Nikki Glaser, the 41-year-old comedian known for her biting roast of Tom Brady earlier this year, hosted last night’s edition of SNL on November 8th. Her performance in the opening monologue was described by reviewers on social media sites as “vile,” “tone-deaf,” and “unwatchable.”
Controversial elements of her performance included jokes about rape, pedophilia, slavery, human trafficking, and politicians, which have created issues on various social media platforms.
The musical guest was Sombr, and Glaser guested on several skits: Beauty and MrBeast, The Jennifer Hudson Show, 12 to 12, and Back to Friends. However, it was the monologue that dominated everything else that happened this night, and it did so for all the wrong reasons.
“This Is Trash Now”: SNL Viewers Rip Show
After the episode was broadcast, negative reactions spread.
One person tweeted:
“What happened to “Saturday Night Live”? It’s absolutely turned out to be a trash show. I don’t know, I say it’s about eight years ago, and it’s sucked ever since.”
Another viewer commented:
“R*pe, molestation, and human s*x trafficking have no business in any joke. This is absolutely disgusting!”
Shock Factor On Max: Epstein, Trump, and Kamala References
Glaser began with contentious subject matter early on, even mentioning Jeffrey Epstein:
“And here I am in New York City, Epstein’s original island.”
She then joked about spray tans and former President Donald Trump:
“They’re always like, ‘I’m gonna look like Trump.’ I’m like, ‘B****h, that’s why he won!’. He didn’t go Kamala, but he picked a shade that half of America was like, ‘Okay, we can still tell he’s white.'”
Many users found it distasteful because it relates to child exploitation issues involving Epstein, in addition to racial undertones for the spray-tan joke.
Slavery Punchlines Spark Disgust
Glaser then turned to nail salons and slavery:
“You can go to the nail salon with a friend, but get separated at the border… You can’t talk to the woman doing your nails ’cause slavery. I mean, I don’t know. She seems stuck and sad.”
She added that she is “obsessed with slavery recently,” which many onlookers found flippant and offensive.
Human Trafficking & R*pe Jokes Raise Concerns
The monologue proceeded with mentions related to human trafficking:
“Want a slave? Text TRAFFIC to 6969”
She then considered what this might mean for a men’s restroom:
“Every time you go to a women’s restroom… there’s always a poster… asking you if you’re being trafficked… Men’s restrooms do not have these signs.”
In one of the most widely criticized lines, she joked about r*pe fears:
“I have a lot of Gen Z friends that I bought… In my 20s, I just feared good old-fashioned r*pe. I didn’t think it would be a career.”
The audience was taken aback by this, with accusations that Glaser diminished traumatic experiences.
The Only Woman Host: Backlash Reigns
Glaser is one of only a handful of female stand-up comedians to have hosted SNL. This milestone might have celebrated her success. Instead, her jokes muffled any talk about it.
Some folks claimed that Glaser has a reputation for her crass roast technique and that SNL always pushes the envelope. Others contended that the jokes couldn’t have been done with more subtlety and instead represented a retread of real trauma for shock value.
SNL Under The Microscope Again
However, this particular episode can be put into context as part of a larger story about SNL’s struggle for relevance. Observers complain about Glaser’s opening monologue, which is indicative of a bigger problem with SNL relying on shock value over substance.
Whether Glaser’s episode will prove a ratings boost or hasten audience exhaustion, only time will tell. What is clear is that her debut made a statement that continues to ignite controversy.
Those interested in the video can view it here:
