yet supportive of Jace
@Goetia_Garment_District • 4m
I am actually hyperventilating looking at the wardrobe choices for the Mexican prayer ceremony. The contrast is Peak Latino Comedy. Gabriel Iglesias, Martin Moreno (voice of Slowpoke Rodriguez! 🐭), and the rest of the comedian crew showed up looking like they were ready to tailgate in the stadium parking lot with giant, oversized Mexican national team jerseys. ⚽🇲🇽
@Fluffy_Fanatic_26: YES! And then you look at their wives and partners and they look like they are attending a high-society Gala or high-mass Sunday service! The respect, the elegance, the glamour! 😭❤️
@Goetia_Garment_District: Exactly! Claudia Valdez looked absolutely drop-dead gorgeous in a traditional black Mexican baile folklórico dress with those stunning rainbow floral patterns and a single red rose tucked into her hair. She looked like a cinematic masterpiece, while Gabriel looked like he was about to yell at a television screen over a missed penalty.
If you zoom into the background of the BBC broadcast, you can literally see Paul Rodriguez Jr. and Frankie Iglesias hidden near the snack table, completely doubling over and cackling at their parents. 💀💀
@Acme_Archives: I would be too! Imagine your dad showing up in a polyester jersey three sizes too big, and your mom standing next to him looking like an absolute queen in a lace mantilla veil. Frankie and Paul Jr. represent all of us watching this live.
@Frankie_Fan_Club: The contrast is art. You have the men dressing for a sports bar and the women dressing for an audience with the Pope. There is no in-between.
Shoutout to everyone else in the loft who had to navigate this bizarre dress code. Half the Hellaverse voice cast is in standard summertime church outfits, the other half is in jerseys, and then there’s Jonathan Freeman (King Paimon himself) just standing there looking delightfully out of place. 👑✨
[Attached Image]: A cropped photo of Jonathan Freeman standing beside Jace Coronado, wearing a crisp maroon silk shirt, tailored black trousers, polished dress shoes, and a single, elegant gold pendant catching the light of the votive candles.
@helluva_connoisseur: He looked so intensely confused yet incredibly supportive of Jace! He really brought that refined, aristocratic Goetia energy to a football blessing. The maroon silk shirt was a total power move.
@Paimons_Pendant: He really said, "I don't understand the intricacies of FIFA qualification, but I will look majestic while observing it."
@Tony_Awards_Watcher • 38m
The media on the Tony Awards red carpet tomorrow night is going to have a field day with this cast. Are Gabriel and Martin going to wear tuxedos, or are they going to try and sneak those oversized jerseys under their suit jackets? 🎭👀
@Slowpoke_Stan: If Mexico plays well, I fully expect Martin Moreno to shout "Arriba!" in his Slowpoke Rodriguez voice right into the Broadway microphones. Let the chaos continue! 🏎️💨
DIZ FANS WAKE UP!!! I was watching the international news segment on World Cup superstitions and Jafar himself—the absolute legend Jonathan Freeman—was standing in a Broadway loft in the middle of a massive Mexican football prayer ritual?! 😭👑 What universe are we living in?! #Disney #Aladdin #WorldCup2026
@Broadway_Bound_26: Yes!! He’s there supporting Jace Coronado (who does the movement modeling for the Hellaverse Goetia royalty). Jonathan looked so delightfully confused by the entire situation but he was standing his ground like absolute royalty!
@Agrabah_Archives: The look on his face was pure gold. You could tell he had absolutely no idea how FIFA qualification works, but he was 100% there to back up Jace’s master of ceremonies routine.
Can we talk about Jonathan Freeman’s wardrobe choice for a soccer blessing? While Gabriel Iglesias and the Speedy Gonzales cast are wearing giant, oversized neon green Mexican jerseys, Jonathan shows up in a crisp maroon silk shirt, tailored black trousers, immaculate dress shoes, and a single gold pendant.
