Jennifer Hudson broke down in tears when her only child David Otunga Jr, 16, surprised her with a cake on the set of her talk show on Thursday, May 7.
One of the producers told Jennifer they had a surprise for her. Then David walked onto the set carrying a multi-tiered cake decorated with flowers on a tray.
“David!” Jennifer said as the tears flowed. She turned to the audience: “Y’all, this is my baby. Y’all got me again. Okay, what were you saying, David?”
David told his mom that he baked the cake himself. The cake’s recipe is a family tradition for special occasions.
“This is your mom’s special recipe, so I made it for Mother’s Day. I love you,” he said. “Thank you,” Jennifer responded. “Give me a hug.”
“He said he was coming here today, and I’m like, ‘David ain’t got here.’ And then to hear you come out here, you done baked the cake. My mother always made this pound cake. And our family tradition, so for Mother’s Day, birthdays, all special occasions. He always makes it for me. Thank you, baby.”
“Thank you, I love you,” David said.
.@IAMJHUD was NOT ready for this Mother’s Day surprise! pic.twitter.com/Pv9Mw0gk2M
— The Jennifer Hudson Show (@JHudShow) May 9, 2026
Jennifer was surprised because she hasn’t seen David in weeks. Her ex-fiancé David Otunga won primary physical custody of David in 2017. Jennifer saw David on holidays and his birthdays, but her busy schedule kept her from spending meaningful time with him.
At the time, Jennifer lived in London, where she filmed “The Voice UK” and she traveled from Europe to Los Angeles to see him.
As TMZ reported, David has been his son’s primary caregiver since birth because of Jennifer’s extensive travel schedule.
Jennifer and David Sr. got engaged in 2008 after dating for a year. They welcomed their son in 2009 but they never married because David Sr. reportedly refused to sign a prenup.
Jennifer’s fans took David’s side in the custody drama. Many agreed that a boy should be raised by his father.