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Bowen Yang’s recent sketch on Saturday Night Live humorously addressed the increasing prominence of Chappell Roan and the popularity surrounding the pygmy hippo, Moo Deng. Yet, the comedic portrayal did not sit well with all viewers.
During the Season 50 premiere of SNL on September 28, Yang took to the Weekend Update segment as Moo Deng, playfully sharing that the sudden wave of fame has been “overwhelming” and the need to establish “boundaries” with fans has arisen.
This segment seemingly referenced Roan’s own comments regarding her recent ascent to fame, particularly her Instagram post from August, where she openly discussed encounters with fans that she described as “predatory” and “weird” here.
Following the sketch, some viewers voiced their discontent with Yang’s representation of Roan, accusing him of mocking her real-life struggles. One frustrated fan remarked on X (formerly Twitter), “Bowen Yang, Colin Jost, and the SNL writers should be ashamed of themselves,” expressing that Roan’s treatment has been “absolutely disgusting.”
In response to this criticism, Yang took to his Instagram Stories the following day to clarify his intentions, emphasizing that the sketch was not meant to ridicule Roan. He referenced an earlier conversation with her published in Interview Magazine. “Oh geeez. ‘Mocks’?” he expressed. “If my personal stance and the piece aren’t absolutely clear in terms of supporting her, then there it is, I guess.”
Yang elaborated further in his statement, saying, “Everything she has ever asked for has been reasonable, and even then we can connect it to another story about boundaries or whatever. Needing the hose rn.”
Chappell Roan and the Turmoil of Fame
As Chappell Roan’s debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, gained traction, so did her public profile.
In recent months, the singer has openly discussed the challenges accompanying her rapid rise to fame, sharing accounts of invasive interactions with some fans. “I’m not afraid of the consequences of demanding respect,” she asserted in her August Instagram post. “Now I have to have security. It’s so lame.”
Moreover, Roan mentioned in an interview with The Face that she might consider leaving the music scene if the pressures of fame become too much. “I told myself, if this ever gets dangerous, I might quit,” she stated, emphasizing that such stress was not part of her initial expectations.
In a recent move to safeguard her well-being, Roan canceled two performances at the All Things Go Music Festival on September 27. “Things have gotten overwhelming over the past few weeks and I am really feeling it,” she explained in her announcement. “I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible.”
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