Over the past couple of years, Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member Bowen Yang has found subtle ways to express his disapproval of certain guests on the show. Most recently, his target was Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate who made a surprise appearance on SNL. During a mock CNN town-hall sketch where Haley played herself, Yang took to Instagram and shared a backstage note addressed to Haley. It read, 'Welcome to Studio 8H! From, Lorne + everyone at SNL.' Alongside the photo, Yang commented, 'everyone! :)' Some have interpreted this as Yang being sarcastic, while others believe he may be subtly mocking the SNL boss, Lorne Michaels. Interestingly, the comments section of the post was disabled.
This isn't the first time Yang has expressed his reservations about a guest on SNL. During the previous week's episode, comedian Dave Chappelle appeared during the closing credits. As the cast gathered for the curtain call, Yang, who is openly gay, physically distanced himself from Chappelle. This gesture didn't go unnoticed by viewers and the media. Chappelle has faced criticism for his stand-up specials, which have been accused of mocking and criticizing the trans community.
Another example of Yang's dissatisfaction was with the controversial host Elon Musk. When Musk was announced as a host in 2021, he posted on social media, 'Let’s find out just how live Saturday Night Live really is' followed by a purple devil emoji. Yang responded, 'What … does this even mean?' with a sad face emoji. It's clear that Yang didn't support Musk's presence on the show.
These instances of Yang expressing his disapproval have sparked speculation about the upcoming hosting gig of Shane Gillis, who will be appearing on SNL on Feb. 24. Five years ago, Gillis was fired from the show after resurfaced clips showed him using derogatory language towards Chinese people and making homophobic jokes. However, Gillis has gone on to achieve success in his mainstream stand-up career with two Netflix specials. It's worth noting that Yang is SNL's first Chinese-American cast member.
While it's uncertain whether anything significant will occur regarding Gillis's upcoming appearance, it's definitely something to keep an eye on. Yang has proven to be subtly vocal about his reservations when it comes to certain individuals appearing on SNL. As the show continues to host diverse guests from different backgrounds, these instances shed light on the complexities and potential tensions that arise within the entertainment industry.
