SNL Spoofs Group Chat Scandal Involving Pete Hegseth and Matt Gaetz
Saturday Night Live’s cold open featured Mikey Madison as a teenage girl involved in a group chat infiltrated by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, humorously referencing a real scandal over sensitive discussions regarding Yemen. The sketch included appearances by Vice President Bowen Yang and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighting the absurdity of the situation while showcasing Madison’s hosting skills.
“Saturday Night Live” presented a humorous take on the recent Department of Defense group chat controversy in its cold open, with Mikey Madison as host. Madison, who recently won an Oscar for her role in “Anora,” portrayed a teenage girl who was engaged in gossip with her friends (played by Ego Nwodim and Sarah Sherman) in a group chat that was unexpectedly infiltrated by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, performed by Andrew Dismukes.
In a comically alarming message, Hegseth remarked, “FYI, green light on Yemen raid. Rockets went airborne 15 minutes ago,” followed by inquiries about engaging with Houthi rebels and emojis that humorously exaggerated the tone. This skit coincides with a week in which the White House faced criticism due to a group text incident involving high-level officials discussing sensitive strategies against Houthi rebels, inadvertently including The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.
The comedic exchange continued as Vice President Bowen Yang made his entrance, referencing his unclear purpose for visiting Greenland and humorously praising Trump, alluding to tone consistent with the series “Severance.” Midway through, Madison’s character announced, “Got to go, Matt’s here to pick me up. We’re going to a movie,” leading to a playful reference by Dismukes about former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who is embroiled in controversy over allegations of misconduct.
As the sketch progressed, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, portrayed by Marcello Hernandez, joined the group chat and, realizing three teenage girls were participating, delivered a light-hearted, albeit inappropriate, comment suggesting they prank the girls, requesting an email submission of their personal details. This sketch marked Madison’s impressive debut as host of “Saturday Night Live,” showcasing her talent in an unconventional role during the cold open, contrary to the usual format where hosts first appear in the monologue.
In summary, Saturday Night Live adeptly utilized humor to reflect current events surrounding the Department of Defense group chat scandal. Through the character of a teenage girl and the unexpected involvement of senior officials, the sketch critiqued the absurdity of high-stakes government discussions being overshadowed by juvenile antics. Mikey Madison’s hosting debut was particularly noteworthy, shedding light on her versatility in performance amidst a relevant and comedic narrative.
Original Source: variety.com
