Adele’s ‘SNL’ Act About African Sex Tourism Criticized For Fetishizing Black Men
Image via DFree / Shutterstock.com
Saturday Night Live viewers were left unimpressed over a sketch featuring Adele that poked fun at sex tourism in Africa.
While the singer received praise for her comedic skills, some were unhappy that the skit made fun of wealthy westerners who travel to Africa for sex. Adele and cast member Kate McKinnon were portrayed as women advertising “holidays” in Africa.
They were depicted fronting an ad for the Tourism Board of Africa that encouraged women to visit the continent for its beauty, while hinting at other X-rated activities travelers could do.
Adele, who wore a blue dress and a large blonde wig, walked towards the camera and said, “Sun, breeze, oceans, mountains, in beautiful Africa.” As McKinnon said, “witness the wonder, the escape, the story,” a shirtless black man together with a white woman walked behind them.
Adele continued, “The sandy beaches. The massive bamboo,” before McKinnon added, “The tribesman.”
They were joined by another lady, Heidi Gardner, who was portrayed to have traveled to Africa after divorcing her husband. Adele held her laughter as she said, “I found a deep, deep connection” before Gardner replied, “You can feel it in your stomach.”
Many social media users were angered by the clip and hit out at the show for “fetishizing” black men. “How can SNL writers like @Sudi_Green and @Bowenyang be so culturally literate and progressive yet SNL still produces the most tone deaf, African-fetishizing sketch that Adele couldn’t seem to get through?!” an angry viewer tweeted. “Who greenlit that Africa sketch?” another said.
It comes after Adele was accused of cultural appropriation for wearing her hair in Bantu knots, which led to some of her fans calling the move “insensitive.”
How can SNL writers like @Sudi_Green and @Bowenyang be so culturally literate and progressive yet SNL still produces the most tone deaf, African-fetishizing sketch that Adele couldn’t seem to get through?! Wtf happened there... the racist exoticism ???
— Angelica 'The Female Paul Giamatti' Florio (@AngelicaFlori0) October 25, 2020
...who greenlit that Africa sketch? #snl
— Nell (@Importantverbs) October 25, 2020
Who TF green lit that SNL skit about Africa?!?!
— Childish Bambino👨🏾💻 (@SwagIsLoading) October 25, 2020
1) The audacity in 2020 to perpetuate the “less than” stereotype by fetishizing African men
2) Horrible timing considering the event currently taking place in Africa
3) It’s not remotely funny
Shame on them.
I’m the biggest proponent for the clever and incredible writers and staff of SNL but from the start, the Africa skit made me cringe. I think that creating satire to prove a point can be meaningful but this approach was straight up problematic. #SNL
— ⓔkeane (@peachy__keane) October 25, 2020
[via Independent, cover image via DFree / Shutterstock.com]
