The women of Saturday Night Live responded to a TikToker’s claim that the show doesn’t hire “hot women” with sarcasm and humor. In a viral video, TikTok user @jahelis questioned the appearance of SNL cast members, prompting SNL newcomers Sarah Sherman and Chloe Troast to react in a comedic manner. Sherman sarcastically expressed the need to grieve privately for not being considered hot, while Troast stitched the TikTok video and sang Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” in response to the criticism.
The original TikTok creator mentioned actresses Kristen Wiig and Heidi Gardner as examples of perceived attractiveness on SNL but questioned the casting choices overall. She wondered if the lack of hiring “hot women” on the show was intentional or a result of biases and internalized misogyny. However, comments on the video disagreed with her analysis, pointing out past and present “hot” female SNL cast members, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chloe Fineman, Kate McKinnon, Ego Nwodim, and Amy Poehler. The backlash led to the original creator issuing an “official apology” in a response video.
In her response video, Jahelis addressed the backlash she received for her initial TikTok, stating that she did not expect it to go viral and receive negative comments attacking her appearance. Despite receiving insults, she stood by her initial comments and continued to express her opinions unapologetically. She mentioned not being swayed by the bullying and racial insults thrown her way and chose to double down on her original statements. Ultimately, she refused to apologize for her views and intended to continue living in a world where beauty standards are subjective.
The attention from SNL cast members and viewers led to the original TikTok creator, Jahelis, posting a response video in which she addressed the negative comments she received after her initial video went viral. She expressed her surprise at the video’s popularity and defended her original opinions, despite facing backlash and insults. The controversy surrounding the original TikTok video and subsequent responses from the SNL women highlighted the ongoing conversations around beauty standards and representation in the entertainment industry. The incident also showcased how humor and satire can be used to address serious topics and spark dialogue within the online community.