[Attached Media]: A side-by-side edit of Jonathan Freeman looking dignified in his maroon silk shirt next to an animated clip of Jafar swirling his cape.
@Cave_Of_Wonders: The style is unmatched! He brought straight Agrabah elegance to a football loft. He looked like he was about to advise the Sultan, but instead, he’s just watching Jace aggressively wave thick clouds of copal incense over a sports altar. 🕯️✨
@Jafars_Staff: It’s the contrast that kills me. Thick clouds of smoky incense, Lin-Manuel Miranda blasting heavy Mexican gospel tracks in the corner, comedy legends whispering in the pews, and Jonathan just standing there looking regal, supportive, and completely bewildered.
The Disney-Broadway crossover energy of this pre-World Cup weekend is off the charts. You have Jonathan Freeman observing a sports ritual like a proud theatrical mentor, Lin-Manuel Miranda acting as a pan-Latino musical DJ, and the Speedy Gonzales crew getting ready for the tournament.
@Theater_Geek_NYC: And remember, tomorrow night—Sunday, June 7, 2026—is the 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall! Jonathan is definitely going to be there. I need the red carpet reporters to ask him about this broadcast immediately. 🎭🏆
@Mouse_Ears_Daily: If a reporter asks him about the World Cup, I desperately need him to answer in his deep, booming Jafar voice. "The Mexican squad shall rise like a diamond in the rough!" 💎
Honestly, Jonathan Freeman standing by Jace Coronado during that intense prayer ceremony is the most wholesome thing on the internet today. He didn't understand the assignment dress-code wise, he doesn't understand soccer, but his presence was majestic. A supportive, silk-wearing king.
@Fluffy_Fanatic: Gabriel Iglesias actually talked about this in his stand-up set! He said Jonathan was watching Jace’s dramatic arm movements with a sharp theatrical eye, whispering that it was "supremely fitting for a royal household." The boundary between theater and real life is totally gone.
The spotlight flared to life, cutting through the dimmed theater as Marcello Hernandez strode out onto the stage. The crowd burst into a wall of cheers, immediately recognizing the high-energy Saturday Night Live star. Dressed in a sharp, casual jacket, he took the microphone off the stand with a massive, charismatic grin, pacing the stage as the applause settled.
"What is going on, New York?!" Marcello shouted, his voice echoing over the laughter. "Man, it is so good to be here. But listen, I need to talk to you guys about something serious. We are on the eve of the 2026 World Cup, right? It's here. And as a guy who is half-Cuban and half-Dominican... it is a very dark, traumatic time for my household."
The audience let out a collective, sympathetic chuckle.
"No, seriously! Neither Cuba nor the Dominican Republic qualified!" Marcello threw his arms up in exasperation, his face twisting into a mask of pure comedic despair. "Do you know what that does to a man? I was in the Broadway loft dressing rooms this past weekend, getting ready to go to a pre-match gathering, and I completely lost it. I was sitting on a production trunk, ugly crying into a Dominican flag. Just sobbing. Ruining my face."
He paced to the left, pointing into the crowd. "But thankfully, my fellow Dominican, the brilliant Ana Amelia Battle Cabral, walks into the room. She drops her bags, looks at me, and doesn't even say 'What's wrong?' She just sees the flag and knows. She crouches down, hands me tissues, and lets me vent for ten straight minutes about missed penalty kicks and sports tragedy."
The crowd smiled, cooing at the wholesome detail.
"But then," Marcello paused, raising an eyebrow. "Ana Amelia realizes we are running late for the Mexican Pre-Match Prayer Ceremony hosted by Jace Coronado. And she looks at my face, and she goes, 'Marcello, your eyes are completely swollen. Prince Belavoris of Sloth cannot be seen looking this exhausted in front of King Paimon himself.' She literally grabs ice packs and cold water compresses, smacks them onto my face, and says, 'Dry your tears, we are going to support Mexico!'"
The theater erupted into loud laughter. Gabriel Iglesias’s fans in the audience were already connecting the dots.
