Saturday Night Live‘s 50th season premiere was this past weekend with host Jean Smart, a whole bunch of cameos (Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan, Dana Carvey, Andy Samberg), and musical guest Jelly Roll. It also featured a Weekend Update segment where Bowen Yang played baby pygmy hippopotamus Moo Deng talking about the difficulties of fame by way of Chappell Roan.
“Reminder: women owe you nothing. When I’m in my enclosure, tripping over stuff, biting my trainers knee, I am at work. That is the project,” Bowen as the hippo said, referencing Roan’s comments on maintaining boundaries with fans, all this while periodically being sprayed with a hose. “Do not yell my name or expect a photo just because I’m your parasocial bestie or because you appreciate my talent.” Colin Jost then noted how Moo Deng’s plight seemed similar to Chappell Roan’s and asked the pig if she’d heard of her. “I’m 10 weeks old, Colin. Of course I’ve heard of Chappell Roan!” Moo Deng then went on to defend Chappell Roan, telling her to take us much time as she needs.
Despite the tone being pretty clear (and Chappel Roan positive), the sketch didn’t go over well with some Chappell Roan fans who accused Yang of mocking the rising pop star, and calling on Roan to cancel her scheduled November 2 SNL appearance. Yang, who talked to Chappell for Interview Magazine in August, responded on a since expired Instagram story post on Sunday that also featured a Variety story whose headline read “‘SNL’ Mocks Chappell Roan as Bowen Yang’s Moo Deng Takes on Crazy Fans” (it has since been changed). “Oh geeez. ‘mocks’ ??? if my personal stance and the piece aren’t absolutely clear in terms of supporting her then there it is I guess,” Yang wrote. “Everything she has ever asked for has been reasonable and even then we can connect it to another story about boundaries or whatever, Needing the hose rn.”
You can watch the Weekend Update segment below.
Chappell Roan canceled this past weekends’ appearances at All Things Go fest in NYC and DC, saying “Things have gotten overwhelming.”
