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Accidental Text Results in 8-Year Thanksgiving Tradition: ‘Join Us!’
By Movieguide® Contributor
In 2016, Wanda Dench thought she texted her grandson, inviting him over for Thanksgiving. Instead, her message reached then-17-year-old Jamal Hinton, and the two have celebrated the holiday together ever since.
Dench and Hinton “first met in November 2016, when Dench sent her 24-year-old grandson a text inviting him over for Thanksgiving dinner. Unbeknownst to her, though, her grandson had switched his phone number — and Hinton, then 17, got her message instead,” PEOPLE reported in 2022.
“After some initial confusion…the strangers sent selfies to each other that confirmed the mix-up. But when Hinton asked if he could still come over for dinner, Dench, now 65, texted back, ‘Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do…feed everyone,’” PEOPLE continued.
Hinton previously shared the conversation that sparked their friendship.
Somebody grandma is coming in clutch this year!! Ayee!!! pic.twitter.com/QGrx83nHLl
— Jamal Hinton (@Jamalhinton12) November 15, 2016
This year, the friends plan to partner with Airbnb to allow others to join them this Thanksgiving.
Hinton shared on Instagram, “To celebrate our eighth Thanksgiving together (yes, eight!), we’re partnering with @airbnb this year to host a couple extra seats at our table. Booking for our favorite holiday tradition opens November 14 at 11am MST at the link in our bios. Join us!”
Many fans commented on the post with their enthusiasm.
“My favorite annual IG post,” one fan wrote.
“Yes! The content we wait for all year,” another follower commented.
In 2022, Dench and Hinton appeared on the TODAY show where they discussed their newfound tradition and the impact the two have made on one another.
“He’s literally changed my life and my point of view on young generations about being open to friendships when you think you have nothing in common with somebody,” Dench expressed with gratitude. “But when you just sit and talk to them? Oh my gosh.”
“I honestly don’t know where I would be sometimes,” Hinton added. “It’s amazing to have her as a friend and as my family. We always talk about — I told her, ‘The cameras and the fame can stop tomorrow, and nothing is changing between us.'”
Dench concluded, “He’s in my heart for life.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the unique tradition:
The internet loved this story of a found-family; the two have 150,000 Twitter followers between them. Hinton and Dench are excited to bring their real-life story to the screen.
In a joint statement, the pair said, “We are excited to share our story with the world,” Dench and Hinton said in a joint statement. “We hope it inspires more people to reach out and make connections that they wouldn’t ordinarily make. We are so blessed to find a genuine friendship brought together by God from a mistaken text message.”
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