Philly Street Interviewer Unknowingly Interviews Jill Scott — And the Internet Can’t Get Enough

Goldie Beck, the comedian and creator behind the popular Philadelphia-based series Goldie Out of Pocket, is used to catching strangers off guard with her spontaneous street interviews. But this time, the tables turned — and she had no idea until it was too late.

The Interview

While filming near Rittenhouse Square, Goldie approached a masked stranger, immediately intrigued. “I was intrigued by your mask,” she told the woman. “When I see a mask like that, it makes me think there’s a deeper story here.”

The mystery woman — who introduced herself simply as being “from North Philadelphia” and “here to work” — explained she was a stage performer, a vocalist blending blues, funk, jazz, classical, and hip-hop into her own original sound. When Goldie asked how she found her way into the arts instead of a more conventional career, the woman offered a simple answer: “Nothing else feels right.”

Goldie, still unaware of who she was talking to, noted the woman had an assistant and asked, half-joking, “Are you famous?”

“Sometimes,” came the reply.

The conversation deepened into music, spirituality, and creative calling — at one point bonding over the book The Celestine Prophecy — before the woman revealed she had a show that very night at The Met in Philadelphia, going on stage around 8:30 PM. She even offered Goldie a ticket.

The interview closed with a snippet of vocals — “I’m living my life like it’s golden” — a lyric fans would later recognize instantly.

The Reveal

The masked woman was Grammy-winning singer Jill Scott, quietly incognito while buying fresh cherries in Rittenhouse Square, using a fake name to avoid being recognized.

The Aftermath

After the video went viral, Goldie posted a heartfelt caption thanking Jill Scott for the experience. Jill Scott herself hopped into the comments to confirm the whole story — revealing she’d not only recognized Goldie afterward, but she and her crew showed up to Goldie’s show that same night. The comment quickly racked up over 130,000 likes, with fans flooding the thread expressing their own hopes of a Jill Scott run-in.

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Full Interview Transcript

“Goldie Beck: Can I interview you?

Jill Scott: Okay.

Goldie Beck: I was intrigued by your mask. And when I see a mask like that, it makes me think there’s a deeper story here. There’s a deeper character here. So tell me your name and a little bit about yourself.

Jill Scott: My name is— I’m from North Philadelphia, and I’m here to work.

Goldie Beck: What do you do?

Jill Scott: This time around, I’m a stage performer.

Goldie Beck: Wow. Actor?

Jill Scott: No, a vocalist.

Goldie Beck: Do you come up with your own music?

Jill Scott: I do.

Goldie Beck: And what is that usually?

Jill Scott: It’s a combination between blues and funk and jazz and classical and hip hop and poetry.

Goldie Beck: Love that. How did you get into that?

Jill Scott: I don’t know. It just kinda came to me, and it’s been a part of my life ever since.

Goldie Beck: And these are your friends?

Jill Scott: Yeah, these are my friends.

Goldie Beck: How’d you guys all come together and meet each other?

Jill Scott: Well, I met this young lady through her mom.

Goldie Beck: Okay.

Jill Scott: She’s my assistant, and wonderful.

Goldie Beck: Oh, you have an assistant?

Jill Scott: I do.

Goldie Beck: Are you famous?

Jill Scott: Sometimes.

Goldie Beck: You’re—

Jill Scott: Sometimes. That guy over there is world’s extraordinary makeup artist.

Goldie Beck: So how did you connect to your creativity, spiritual side, and not become, you know, another banker?

Jill Scott: Nothing else feels right.

Goldie Beck: This is— you believe you were called to do this?

Jill Scott: Yep.

Goldie Beck: Would you say?

Jill Scott: Yep.

Goldie Beck: I love that. Could we hear a little something? Or— is the mask for vocal rest?

Jill Scott: It is.

Goldie Beck: Interesting.

Jill Scott: So, so I’m talking to you, and I shouldn’t be.

Goldie Beck: Oh, shoot. Okay. I was singing a lot this morning. So I think the Lord brought me to you. But I have a tough—

Jill Scott: Probably—

Goldie Beck: —using, like, my diaphragm. How do you tap into diaphragm?

Jill Scott: Oh, you learn it over time.

Goldie Beck: Yeah.

Jill Scott: It’s practice.

Goldie Beck: Do you teach students?

Jill Scott: Sometimes.

Goldie Beck: Maybe we could connect. Or no?

Jill Scott: I don’t see why not.

Goldie Beck: Okay.

Jill Scott: I don’t see why not.

Goldie Beck: I would— I would love to take a class of yours.

Jill Scott: Well, what are you all doing tonight?

Goldie Beck: Tonight, probably going out, hitting the town, putting myself out there.

Jill Scott: Okay.

Goldie Beck: What are you doing?

Jill Scott: Oh, I have a show tonight.

Goldie Beck: Oh.

Jill Scott: At the— at The Met.

Goldie Beck: Okay.

Jill Scott: If you wanna come, you’re welcome.

Goldie Beck: What time?

Jill Scott: I think I go on at 8:00.

Goldie Beck: 8:00 PM tonight?

Jill Scott: 30.

Goldie Beck: Well, will you be singing?

Jill Scott: Yeah.

Goldie Beck: It’s a surprise.

Jill Scott: No, it’s not, but that’s the—

Goldie Beck: Oh, yeah?

Jill Scott: The answer is yeah.

Goldie Beck: Like, ♪ In the club with my homies ♪

Jill Scott: Yep.

Goldie Beck: Like that?

Jill Scott: Probably just like that.

Goldie Beck: Oh my God. Okay, wait. If you were to promote it right now, maybe we can get this out there before your show. I would love to show up. Take—

Jill Scott: I’ll give you— my, my assistant will give you a number.

Goldie Beck: Okay. I will—

Jill Scott: —yeah, if you wanna come, you’re more than welcome.

Goldie Beck: So lovely to meet you. I believe this happened for a reason.

Jill Scott: Of course it did.

Goldie Beck: —does, does everything?

Jill Scott: Have you read The Celestine Prophecy at all?

Goldie Beck: No, but I’ve read The Artist’s Way.

Jill Scott: Very good.

Goldie Beck: Okay.

Jill Scott: Good job.

Goldie Beck: Which one’s better?

Jill Scott: They’re different. The Celestine Prophecy is how to live. The Artist’s Way is how to be an artist.

Goldie Beck: I think I need to transition out of The Artist’s Way and to how to live, and I think that’s why the Lord brought me to you today.

Jill Scott: Come on, Lord.

Goldie Beck: Come on, Hashem. Whatever god is yours.

Jill Scott: Ashe, amin, and amen.

Goldie Beck: Mm-hmm.

Jill Scott: Mm-hmm.

Goldie Beck: Amen.

Jill Scott: Pleasure.

Goldie Beck: Okay. Nice to meet you. Let me get the tickets.

Jill Scott: (singing) I’m living my life like it’s golden. Living my life like it’s golden. Living my life like it’s golden. Living my life like it’s golden. Living my life like it’s golden, golden.” ( goldie out of pocket)

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The Comments

@goldieoutofpocket: “My film crew and I are so grateful to Miss Jill and her team for this whole experience! Out of respect to her, we edited out any details of her private identity❤️”

@missjillscott: “Awww. I was off from work; completely chillin. I had on a mask & told her my name was something else. I was in Rittenhouse SQ buying fresh cherries. She seemed genuinely curious. I invited her and crew to the show. They danced and listened, wide eyed, the entire show. 🤓😁. Yup saw you”