Kenan Thompson defends SNL monkey skit, talks Black criticism
Kenan Thompson defends SNL monkey skit, talks Black criticism
Kenan Thompson, the longest-running cast member on “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) and a trailblazer as a Black comedian on the show, recently opened up about the unique challenges he faces. Despite his prominent role, Thompson frequently encounters Black individuals who tell him they don’t watch SNL. “I’m like, ‘You know I’m representing for you all!’” Thompson said.
Fellow SNL cast member Bowen Yang, who represents the queer and Asian communities, shared a similar experience. “This is what I run into too, with queer people and with Asian people. ‘Oh, we don’t watch.’” Despite the lack of pressure to represent their communities explicitly, both comedians feel a sense of duty to bring diverse perspectives to the show.
Thompson also addressed the controversy surrounding a 2023 sketch where he portrayed “Funky Kong,” a character from the Mario universe. While the SNL team found the skit hilarious, public perception outside the show was different. The sight of a Black man in a monkey costume sparked discussions about racial sensitivities.
“Then you get into the world, and the world sees a Black man in a monkey costume, and it starts to go to that conversation — which is the furthest thing from all of our minds,” Thompson explained. He acknowledged the historical context of such imagery but questioned when society would move past these associations. “When do we advance? When do we leave that in the past and just allow ourselves to just have free-thinking ideas?”
Thompson’s reflections highlight the ongoing struggle for minority representation in mainstream media and the delicate balance between creative expression and historical awareness. His comments underscore the importance of evolving societal perceptions and the need for inclusive entertainment that respects but also transcends past prejudices.
Source: Variety