Leslie Jones Details 'Frustrating' 'SNL' Experience

Leslie Jones’ comments about her “Saturday Night Live” tenure sparked reactions after she described the experience as “frustrating” and stereotypical. Jones joined NBC’s series in 2014 and left five years later in 2019, and in 2026 reiterated that the writers typecast her. Speaking on “The Sam Sanders Show” in June 2026, she said the show often portrayed her as “the girl that was angry and beating up people,” or in storylines involving a white boy, leading her to feel she was repeatedly cast in the same roles. While she called the experience “bittersweet,” she also said she loved being on the show and does not miss the mental burden. She added that, when asked if SNL is a good place for Black comedians, it is “the machine that it is.” Social media reactions reflected a mix of understanding and criticism.