"So we walk into the Broadway loft," Marcello continued, his hands gesturing wildly. "And the dress code is a psychological thriller, okay? You have Gabriel Iglesias and Martin Moreno looking like they’re about to tailgate at a stadium in giant, oversized neon-green jerseys. Then you look right next to them, and their wives look like they’re meeting the Pope! Claudia Valdez is standing there looking stunning in a traditional black baile folklórico dress with rainbow flowers and a rose in her hair. Absolute elegance. And Gabriel looks like he’s about to scream at a referee."
Marcello took a deep breath, building up to the climax of the story. "And then, the international news crew walks in. BBC World News. Live broadcast. Jace Coronado is swinging thick, terrifying clouds of copal incense like a royal Goetia summoning ritual. Lin-Manuel Miranda is acting as a pan-Latino DJ, blasting booming Mexican gospel music from a laptop. And the camera pans over to me."
He clutched the microphone tightly, mimicking his viral moment. "My eyes are still bright red. I am emotionally fragile. But Ana Amelia looks at me from across the room and gives me this sharp, encouraging nod. Like, 'This is your moment, do it for the culture.' So, what do I do? I grab a pair of maracas off the table, and I start shaking them with the fury of a thousand suns!"
Marcello launched into a hilarious, hyper-speed physical impression on stage—vibrating his hands back and forth, making frantic "shaka-shaka-shaka-shaka" noises into the mic while maintaining a wide-eyed, completely traumatized, sobbing facial expression.
The entire theater completely lost it. People were roaring, clapping, and slapping their knees as Marcello stood there, frozen in his frantic maraca-shaking pose.
"I was sobbing my eyes out, but keeping the rhythm perfectly!" Marcello shouted over the deafening laughter, finally breaking character with a chuckle. "The next morning, I wake up and I am a global meme on Twitter. Animation fans are side-by-side editing my crying face next to a blurry photo of Speedy Gonzales running at supersonic speed. Vivziepop is texting the Hellaverse group chat telling us our football fever is destroying studio productivity. But listen, tomorrow night is Sunday, June 7, 2026—the 79th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall. If Mexico wins their opening match, Ana Amelia and I are leading the entire Speedy cast down that red carpet, maracas in hand! Thank you, New York!"
The crowd rose to their feet, sending Marcello off with a massive, thunderous standing ovation as he waved and blew kisses, completely commanding the stage
Amongst the attendees of the 2026 Tony Awards include:
. The cast of Chess 2026 ( including Bryce Pinkham, of course )
. The cast Rocky Horror Picture show 2026 ( including Harvey Guillen )
. The cast of Titanique ( including Marla Mindelle, the voice of Belphegor and her daughter Andromeda/Lady Death )
. Ashley Spencer ( Lilith ), Jeremy Jordan, Christian Borle, Skye Mattox, James Monroe Iglehart, Dawn Phelps
And a bunch of other musical theater folks
The 2026 Tony Awards is indeed an exciting event, and there will also be a Tony Awards after party at the NYC Hellaverse studio lofts
There are also watch parties across the LA, London and Sydney studios lofts
OH MY GOD?! The official Tony Awards after-party is happening at the NYC Hellaverse studio lofts tomorrow night?! 🏆🎭 The sheer concentration of elite vocal power in that one building is going to cause a localized sonic boom. #TonyAwards2026 #Hellaverse
@Goetia_Gossip: Wait, does this mean the entire Broadway contingent is going to be there?
@Broadway_Hellion: YES! The cast of the Chess 2026 revival (including Bryce Pinkham!), the Rocky Horror Picture Show 2026 cast (with Harvey Guillén!), and the Titanique crew (Marla Mindelle, our Queen Belphegor herself!) are all confirmed. It’s going to be absolute cinema.
