February 4th 2024.
Former ambassador Nikki Haley recently caused a stir when she suggested that Texas could potentially secede from the United States, only to later backtrack on her statement. However, she surprised audiences by appearing on Saturday Night Live and poking fun at herself for her previous reluctance to acknowledge slavery as a cause of the Civil War. According to Deadline, Haley joined host Ayo Edeberi during the show's cold open, where Edeberi directly asked her, "What do you think was the main cause of the Civil War? Could it possibly start with an 's' and end with 'lavery'?" Haley sheepishly responded, "Yep, I probably should've said that the first time."
Edeberi, known for her role in Hulu's "The Bear," also broke down in tears during her SNL monologue, a moment that many actors and comedians dream of. However, some viewers took issue with SNL's decision to give Haley such a large platform, calling it an irresponsible use of their influence. Others felt that it highlighted the show's decline and loss of cultural relevance, as Haley was not only part of the joke, but in on it.
People took to social media to express their concerns, with one person tweeting, "I don't care if it's Ayo or anyone else...the actors themselves are irrelevant to me. The problem is that Nimrata was given a platform. That is the issue." Another user wrote, "Nikki Haley on SNL is very on brand. If the corrupt politician you're 'making fun of' feels comfortable enough to join in on the joke, your comedy isn't transformative or clever, it's stale and you could've done without it. That's just SNL in a nutshell."
Many felt that no matter how progressive SNL claims to be, they will continue to give a platform to and excuse reactionary and immoral people under the guise of comedy. This sentiment was echoed by actor Chris Evans, who questioned why SNL would give Haley a platform to make light of the most inhumane and immoral event in American history: slavery.
The "joke" referenced Haley's previous stance on the cause of the Civil War, where she attributed it to the government and freedoms rather than slavery. Although she later attempted to clarify her statement, saying that "of course" the Civil War was about slavery, she still maintained that it was ultimately about individual freedoms and rights. She also implied that the person who asked her the question was a Democratic plant, placed to purposely ask her about the topic.
This appearance on SNL may have been a lighthearted moment for Haley, but it has raised some important questions about the show's responsibility and the impact of giving a platform to controversial figures. It remains to be seen how SNL will address these concerns in the future.
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