Bowen Yang has slammed claims that his Saturday Night Live sketch mocked Chappell Roan.
On 28 September, the 50th season of SNL made its grand premiere with Hacks star Jean Smart stepping in as host and Jelly Roll signing on as the musical guest.
While the episode featured an array of comedic moments, not all of the new sketches were well received by viewers, specifically Yang’s appearance on Weekend Update.
During the staple sketch, the Fire Island star portrayed the viral pygmy hippo, Moo Deng, who opened up about the challenges of her viral fame.
“Stop. Stop clapping… for the past 10 weeks, I have been going nonstop, running around, eating lettuce, trying to bite the water from a hose. And the response has been overwhelming,” she exclaimed.
“But it has come to the point where I need to set some boundaries. Reminder, women owe you nothing. When I’m in my enclosure tripping over stuff, biting my trainer’s knee, I am at work. That is the project.
“Do not yell my name or expect a photo just because I’m your parasocial bestie or because you appreciate my talent.
“The only hippos in media were either hungry, hungry or Jada Pinkett Smith in Madagascar. But now I’m your favourite hippo’s favourite hippo.”
Towards the end of the sketch, Collin Jost pointed out that Moo Deng’s complaints were similar to Roan’s recent statements about fame and her lack of privacy.
leave moo deng alone! #SNLPremiere pic.twitter.com/ABtoN9pQkr
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) September 29, 2024
When Jost asked Moo Deng if she knew who Roan was, she replied: “I’m 10 weeks old, Colin, of course, I know Chappell Roan. And by the way, leave her alone. Let her take as much time as she needs for her mental health. We both deserve patience and grace, so stop harassing her.”
Since the episode’s release, some of Roan’s fans have accused SNL of mocking the ‘Pink Pony Club’ singer and her journey navigating the entertainment industry.
However, on 29 September, Yang took to his Instagram Story to shut down the claims alongside a screenshot of a Variety article, whose headline read, “SNL Mocks Chappell Roan as Bowen Yang’s Moo Deng Takes On Crazy Fans.”
“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,” he 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.”
As of writing, the singer has not responded to the SNL sketch. However, she is set to appear on the series as a musical guest on 2 November.
Throughout 2024, Roan has catapulted to mainstream superstardom following the release of her stand-alone pop anthem, ‘Good Luck, Babe!’, which was met with acclaim for its unapologetic queerness and themes of compulsory heterosexuality.
Roan’s 2023 debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, subsequently began to climb the worldwide charts; it recently hit number one in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, and currently sits in the number two spot on the Billboard 200.
While she has deservedly reached new heights, Roan has remained an open book about the downfalls.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, the beloved talent revealed that she had been diagnosed with severe depression, which she attributed to her meteoric rise.
“If I want to go thrifting, I have to book security and prepare myself that this is not going to be normal. Going to the park, pilates, yoga – how do I do this in a safe way where I’m not going to be stalked or harassed,” she told the news outlet.
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