This week’s Saturday Night Live cold open sketch re-created singer R. Kelly’s bizarre meltdown during an interview with CBS This Morning host Gayle King. And the parody version didn’t have to stray far from reality to get laughs.
Long-time cast member Keenan Thompson played Kelly, whose self-denial was on full display. When asked by Leslie Jones’ Gayle King to repeat some of the charges against him, Thompson’s Kelly notes that people are claiming he has kept a harem of young girls against their will, effectively running a personal cult. “And what do you think people are saying that about you?” Jones’ King follows up. “Probably because it looks like I have a harem of young girls and I started a cult,” Thompson deadpans.
Near the end of the skit, Thompson also flew out of his chair in protest, recreating the iconic moment from this past week when King sat perfectly composed as Kelly loomed over her and angrily thrashed around to defend his consistently controversial behavior and lack of honesty.
“Why would I do these things—for 30 years?!” Thompson’s Kelly screams.
“I gave y’all ‘Trapped in the Closet,’ ‘Feelin’ on Yo Booty,’ ‘Age Ain’t Nothin’ But a Number’ and so many other clues!”
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