Imagine walking into the NYC loft after-party and seeing Marla Mindelle celebrating a Titanique sweep while Ashley Spencer (Lilith), Jeremy Jordan, Christian Borle, Skye Mattox, James Monroe Iglehart, and Dawn Phelps are casually huddled around the karaoke setup. 😭🎤
[Attached Fan Art]: A stylized, comedic sketch of Lilith and Belphegor holding a microphone together on a glowing Broadway-style stage inside a neon-lit animation studio loft.
@VeeMayday_Fan: Don't forget the global connection! Vivzie, Richard, and Kristen set up official live watch-parties across the LA, London, and Sydney studio lofts too. The global Slack channels are going to be pure, unadulterated chaos when the awards start dropping.
@Belphegors_Bail: The London loft is probably polishing their finest silver teapots right now while the LA animators draft up victory memes. The studio synergy is unmatched.
If Marcello Hernandez and Jace Coronado actually follow through on their threat to lead a full World Cup football procession through the after-party in their formalwear, I will pass out. ⚽🇲🇽
@Fluffy_Fanatic: Gabriel Iglesias said in his stand-up set that if Mexico plays well, the incense and the maracas are coming straight to Radio City Music Hall. Imagine Christian Borle and Jeremy Jordan trying to navigate a thick cloud of copal incense while holding their trophies.
@Maracas_Supremacy: Jonathan Freeman standing in the corner in another pristine silk shirt, looking regal yet thoroughly confused by the sports chants, is exactly what I need from tomorrow's paparazzi footage.
This weekend has been an absolute fever dream for animation and theater fans. We went from a live BBC broadcast of a Mexican team prayer ritual, to Gabriel and Marcello roasting their co-stars on stage, and now a massive Tony after-party stacked with the Speedy Gonzales and Hellaverse casts. 🏎️💨
@Tony_Awards_Watcher: Vivziepop and Lin-Manuel Miranda are truly the captains of the most entertaining ship in show business right now. Tomorrow night is going to go down in history. The boundary between Broadway royalty and cartoon demons has completely dissolved!
After the Mexican Prayer ritual, there is also a Mexican style barbecue cookout for all the guests ( its part of the event package. Jace and Jonathan are very good at planning parties )
Anyway, the cookout was at a nearby country club, everyone else was enjoying the carne asada, dancing to some remix music and having a blast
And then George Lopez posted a photo of Jace being caught sitting on Jonathan's lap in a not so private corner, being all flirty and drunk while Jonathan was covered in purple red lipstick marks, and at the back, Gabriel, Claudia and their comedian friends are dramatically mock gasping like telenovela characters
In that photo, Jace already ditched the Mexican team jersey colored priest robe, and was in a gorgeous lapis lazuli colored, semi sheer deep V party shirt with blue eyeliners
George also tagged the post with, ' When the Priest is also caught sitting on Jafar's lap. ¡El escándalo! 😱🤣🤣 '
The post quickly became viral
And lets just say, the Hellaverse and Speedy crews will NEVER let that couple down
OH MY GOD??? GEORGE LOPEZ JUST POSTED THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM THE WORLD CUP COOKOUT AND I AM SCREAMING, CRYING, AND THROWING UP!!! 😱🚨 Look at Jace and Jonathan!!! ¡EL ESCÁNDALO IS SO REAL! #Hellaverse #Disney #SpeedyGonzales
@Agrabah_Aesthetics: WAIT WAIT HOLD ON. Is Jace literally sitting on Jonathan Freeman’s lap in a semi-private country club booth?! Look at them!! 😭❤️
@Goetia_Gossip_26: YES!! Jace completely ditched that green Mexican team jersey priest robe and changed into a gorgeous, lapis lazuli colored, semi-sheer deep-V party shirt with matching blue eyeliner. He looks like an actual prince! And he is visibly tipsy and flirting for his life!
The detail on Jonathan Freeman in George's photo is taking me out. He is still wearing that pristine maroon silk shirt from earlier, but he is completely covered in purple-red lipstick marks! Jafar got absolutely compromised at the carne asada cookout and he doesn't even look mad about it 💀💀
[Attached Screenshot]: George Lopez’s viral post, showing a blurry, high-energy photo of Jace giggling on Jonathan’s lap, while in the direct background, Gabriel Iglesias, Claudia Valdez, and Martin Moreno are holding their hands over their hearts, dramatically mock-gasping like background characters in a prime-time Mexican telenovela.
@Fluffy_Fanatic: The background is the best part! Gabriel and Claudia look like they just witnessed a murder on La Rosa de Guadalupe. The comedian crew really treated a real-life couple moment like a dramatic soap opera twist.
@Jafars_Juice: George’s caption is literally: "When the Priest is also caught sitting on Jafar's lap. ¡El escándalo! 😱🤣🤣" I am actually weeping. The comedy legends are never letting them live this down.
The Hellaverse and Speedy cast group chats must be completely radioactive right now. Imagine being Vivziepop or Lin-Manuel Miranda trying to organize final wardrobe checks for the Tony Awards tomorrow night at Radio City Music Hall, and you look at your phone and Jafar is covered in purple lipstick on a country club terrace. 💄👑
@Broadway_Bound_26: Marcello Hernandez probably stopped crying about Cuba just to scream-text this photo to the group chat. Harvey Guillén and Cristina Vee are definitely saving this to use as black-mail for the next decade of recording sessions.
@Paimons_Pendant: Jace commands the room with that elite Queen Amethyst posture all day, but three margaritas and some carne asada later, he’s completely melted on Jonathan's lap. They are officially the blueprint.
@Tony_Awards_Watcher • 37m
Tomorrow night’s Tony Awards red carpet and the official NYC Hellaverse loft after-party are going to be absolutely historic. The paparazzi and red carpet reporters are 100% going to ask Jonathan and Jace about the purple lipstick marks. 🎭🏆⚽
@Looney_Tunes_Nut: If George Lopez, Cheech Marin, and Gabriel Iglesias walk the red carpet together tomorrow, they are going to tease Jonathan through the entire broadcast. The boundary between theater royalty, classic cartoon production, and raw internet chaos has been permanently shattered. Arriba!
🥩 The Country Club Takeover and Carne Asada Logistics
• The Party-Planning Power Duo: Jace Coronado and Jonathan Freeman handled the country club booking with absolute theatrical precision. Jace mapped out the dance floor layout and the pool-side lighting, while Jonathan used his sharp, regal demeanor to negotiate a high-end custom catering package [skills:load{skill_names:[local,shopping]}]—ensuring a continuous supply of perfectly grilled carne asada, fresh guacamole, and top-shelf margaritas for the star-studded Speedy Gonzales and Hellaverse crews.
• The Wardrobe Metamorphosis: The second the formal prayers ended, the heavy, smoky priest robes were instantly shed. Jace emerged on the country club terrace looking absolutely radiant, wearing a gorgeous lapis lazuli, semi-sheer deep-V party shirt paired with sharp blue eyeliner. The vibrant blue color beautifully paid tribute to the Mexican national team while letting him transition seamlessly into high-society nightlife mode.
🕺 The Latin Remix Dance Floor and Comedic Banter
• The Supersonic Rhythm Section: Lin-Manuel Miranda traded his gospel prayer loops for a high-energy playlist of frantic Latin remix tracks, keeping the dance floor completely packed. Marcello Hernandez, completely recovered from his earlier dressing-room heartbreak thanks to Ana Amelia’s steady support, hit the floor to show off his best dance moves alongside Harvey Guillén, Cristina Vee, and Krystina Alabado.
• The Telenovela Backdrop: Gabriel Iglesias, Martin Moreno, and Claudia Valdez set up camp at a prime VIP booth right near the dance floor. Claudia looked like an absolute vision in her black baile folklórico dress with rainbow floral patterns, a single red rose tucked behind her ear. Gabriel and his comedian friends spent the evening drinking, laughing, and playfully heckling the dancers, keeping the overall atmosphere incredibly loud, fun, and warm.
📸 The Drunk, Flirty Corner and George's Viral Strike
• The Lipstick Ambush: As the night progressed and the celebratory margaritas kept flowing, Jace became visibly tipsy, losing all of his usual structured, regal posture. He found Jonathan sitting in a somewhat private, dimly lit corner booth and happily parked himself straight onto Jonathan's lap, getting incredibly flirty and leaving a chaotic trail of purple-red lipstick marks all over Jonathan's pristine maroon silk shirt.
• The Framed Masterpiece: George Lopez spotted the deeply affectionate, hilarious scene from across the patio and immediately rallied Gabriel, Claudia, and Martin to sneak up behind the booth. Right as George snapped the photo, the comedy crew threw their hands over their hearts and dropped their jaws into a perfectly synchronized, highly dramatic mock-gasp. George immediately uploaded it with the legendary caption: "When the Priest is also caught sitting on Jafar's lap. ¡El escándalo! 😱🤣🤣"—permanently cementing the country club cookout in internet history right before Sunday's big awards night.
[GROUP CHAT: Divine and Infernal Comedies]
Richard Horvitz:@George_Lopez !!! MY EYES !!! I JUST OPENED INSTAGRAM IN THE LA EDITING BAY AND I AM CHOKING ON MY COFFEE ☕️💨💀 #ElEscandalo
Natalie McQueen: OH MY GOD JACE?! The lapis lazuli sheer shirt?! The blue eyeliner?! You look absolutely breathtaking but honey, who gave Jafar that many purple kisses?! 😂😂😂💋
Scarlett Strallen: Bryce and I are howling in the hotel room! Jonathan looks like a heavily compromised Disney villain who has completely accepted his fate. The maroon silk shirt is ruined! 🍇👕
Harvey Guillén: [Screenshot_GeorgeLopez_Insta.png]
It is the background for me. Look at Gabriel, Claudia, and Martin. They aren't just mock-gasping, they are auditioning for a prime-time Univision soap opera. The drama! The betrayal! The carne asada! 🥩🎭
Marcello Hernandez: I am literally print-screening this and making it my new desktop background. I went from ugly crying about the Caribbean qualifiers to crying from laughter in a country club booth. Best barbecue package deal ever. 🇨🇺🇩🇴
Ana Amelia Battle Cabral: I warned Jace that the purple-red lipstick shade stays on forever. Jonathan is going to have to walk the Tony Awards red carpet tomorrow night looking like a target at a kissing booth. 💄🎟️
Michelle Gomez: It’s an absolute masterpiece. Jack and Jeremy are sitting here in the London loft trying to analyze the physics of how Jace managed to land perfectly on his lap without spilling his margarita. Pure Goetia elegance. 🫖✨
Jack Davenport: The sheer audacity of the deep-V shirt. Dante’s Inferno had a circle for lust, but it didn’t look nearly this fun or well-dressed.
Jace Coronado: Look, the margaritas were top-shelf, Lin-Manuel was spinning absolute fire on the decks, and the carne asada hit the spot! 🍹🔥 I have zero regrets. Except maybe letting @George_Lopez within ten feet of a smartphone.
Jonathan Freeman: I shall have you all know that the shirt was dry-cleaned immediately. As for the background antics of Gabriel and company, King Paimon notes that such peasant-like insubordination will be dealt with at the after-party tomorrow evening. 👑🍷
Lin-Manuel Miranda: Hey, the soundtrack made them do it! That Latin remix track was pure romance. Vanessa has the video version where George is shouting "¡El escándalo!" in a high-pitched voice while running away. It’s heading to the drive now. 🏎️💨
Vivziepop: GUYS. The 79th Annual Tony Awards are TOMORROW NIGHT at Radio City Music Hall. 🏆🎭 The press is 100% going to bring a printout of this photo to the red carpet. Kristen and I are currently redesigning the seating charts at the NYC loft after-party just to keep George and Jonathan in separate corners! 😭😂
Gabriel Iglesias: You can separate us in the seating chart, Viv, but you can’t separate us from the comedy! Arriba! 🏎️💨 See you all on the red carpet tomorrow!
