There are very few things that the internet likes to do apart from criticising whatever it is that the Kardashian-Jenners did that week. It could be a poorly-tailored swimsuit line, appropriation of Mexican culture in a sweet bottle of tequila, or just regular fatphobia.
When Kim Kardashian West was announced as the host of Saturday Night Live (SNL), the internet was (unsurprisingly) not pleased. However, SNL, which has a history of inviting controversial people to host, has previously called upon divisive figures like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Rudy Guilliani to host shows. And, interestingly none of them were there to promote anything in particular and they were called out for their bad performances.
Why Kim Kardashian? I mean, I know she is a cultural icon, but SNL has hosts, generally, who are performers who are there to promote a film, TV show, or album launch. Am I missing something? https://t.co/WYrobkv8Fi
— Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) September 22, 2021
I won't be watching SNL tonight. Kim Kardashian doesn't deserve a second of my time.
— Michael Coates 🌊🌊🌊🌊🇺🇸 NO LISTS, PLEASE (@Jukehorse50) October 9, 2021
However, Kim’s performance managed to turn the tide. She did what everyone else loves to do- poke fun at her family.
Why else would we still be talking about her debut as a host for Saturday Night Live a week after the episode aired? In fact, Rami Malek and Young Thug just hosted the latest episode but Kardashian West’s full-body pink suit and endless quips of herself and her famous family are still fresh in the internet’s mind. Her appearance also boosted SNL’s ratings after its dismal opening show this season.
While Kim herself acknowledged that she may not be a conventional choice, her jokes during the four-minute monologue retained the fast-paced, quick witticism that SNL is famous for.
Kim Kardashian West’s Monologue! pic.twitter.com/t60b6ZC6cl
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) October 10, 2021
Cracking jokes on plastic surgery, her mother’s marriage to Caitlyn Jenner, and her divorce from rapper-turned-politician Kanye West, the writers covered all the bases associated with the Kardashian-Jenner family. Commenting on her estranged husband’s failed presidential bid she joked, “I’m not running for President. We cannot have three failed politicians in the family.”
Sparing no one, she also went on to take digs at her sisters’ appearances. “I’m so much more than a reference photo that my sisters showed their plastic surgeons.”
Towards the end of her now-viral monologue, she even mentioned SNL’s low ratings. She said, “I’m so used to having 360 million followers watching my every move. I mean how many people watch SNL? 10 million? So, tonight is a chill intimate night for me.
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The jokes did not end there. She acted in a few sketches including one titled ‘People’s Kourt’. Appearing as a TV judge who is a parody of her sister Kourtney, she passed judgements on burning issues like Kendall’s lack of drama, Kylie’s pregnancy, and Khloe’s issue with Kim stealing her make-up artist for the Met Gala. Mastering Kourtney’s monotone voice, she kept saying, “Order. Order in the ‘Kourt’ney.”
In a true Kardashian manner, Kim was not alone during her sketches. Her mother Kris Jenner and sister Khloe Kardashian made appearances and were a part of her host bid farewell at the end of the night.
Warranted Criticism?
At this point, it is safe to say that no matter what Kim Kardashian West does, controversy and backlash are sure to follow. Despite all the jokes landing well, the ones on her late father Robert’s friend and former athlete OJ Simpson did not sit well with many. OJ, who was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown, was not just material for many gags but he was parodied in one of the sketches.
During her routine, Kim joked, “I know it’s sort of weird to remember the first Black person you met, but OJ does leave a mark or several or none at all. I still don’t know.”
Kim Kardashian OJ jokes, not funny to the family of Nicole Brown.
— Barbara_I 🐵🐷🐵🐸🦎 (@Barbara102006) October 10, 2021
Twitter users and Nicole Brown’s sister Tanya were quick to call her out. She told People, “I think the taste of writers at SNL was beyond inappropriate and insensitive as was the reaction in the audience.” Speaking about Kardashian herself, she added, “Regarding Kim, I believe everyone has a choice to control what they speak. She easily could have said, ‘This is inappropriate and disrespectful to everyone! Not only for Nicole and Ron, but for all victims of domestic violence who were murdered by their significant others.”
While Kim Kardashian is yet to respond to this, like every other controversy that the family has been a part of, this has only made her stint on SNL more widely talked about.