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'Saturday Night Live': Host Dave Chappelle drops the N-word during monologue, fans wonder 'who approved this?'

The acclaimed comedian was also the host for the post-election episode in 2016

This was one of the most eventful weeks for the United States. After months of anticipation, the country got its president-elect and vice-president-elect in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris respectively. The news was announced on Saturday, November 7, which is also the day for ‘Saturday Night Live’. It was announced, much to the delight of its fans, that ‘SNL’ is adding a post-election episode, just like they did four years ago in 2016. Another common link between the 2016 post-poll episode and today’s episode was the host -- comedian Dave Chappelle. The musical guest for the evening was Foo Fighters.

The show was delayed for almost half-an-hour due to the Clemson vs Notre Dame college football game. The cold open, without any surprise, focused on the election result. Jim Carrey reprised his role as Biden and said, “We did it. Can you believe it? I actually kind of can’t. It’s been so long since something good happened.” Maya Rudolph as Harris reminded of all the firsts she was achieving, including being the first female, the first Black and the first biracial vice president. “If any of that terrifies you, I don’t give a funt. My husband is also Jewish and the first second husband, so between us, we check more boxes than a disqualified ballot,” she said. The duo said they won’t gloat before saying,  “may be a tiny bit” and they grooved to ‘You About To Lose Your Job’. Then Bennett’s Blitzer pointed out that the people watching at home also want to “see the president sad.”

They didn’t forget to include Donald Trump. Alec Baldwin came in as Donald Trump for a concession speech that in reality never happened. Baldwin’s Trump said, “Of course they’re trying to steal the election! Stop the count! Stop the count…oh we’re behind! Count all the votes!…look at all that red.” The red he was referring to, which Chloe Fineman’s Kayleigh McEnany brought out to support that claim, was actually the map of “Covid-19 cases”. Then Baldwin’s Trump sat down at a piano and sang a subdued version of ‘Macho Man’, before saying, “This isn’t goodbye, America. I’m just going to say, ‘See you in court’.”

Then it was time for Chappelle’s monologue. Chappelle’s monologue started with him talking about his great-grandfather — a man he never met but heard about all his life. The comedian said his great-grandfather was a man who was a slave for 10 years of his life before learning to read and then dedicating his life to education, the freedom of Black people and Jesus. He then said how both Netflix and HBO Max are streaming a show that bears his great-grandfather’s name -- ‘Chappelle’s Show’. And just when people thought he was getting emotional, Chappelle surprised by saying, “If he could see me now, he’d probably be like, ‘This n—- got bought and sold more than I have.”

He spoke about recent months during the pandemic and performing stand-up comedy in corn fields in the small town in which he lives. Chappelle admitted that in some ways the shows have saved the town, he also pointed out that his neighbors have complained his shows are too noisy. “They had a whole Zoom meeting about me. My kids are trying to sleep and all they hear is the N-word.’ I said, ‘Was I saying it or were you?'”

People on twitter were surprised that he used the N-word on live television. One user commented, “Dave Chappelle said the N-word. I think the only other time that happened was when Richard Pryor said it in the first season.” Another expressed shock, “Dave Chappelle saying the N-word on NBC’s #SNL and it’s not being bleeped.” One said, “Is Dave Chappelle using the n-word? @nbcsnl  who approved this? This tew much #SNL.” One stated, “Whew. Do safe harbor hours include the n-word??! Dave is giving zero f**ks and I’m assuming Lorne Michaels gave him the green light.”

 ‘Saturday Night Live’ airs on NBC at 11.30 pm ET