OurLadyGrem also did a fan art of Amethyst, it features this
. ' Amethyst at work ' - A drawing of Queen Amethyst being an epitome of regality and grace, holding court with a sea of Ars Goetia royalty and Lust Ring Royalty ( especially since Ozzie is also Mephistopheles and Amethyst’s dad ), dressing in a beautiful blue dress decorated with stars
. ' Amethyst at home ' - A drawing of Amethyst in a lacy sheer lilac nighttdress, planting lipstick marks with kisses on Paimon's smitten face
She also adds the bonus tag : ' Stolas' parents are amongst the biggest hypocrites in the cosmos 🤣 '
It sent the entire Hellaverse crew into hysterics
OH MY GOD. @OurLadyGrem JUST DROPPED THE DEFINITIVE PAIMON/AMETHYST ART AND I AM LITERALLY SUFFOCATING FROM LAUGHTER!!! 😭😭😭 The parallels to the country club barbecue are way too loud! #Hellaverse #HelluvaBoss #ArsGoetia
@Ozzie_Stan: Let's break down panel one: 'Amethyst at work.' The sheer elegance! She’s holding court looking like the absolute epitome of regality and grace, surrounded by a sea of Ars Goetia and Lust Ring royalty. 🌌👑
@Goetia_Gossip_2026: Yes! And the fashion details! She’s wearing that gorgeous midnight-blue dress completely decorated with stars. Plus, having Ozzie right there looking proud makes total sense since he’s also Mephistopheles and Amethyst's dad! The lore is immaculate.
Panel two is where the absolute violence happens: 'Amethyst at home.' 💀💀 It is a direct 1:1 parody of Jonathan Freeman and Jace at the barbecue cookout! Amethyst is in a lacy, sheer lilac nightdress, completely plastering lipstick marks all over King Paimon’s incredibly smitten, doting face!
[Attached Image]: A high-definition split-screen of OurLadyGrem’s fan art. On the left, Queen Amethyst looks terrifyingly majestic on her throne. On the right, she is giggling and attacking a blushing King Paimon with bright purple-red lipstick kisses.
@Helluva_Connoisseur: The bonus tag she added is what sent me to the hospital: "Stolas' parents are amongst the biggest hypocrites in the cosmos 🤣."
@Jafars_Juice: IT IS SO TRUE! They act like the most proper, uptight, high-class demonic royals on the throne, but the second the throne room doors close, they are completely unhinged and obsessed with each other. Stolas grew up with this exact dramatic household energy.
@Tony_Awards_Watcher • 26m
The actual Hellaverse cast group chat must be completely on fire right now. Vivziepop and Richard Horvitz are probably trying to lock down final rehearsals for the Tony Awards tonight, and the animators are just circulating this fan art in the production channels. 🎭🎨
@Broadway_Bound_26: Oh, the cast saw it! Someone leaked that Jace Coronado retweeted it with a bunch of laughing emojis, and Jonathan Freeman apparently commented that the sheer lilac nightdress was 'supremely fitting for the household budget.' 👑💄
@Tony_Awards_Watcher: Even Sarah Brightman (voice of Amethyst) allegedly shared it to the London studio Slack channel during their tea session, telling everyone that 'art truly imitates life.'
We started this weekend with a World Cup prayer ceremony and Marcello Hernandez shaking maracas, transitioned into a country club barbecue scandal, and now we have canonical Goetia hypocrisy art. The 79th Annual Tony Awards red carpet at Radio City Music Hall tonight is going to be a comedy show. 🏆⚽
@Fluffy_Fanatic: If George Lopez, Gabriel Iglesias, and Marcello see this fan art before walking the red carpet, they are going to show it to every single paparazzi camera on the line. Jonathan Freeman will never know peace again, and we love him for it. Arriba!
