Some ‘Good News’: Megan Thee Stallion will be host and musical guest of ‘SNL’
Two years after making her “Saturday Night Live” debut, Megan Thee Stallion will pull double duty as host and musical guest when she returns to Studio 8H in October.
On Tuesday, “SNL” announced that the “Her” rapper will be among the musicians lined up for its latest season, which will begin Oct. 1. The Season 48 premiere will be hosted by “Top Gun: Maverick” actor Miles Teller, with Kendrick Lamar returning as musical guest. The following week will see actor Brendan Gleeson take the reins with Willow set to perform.
Megan Thee Stallion won’t take the “SNL” stage until Oct. 15. The last time the rapper was musical guest on “SNL” in October 2020, she made a statement by bringing attention to the Breonna Taylor ruling and injustice against Black women.
During her performance of “Savage,” Megan said, “We need to protect our Black women and love our Black women, because at the end of the day, we need our Black women.
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion performed a remix of ‘Savage’ on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ pausing briefly to protest the police killing of Breonna Taylor.
“We need to protect our Black men and stand up for our Black men, because at the end of the day, we’re tired of seeing hashtags of our Black men,” she said.
The hosts and musical guests announcement comes just hours after The Times confirmed Chris Redd departed “Saturday Night Live.”
Redd, whose impressions repertoire has included Kanye West and New York City Mayor Eric Adams, joins Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney, Melissa Villaseñor, Aristotle Athari and Alex Moffat on the list of cast members who won’t be back for the 48th season of the late-night sketch show.
Redd called his five years on the NBC series “the experience of a lifetime.”
“Five years ago, I walked into 30 Rock knowing that this was an amazing opportunity for growth. Now, with friends who have become family and memories I will cherish forever, I’m grateful to [creator] Lorne Michaels and to the entire SNL organization,” he continued in the statement. “From the bottom of my heart, I can’t thank you all enough.”
‘SNL’ is entering a new era as veteran cast members Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant, Kyle Mooney and Kate McKinnon prepare to depart the series.
Representatives for Redd and for “Saturday Night Live” did not respond immediately Tuesday to The Times’ requests for comment.
McKinnon, Davidson, Bryant and Mooney made their intentions known back in May, right around the time the show’s 47th season finale aired. The others gave notice earlier this month.
Redd’s career has been hot lately, with an upcoming HBO comedy special, “Chris Redd: Why Am I Like This?” — filmed last month in St. Louis. He’s also attached to star in the feature film “Cyber Monday,” which is currently in development at Universal.
Redd starred in the first season of the Peacock sitcom “Bust Down,” which premiered in March.
‘SNL’ cast members Melissa Villaseñor, Aristotle Athari and Alex Moffat reportedly will not return for NBC sketch comedy program’s 48th season.
“It’s a Black show, but it’s a Black show that’s not trying to remind y’all to be Black,” Redd said recently about the series, which revolves around casino workers in Gary, Ind., who come up with really bad ideas to try to solve problems. (The fate of the show’s second season isn’t yet known; co-star and creator Jak Knight died in July.)
He has also appeared on “Kenan,” the NBC series that starred longtime “SNL” cast member Kenan Thompson.
Times staff writer Sonaiya Kelley contributed to this report.
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