Video: Bowen Yang roasts Ron DeSantis as gay Jafar on ‘SNL’
By Bryan Ke
Comedian Bowen Yang slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for signing the Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, on “Saturday Night Live.”
Yang, 32, made an appearance on “Weekend Update” to roast the Florida governor on efforts in the state to push for the bill, to which Disney has voiced opposition.
Dressed as Jafar — specifically, a gay version of the “Aladdin” villain — Yang comments on the latest development between DeSantis and Disney’s “war” over the controversial bill.
Referring to the Florida Republican as “The Boy,” Yang’s Jafar describes DeSantis as an “amateur” as far as villains go.
“He has no rizz, no spark, no drip,” Yang says, “The look is giving Baby Mayor. I mean, he did wear those white cowboy boots, but let’s be honest, they wore him.”
Responding to host Michael Che’s question about whether DeSantis is not already bad enough, Yang’s Jafar retorts, “Don’t get me wrong: the boy’s plenty evil. Banning Rosa Parks in schools? I’m a dark sorcerer and even I was like, ‘Jesus, dude! It’s Rosa Parks.’”
Commenting on Disney’s strong stance against DeSantis’ “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Yang says that if the Florida governor thinks he can stop Disney World Resort in Orlando from being gay, then “that carpet has flown.”
Explaining the metaphor to a confused Che, Yang continues, “I mean, if you open up Grindr on Main Street, U.S.A., your phone explodes. Everywhere else in the park, it’s nothing but 40-year-old men with braces. I don’t know what that is, but it ain’t straight.”
After confirming that his version of Jafar is gay, Yang then addresses DeSantis in a monologue, telling the politician in part: “’Don’t Say Gay,’ well, if there is no gay, there is no Disney, and everyone loves Disney, including you [Ron DeSantis], because your dumb ass got married there, and that’s the gayest thing you can do!”
Many Twitter users loved Yang’s Jafar roasting DeSantis on the “Weekend Update,” with some calling it one of their favorite moments on the show.
“This ranks right up there with the spicy press secretary and seeing Russia from my house,” one Twitter user commented.
“This was the BEST thing about last night’s episode,” another user shared.
“Why do I feel like Bowen Yang should actually be playing Jafar IRL spin off of Aladdin?” one user asked.
DeSantis’ war against Disney took another turn last week after the Republican, who is widely expected to run in the 2024 presidential election, promised to impose stricter control over the Reedy Creek Improvement District in Florida.
Walt Disney World has been in the district for over 50 years, and has been allowed to operate autonomously for decades following a deal with the state of Florida in 1967, granting it control over its utilities and municipal services, to name a few.
The clash started after Disney World stood up against the bill, which bans sexual orientation and gender identity discussions for students under the age of nine.
“They are not superior to the people of Florida,” DeSantis said in his speech at Hillsdale College in Michigan on Thursday. “Ultimately, we’re going to win on every single issue involving Disney, I can tell you that.”
Last week, Disney CEO Bob Iger called out DeSantis’ actions as “anti-business” and “anti-Florida,” arguing that Disney also has a “right to freedom of speech just like individuals do.”
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