21 Savage has been tapped to perform on Saturday Night Live in the wake of a not-so-new controversy at the late-night show.
On Sunday (February 4), SNL took to Instagram where they unveiled their “next show,” announcing both the guest performer and host.
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The post featured three brightly colored note cards pinned to a bulletin board listing “21 Savage” as the performer and controversial comedian Shane Gillis as the host.
The announcement drew a mixed response from fans, with reactions ranging from disappointment to excitement about the upcoming segment.
“I’m disappointed that SNL would hire someone [without] talent to appear on their show,” wrote one user. “If you listen to his podcast, or his stand up, you’ll see he has a track record of being funny. I just don’t think that has a place at SNL anymore, times have changed.”
“So SNL invites a transphobe up to the stage last week, a presidential candidate who espouses anti-LGBTQ hate on tonight, and next week a guy who got fired from SNL for making racist Asian jokes,” a second comment reads. “This while you have one of the biggest breakout stars in years in Bowen Yang. I’ve loved SNL my whole life, but JFC Lorne, WTF are you doing? This is not f’ing ok.”
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Others ran to Gillis’ defense claiming this is his moment. “A D1 football player, decorated veteran and an SNL legend without doing any of those 3… He deserves this [flexed arm emoji],” wrote another user.
“If you click on the angry people’s profile you will see by their profile and the way they look that they are definitely the type to be upset [crying, skull emojis],” a fourth comment reads.
Lat week, the Atlanta rapper recently joined forces with Cardi B, and Nicki Minaj and artists like Bette Midler, Gloria Estefan, and Jason Isbell to get behind a proposed new law that would make AI-generated likeness of both their images and their voices off-limits.
Billboard reported that a total of 300 artists from a variety of genres have banded together behind the No Artificial Intelligence Fake Replicas And Unauthorized Duplications Act (also known as the No AI FRAUD Act) currently making its way through the House of Representatives.
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Backed by the Human Artistry Campaign, the No AI FRAUD Act would establish federal protections against the exploitation of artistry via artificial intelligence, should it be successfully passed.
“The No AI FRAUD Act would defend your fundamental human right to your voice & likeness, protecting everyone from nonconsensual deepfakes,” an ad placed by the Campaign on Friday (February 2) reads. “Protect your individuality. Support HR 6943.”
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The bill was first proposed by the House on January 10, and has received bipartisan Congressional support.
On February 24, Saturday Live returns from a two-week break following “The Bear” actress Ayo Edebiri’sdebut. Viewers can watch live on Saturdays at 11:30/10:30c on NBC and Peacock, and stream the next day on Peacock.
