SNL‘s Kenan Thompson has spoken about Kanye West‘s pro-Trump speech on the season premiere, saying he held the show’s cast members “hostage”.

West gave a speech at the end of the show on Saturday (September 29) which was not broadcast. It was captured by Chris Rock, who shared it on his Instagram Story. In the speech, the rapper discussed Trump, his aims to run for President, and being “bullied” about his Make America Great Again hat.

Appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Thompson spoke about the incident. “I got to watch the circus unfold,” he said. He revealed that it was West’s decision to invite the cast back on stage after he had performed ‘We Got Love’ with Teyana Taylor.


“He voiced his opinion very loudly,” Thompson said. “We’re all entitled to our opinion. I don’t know if that’s the moment, necessarily, to hold people hostage like that.” The comedian likened West’s actions to “cuckolding” people and said he had left before the rapper invited the cast to join him.

“As soon as he said, ‘Hey, join me up on stage, everybody,’ I was like, ‘Oh, there goes the little cheese in the mousetrap,'” he said. “I felt so bad for those guys because it’s hard to stand there and not be able to debate somebody who is going so far against your personal opinion, and just stand there and take it.”

Donald Trump responded to West’s appearance on the comedy show on Twitter. “Like many, I don’t watch Saturday Night Live (even though I past hosted it) – no longer funny, no talent or charm,” he wrote on Sunday (September 30).

“It is just a political ad for the Dems. Word is that Kanye West, who put on a MAGA hat after the show (despite being told “no”), was great. He’s leading the charge!”


West had promised a new album, ‘Yandhi’, would be released on Saturday to coincide with his performance on the programme.

However, it failed to materialise and, yesterday (October 1), Kim Kardashian West announced on Twitter it would instead be released on November 23. “TRUST ME it is worth the wait,” she wrote.