Posted on May 5, 2014

Comedian Leslie Jones Criticized Over "Saturday Night Live" Slavery Skit

Jones answered her critics via Twitter Sunday.

by Justin Carissimo

BuzzFeed Staff

During May 3's episode of Saturday Night Live, writer and comedian Leslie Jones appeared as an image expert on the show's "Weekend Update" skit.

"Back in the slave days, my love life would have been way better,” Jones joked during the skit.

Some fans were amused by Jones' skit:

Eric D. Snider@EricDSnider Follow
Leslie Jones' brazen Weekend Update appearance suggests #SNL might actually be able to bring it when it comes to race-related humor.
03:40 AM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Candice Springer@CandiceSpringer Follow
I demand more Leslie Jones. You hear me, Lorne Michaels? More Leslie! #SNL
12:24 AM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Jason Whyte@jasonwhyte Follow
WOW. Leslie Jones, you are amazing. I just laughed for five minutes straight. Instant fan. #snl
03:29 AM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

While others criticized the comedian:

Cocoa Popps@CocoaPopps Follow
Slave jokes? No, not the way to introduce another black contributor to #snl If you're funy, you can make other material funny.
12:24 AM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

James Neal@james3neal Follow
I will *not* be watching #SNL @nbcsnl again for a very long time. Slavery, forced breeding & "slave drafts" aren't comedic. #LeslieJones
05:07 PM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Todd Johnson@PastorToddJ Follow
Really @SNLUpdate @nbcsnl??? Is this Leslie "I'm not cute but I'd make a great slave wife" Jones a new cast member? What a demeaning skit.
12:27 AM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Husky PopCultureCzar@HuskyBro_Inc Follow
Welp, we wanted more black representation on #SNL and we got it with Leslie "No. 1 Slave Draft Pick" Jones
12:25 AM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Sunday night, Jones took to her own Twitter account to address the highly controversial jokes in her skit.

Leslie Jones@Lesdoggg Follow
Ok I wasn't gonna say any thing because I know that dumb people know how to use the computer too, but now this is so ridiculous.
05:53 PM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Leslie Jones@Lesdoggg Follow
Where is the rape idiots. I said nothing about rape you fucking morons. I was talking about being match to another strong brother.
05:56 PM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Leslie Jones@Lesdoggg Follow
Not being rape by white man. What part of this joke that wasn't true? I would have been used for breeding straight up. That's my reality.
05:56 PM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Leslie Jones@Lesdoggg Follow
And it saddens me that BLACK PEOPLE bitch and moan about the most stupid shit. I'm a comic it is my job to take things and make them funny
05:57 PM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Leslie Jones@Lesdoggg Follow
to make you think. Especially the painful things. Why are y'all so mad. This joke was written from the pain that one night I realized that
05:57 PM - 4 May 14 Reply Retweet Favorite

Jones continued to elaborate on her argument to her followers:

If anybody should be offended is white folks cause it's what they did. Y'all so busy trying to be self righteous you miss what the joke really is. Very sad I have to defend myself to black people. Now I'm betting if Chris Rock or Dave Chappelje did that joke or jay z or Kanye put in a rap they would be called brilliant. Cause they all do this type of material. Just cause it came from a strong black woman who ain't afraid to be real y'all mad. So here is my announcement black folks, you won't stop me and Im gonna go even harder cause we too fucking sensitive and instead of make lemonade out of lemons we just suck the sour juice from the lemons. Wake up. I wouldn't be able to do a joke like that if I didn't know my history or proud of where I came from and who I am.