CNN’s Don Lemon defended “Saturday Night Live” writer Leslie Jones‘ jokes about slavery on “Weekend Update,” saying she “shouldn’t have to carry the collective burden of black people on her shoulders.”
Also read: CNN’s Don Lemon Defends Samuel L Jackson Mix-Up: ‘People Do Look Alike!’ (Video)
He also agreed with Jones that some African-Americans were overreacting.
“Leslie Jones responded by saying that black people were too sensitive sometimes,” he said. “In this case, she is right.”
Also read: ‘SNL’ Weekend Update Segment Sparks Controversy Over Racially Charged Slave Jokes (Video)
Jones, who is six feet tall, joked during a routine that “back in the slave days” she would have been more sought after than Lupita Nyong’o. “I would be the number one slave draft pick,” she said.
Some on Twitter said the routine was offensive. Lemon disagreed.
“For almost all of last year, people were on a tear, complaining about diversity, asking where are the sisters on ‘SNL,’” he said. “And now that there are some on there, you complain about her material.”
He said she deserves the same freedom “the rest of the cast has — the freedom to learn. The freedom to grow. The freedom to make mistakes.”
“She shouldn’t have to carry the collective burden of all black people on her shoulders. She’s a comedian, not a civil rights worker,” he added.
“Leslie Jones, ignore the haters,” he concluded. “The loudest voices on Twitter aren’t necessarily the majority. Do your thing. Kick ass and take names.”
Watch the video: