‘It’s For White People!’ SNL Newcomer Kam Patterson Just Dragged The Show Over and Over

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New Saturday Night Live cast member Kam Patterson recently appeared on the Kill Tony Netflix special, and his set is getting a lot of attention for his jokes about SNL. He playfully said he hadn’t watched the show before being cast, joking it felt like it was “for white people.” He also lightheartedly described SNL as “really gay,” while adding he meant no offense.

Some viewers are interpreting the jokes as a sign of disrespect towards SNL, while others – particularly those who have followed Kill Tony for a long time – are defending them as simply part of his comedic approach. One quote that’s been widely shared online illustrates this…

Honestly, the reaction to my casting has been… overwhelming. Everyone’s congratulating me, saying it’s amazing, but I’m trying to stay grounded. I’m 26 and Black, and I’ll admit it – I’ve never actually watched the show. I’m walking into this completely blind, and frankly, I feel a little lost. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the opportunity, it just feels… not really for me, if that makes sense. It’s a world built for a different audience, and I’m still figuring out my place in it.

The show Kill Tony features comedians doing quick stand-up routines for Tony Hinchcliffe and a panel of established comics. This particular episode included Gabriel Iglesias, Rob Schneider (from Saturday Night Live), and Roseanne Barr, among others. That quote served as Patterson’s introduction, leading him into a bit about how the show’s hosts all seem to have a connection to Top Gun – he even gave a shout-out to Glen Powell and Miles Teller.

The initial jokes about the show’s hosts didn’t seem to bother many people, but things changed when he started talking about how “gay” SNL is. Patterson explained that he once was involved in a shooting, and now he’s performing synchronized dances on SNL, which he says is deeply unsettling. This part of his performance is causing the most controversy and is what’s making headlines. Here’s a quote from that segment…

Let me be completely honest. It was very flamboyant, to put it mildly. I mean, it was extremely expressive. And keep in mind, I was performing these moves on national television – I’ve even been in situations where I’ve had to defend myself. It’s a huge shift from anything I’ve done before.

Patterson then shared a story about how joining SNL revealed his income to his family and friends, who now frequently ask him for money. He hilariously impersonated his family members, earning a big reaction from the audience. Fellow comedians, including Hinchcliffe, praised his performance and noted how much he’d improved since he began performing. At the time, no one realized this story would later become controversial.

The debate over his recent stand-up performance began a few days ago when a clip was posted on the SNL Reddit page. The post quickly became very popular, receiving over seven hundred comments and thousands of likes. Many fans expressed offense or frustration, feeling he disrespected the show by coming across as arrogant. News outlets then picked up the story and shared his quotes, broadening the conversation beyond just SNL fans and into a wider public discussion.

Recently added cast member, James Austin Johnson, has made comparable jokes on Saturday Night Live, particularly regarding the show’s audience demographics. He previously voiced his frustration during a Weekend Update segment about not being allowed to use a racial slur on air. In another sketch, portraying a character speaking with Santa, he playfully suggested to Michael Che that Santa, being over a hundred years old and white, is a viewer of the show. Surprisingly, neither of these instances sparked significant public criticism, or at least none that gained widespread attention.

I won’t say how others should react, but this situation feels a bit like teasing family. When you joke with family directly, it’s usually all in good fun. But if they discover you’ve been making fun of them privately, they’re likely to be hurt or question your motives. We can’t know for sure what Patterson was thinking or feeling. Perhaps he enjoys being on the show and meant his comments as lighthearted humor. Or maybe he’s unhappy with it and used this as a way to vent. Ultimately, only he knows the truth.

It remains to be seen if Saturday Night Live will acknowledge the current situation, or if the person involved will make a public statement. This could easily fade away, or it could become a much larger issue. Only time will tell how things unfold.

Good news! Saturday Night Live is back, and Finn Wolfhard is hosting this week. I’m planning to tune in, and I suspect a lot of other people will be too, particularly his fans.

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2026-01-15 18:39