"I'm glad he clarified"— Fans react to Bowen Yang's response to backlash over Moo Deng SNL skit channeling Chappell Roan

Comedian Bowen Yang responds to public ire over his Moo Deng skit on Saturday Night Live's (SNL) recent episode. The act saw Yang channeling Chappell Roan and making references to her struggles with fame and her relationship with fans. However, fans took offense, stating that the comedian was "mocking" Roan.

In response, the SNL actor took to his Instagram on Sunday, September 29, 2024, to clarify the skit. He shared a screenshot of Variety's article, writing:

"oh geeez."mocks"??? if my personal stance and the piece aren't absolutely clear in terms of supporting her then there it is i guess. 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..."

Bowen Yang's Instagram story (image via Instagram/@fayedunaway)

As screenshots of Bowen Yang's response went viral, internet users were quick to react. One stated:

" I love bowen and I'm glad he clarified it but I just think this was a base skit like if you have to explain it....... :/"

A comment reacting to the news (Image via/ @tyayarant)

Many mirrored the sentiment that the comedian's act didn't come across well. Here are some comments seen on X:

"the jokes still didn’t come across very well and it played up her asks as frivolous either way," one user wrote.

"listen i get the cultural commentary completely and i don’t think the intentions here were necessarily bad but we can also recognize that it came off VERY poorly," another explained.

"sometimes impact matters more then intentions and this is a case it just did not come across well," @starniite added.

Others noted that the skit was a metaphor, which many didn't understand and hence found it in bad humor.

"metaphors are becoming too hard for the youth to decipher, open up the schools," one user commented.

"I wonder if being raised by cellphones without real social interactions is behind so many in Chappell’s fanbase losing their minds over this skit," another user stated.

"Tbh the segment didn’t feel mocking at all it felt quite lighthearted actually with connecting Chappell and moo deng considering they’re both America’s sweethearts rn LMAO," a fan remarked.

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Bowen Yang also appeared as JD Vance and Charli XCX during the SNL episode

The SNL skit in question aired on September 28, during the show's 50th season premiere. Jean Smart was the host, while Tennessee-born singer Jelly Roll served as the evening's musical guest. Bowen Yang appeared as various notable personalities throughout the show, including JD Vance and Charli XCX. Both were met with praise online.

During the "Weekend Update" segment, Yang turned up as the Thai hippo-influencer Moon Deng. The act was a comment on the recent controversy surrounding Chappell Roan, with many fans calling her ungrateful. In August, the singer took to her TikTok to ask her fans to respect her boundaries and privacy.

Bowen Yang's Moon Deng also addressed the backlash she received after stating she would vote for Kamala Harris but added that she would not endorse any candidate and there are "problems on both sides." This prompted Roan to cancel two of her shows to focus on her mental health.

At one point during the segment, Yang stated:

"Leave her alone. Let her take as much time as she needs for her mental health. We both deserve patience and grace, so stop harassing her and stop throwing shellfish at her..."

He continued:

"This is what society does: It puts young women on pedestals, only to knock them down with shellfish."

When co-star Colin Jose asked Yang's character if it was stressful to have her every move scrutinized, she (Moon Deng) replied that she felt like she was living in a cage, like an animal in a zoo. This prompts Jost to point out she is literally a hippopotamus living in a zoo.

Bowen Yang on his podcast Las Culturistas, along with co-host Matt Rogers, has frequently praised Chappell Roan, long before she became a household name. In the August 2024 episode titled An Attack on Leos, they supported the Pink Pony Club hitmaker after her recent plea for privacy.

Additionally, Bowen Yang interviewed Roan for Interview Magazine in August 2024, where he noted he was a big fan. The comedian added that he has the vinyl of her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess displayed "front and center" of his living room.

Chappell Roan has not responded to Bowen Yang's skit and subsequent response. She is set to appear on SNL as a musical guest this November.