Bowen Yang channels Chappell Roan in ‘SNL’ premiere as viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng

On the ‘Saturday Night Live’ season 50 premiere, Bowen Yang humorously references pop star Chappell Roan.

In the premiere of Saturday Night Live's 50th season, Bowen Yang portrayed Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo, on the show’s iconic Weekend Update segment. The character drew parallels to pop star Chappell Roan, who recently set boundaries with her fans about personal space. In Yang’s portrayal, Moo Deng discussed the challenges of sudden fame, echoing Roan’s real-life frustrations. “Reminder: Women owe you nothing,” Yang stated, paraphrasing Roan. He added, “When I’m in my enclosure… I am at work. Do not yell my name or expect a photo just because I’m your parasocial bestie.”

This moment came after Roan addressed toxic fan behavior in August, sharing her experiences with stalking and harassment. She expressed her concerns in an Instagram post, stating, “I’ve been in too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions,” and emphasized that “women don’t owe you sh–.” Roan’s comments came after weeks of personal space violations from fans during her performances.

Yang’s Moo Deng further mirrored Roan’s recent decision to avoid endorsing any U.S. presidential candidate, joking, “I will not be making an endorsement in this year’s election.”

Roan, who recently canceled her All Things Go festival performances due to feeling overwhelmed, has been vocal about prioritizing her mental health. She wrote on her Instagram story, “I need a few days to prioritize my health.”