SNL faces backlash over ‘Two Bitches vs. a Gorilla’ sketch featuring Quinta Brunson and Ego Nwodim
SNL Under Fire for Controversial Gorilla Sketch
Saturday Night Live ignited a firestorm on social media following the May 3, 2025 episode. This past weekend’s episode aired a sketch titled “Two Bitches vs. a Gorilla.” Featuring host Quinta Brunson and cast member Ego Nwodim, the pre-taped skit has been widely criticized for its perceived racism, misogyny, and tone-deaf humor.
The sketch depicts Brunson and Nwodim as two loud, confrontational women who fall into a gorilla enclosure at a zoo. Instead of expressing fear, the characters insult the gorilla with a barrage of pop culture references, offensive jokes, and exaggerated mannerisms. The video ends with an implied gorilla attack, humorously symbolized by tombstones.
Sketch Breakdown: What Happened
Brunson and Nwodim’s characters engage in a back-and-forth with the gorilla, whom they mock with lines like, “You think this is the first time I fought a 400-pound bitch? I used to work at Lane Bryant,” and “Meanwhile, you up here on all fours looking like the LGBT and a Q, sassy ass gorilla.” So, the audience found the skit hilarious.
They taunt the animal for its body, hygiene, and even its evolutionary status. As a result, shouting, “Why you ain’t evolute?” before declaring, “You not like us.” The sketch reaches a chaotic peak when the gorilla is said to throw feces and attempt a “titty-twister” on one of the women. That was followed by the women threatening violence. In addition, yelling that the gorilla is “about to hit a girl.” Their Kendrick reference didn’t go overlooked.
The camera filmed from the gorilla’s point of view. So, it plays up the absurdity of the confrontation. As a result, turning it into a stylized and intentionally outrageous parody.
Title Sparks Outrage
What set off much of the criticism wasn’t just the content of the sketch, but the language used in its title. NBC and SNL officially promoted the video on X with the caption: “two bitches vs. a gorilla.” The term “bitches” drew immediate backlash. Much of this was because it referred to two Black women.
Critics linked the title and premise to long-standing racist tropes that have compared Black people to apes and dehumanized Black women through aggressive, confrontational stereotypes. One user on X wrote, “The title of the skit is ‘two BITCHES vs a gorilla’ and the bitches in question is a caricature of black women.”
Community Reaction: Misogynoir and Mockery
Social media erupted with criticism, with many users accusing SNL of perpetuating misogynoir. @DonatelloThaGr8 tweeted, “So basically two black bitches vs a gorilla? That’s what y’all thought was funny?” Overall, SNL attempted to jump into the 100 men vs. gorilla debate.
Other users voiced their disappointment in Brunson and Nwodim for participating. @ABitOfKwansLife wrote, “Y’all took the meme about 100 men vs. a gorilla and changed it to two Black women. You knew what you were doing.” This is a dilemma many Black entertainers face. But Brunson is now facing backlash.
Various gossip threads and X reactions accused the sketch of exploiting stereotypes for shock value. “I’m not surprised Ego is playing another caricature of a ghetto Black woman, but I’m shocked at Quinta,” one commenter said. Given Brunson’s role in elevating Black talent, this disappointed some.
SNL’s History With Black Representation
SNL has long faced criticism for its handling of Black characters and female cast members. The recent additions to the cast have increased diversity. However, critics say the sketches too often rely on outdated or harmful tropes.
One person on a forum recalled a January 2025 sketch where Black women were depicted as bald and masculine, saying, “This is a pattern. Not a one-off.” Through the years, many Black entertainers have hoped for inclusion on SNL. However, the Black fans have noted inclusion often comes with insults.
After this past weekend’s sketch, it appears as if the fans have had enough.
Was It Just Satire?
Supporters argue that the sketch was meant to be absurdist satire. Therefore, targeting the viral nature of internet debates and the “100 men vs. a gorilla” meme. Entertainment Weekly called the sketch “very funny” and praised the chemistry between Brunson and Nwodim.
Vulture also defended the sketch, describing it as a “twisted take” on a popular internet topic. Therefore, highlighting the performers’ strong comedic timing.
Still, others feel the comedic intent doesn’t excuse the execution. “SNL often hides behind satire, but when the punchline is Black women being attacked by a gorilla, what exactly are we laughing at?” asked one commentator.
The Divide Over Brunson and Nwodim
Many critics acknowledge that Brunson and Nwodim are immensely talented and often use their platforms to uplift Black voices. That made their participation in the sketch all the more disappointing to some fans.
Debates have also emerged over whether Nwodim, as a regular cast member, had a choice in participating. “She was hired to play the Black woman roles. That’s her job. But Brunson? She didn’t have to say yes,” one user posted.
Quinta Brunson has become a fan favorite household name. Nearly four years ago, she debuted “Abbott Elementary.” That’s ABC’s hit sitcom that Brunson created and stars in. Because of the duality of her talents, she’s built an immense fan base. These fans have expressed disappointment in her SNL skit.
Audience Backlash and Cultural Fallout
The outrage has extended beyond X to platforms like various forums and Reddit, where threads dissect the implications of the sketch and how it fits into a larger pattern of tone-deaf comedy from legacy media brands.
Some users have demanded that NBC issue a formal apology and remove the sketch from its platforms. Others are calling for advertisers to reconsider supporting SNL, stating that the show’s humor is increasingly reliant on shock tactics that harm marginalized communities.
Still, a smaller group of viewers found the sketch humorous, with posts like @belqvedrue declaring it “GENUINELY THE FUNNIEST SNL SKIT EVER MADE.”
Final Thoughts
The “Two Bitches vs. a Gorilla” sketch has become more than just another SNL bit; it’s a flashpoint in ongoing conversations about race, gender, and the limits of satire. While some defend it as over-the-top comedy, many see it as another instance of media using Black women as the butt of the joke.
As the backlash continues, NBC and SNL have remained silent. But in an era where audiences are more vocal and aware of the impact of representation, silence may no longer be an option.