African American actress Issa Rae was handed the key to her native city of Inglewood, California, ahead of the Super Bowl on Sunday, becoming the first person in the city’s 114-year history to receive the honour.

Rae was handed the key to the city by Mayor James T Butts at the Taste of Inglewood festival on Market Street, where he dubbed the 37-year-old the “queen of Inglewood.”

Also read | Super Bowl LVI ticket prices soar ahead of Bengals vs Rams game

“I’m a little emotional. I’m trying to be a thug right now. The mayor really kind of flabbergasted me in that this is the first key in 114 years, so that’s a huge honor,” Rae said in front of hundreds of people who had gathered to see her being given the honour.

“I just want to thank you all so much for your support — thank you to the mayor, thank you to the city of Inglewood for making it so easy for us to film here, for helping us showcase this city that I love that so much,” she added.

Also read | Kodak Black reportedly among 4 shot in Justin Bieber’s Super Bowl concert afterparty

Rae is famous for being the co-creator, co-writer, and star of the HBO television series ‘Insecure’, where she extensively highlighted Inglewood’s neighbourhoods and restaurants over the course of five seasons.

The 37-year-old is also the executive producer of the HBO Max reality show ‘Sweet Life: Los Angeles’, which also features considerable sections on Inglewood’s hot spots.

Rae has also invested in several enterprises in the city in a bid to help local businesses flourish.

Also read | Super Bowl 2022: Complete viewer’s guide

“I have to give love to my grandparents who have lived here, have lived in Briarwood for a long time and who established my first point of view of Inglewood and love the city themselves; my mom and my sister who live here actively and just for being here,” Rae said during her address, highlighting her love for her native city.

“I have to give a shout-out to my collaborators and my company members at Hoorae who have come out here to support me. I’m truly honored to receive this. I will always put on for my city: Inglewood, South L.A., stand up,” she concluded.

The 37-year-old actress was bestowed the honour just across the street from the SoFi Stadium, where the Super Bowl game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams is scheduled to take place on February 14.