Michael Che's Unapologetic SNL Reaction to Trump's Election Win: 'Weekend Update' Drinking and Spits in Trump's Face with R. Kelly Compare

Saturday Night Live (SNL) comedian Michael Che, a host on the show's "Weekend Update," doesn't pull any punches about post-election night commentary after Donald Trump won the presidential election in 2016. America was abuzz because the unthinkable occurred, and Che decided to take his open segment to reflect the heavy emotions and contradictions that many of America felt about the election. He did so with a bold move: he drank on the air and invoked disgraced artist R. Kelly to make his point.

It was in the wake of Trump's triumph that the drama unfolded. One of those sensational moments in SNL history saw Che come out in the open, trying to face the complexities of America's political and cultural puzzle. His comment, "If white people could elect their felon, I can dance to mine," was a sharp comment on a perceived double standard in American society, placing the election of Trump on par with hearing R. Kelly's music, he pointed out the contrary ways people sometimes separate an individual's problematic acts from their public identity.

For Che, it wasn't a punchline; rather, it was a mannerism for articulating the frustration and confusion felt by so many in the aftermath of Trump's election. The humor of this comedian has long been laced with a sharp edge that challenges the social order and nudges audiences toward uncomfortable truths that might require them to rummage deep within themselves. It was no exception for this particular SNL moment, as he sought to underline the ironies whereby people show concerned indignation at figures like R. Kelly for their bad behavior but not the likes of Trump with similar peccadilloes.

The icing on the cake was having decided to drink on air, detailing the absurdity and surrealism of the political atmosphere. Che delivered his quip in frustration and defiance, holding a bottle in his hand, which impressed an enormous gathering. The move elicited mixed reactions as people lauded him for honesty while others condemned him for his approach. Yet it was characteristic of the tradition of SNL, to us-some satire to grapple with realistic issues, no matter how contentious.

The whole episode then became quite viral and put everyone in debates on social media concerning whether comedians have a place in the world of political discourse. Many took their hats off to Che for speaking up against the system, while others felt the analogy was too far-fetched. Whatever one feels, the segment did drive home the evolving nature of comedy in a world where politics and celebrity scandals are quite intertwined.

It's only fitting that such a bold moment on SNL finds its way back to Michael Che, that razor-sharp comedian who takes no prisoners, including himself when it comes to how he chooses to critique what he's been a part of. By forcing viewers to think about their own biases and standards, Michael Che's turn on that episode of SNL became commentary and catharsis for a nation-it was a nation, after all that felt like he was trying to process. Che's message was simple: it is not that comedy has to be only "laughable"; otherwise, it is also concerning opinion, critique, and even a heavy intake of booze before the cameras to prove a point.