‘SNL’ Spoofs Department of Defense Group Text Scandal in Cold Open

“Saturday Night Live” featured a cold open spoofing the DoD group text scandal with host Mikey Madison. In this segment, Madison played a teenage girl discussing high school crushes while U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, portrayed by Andrew Dismukes, dramatically interrupts with military updates. The sketch humorously comments on real-world controversies involving political figures, concluding with a comedic take by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

In the recent cold open of “Saturday Night Live,” host Mikey Madison, an Oscar winner for “Anora,” humorously addressed the Department of Defense group text scandal. Portraying a teenage girl in a group chat with her friends, portrayed by Ego Nwodim and Sarah Sherman, she finds herself interrupted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, played by Andrew Dismukes.

In a comical twist, Dismukes’s Hegseth announces military actions with a flurry of emojis, stating, “FYI, green light on Yemen raid. Rockets went airborne 15 minutes ago.” This spoof reflects real-life events where high-ranking officials inadvertently discussed sensitive plans in a Signal group, including Jeffrey Goldberg from The Atlantic, who was mistakenly included.

The sketch progresses with Bowen Yang taking on the role of the Vice President, humorously addressing his apparent confusion about his trip to Greenland. This segment resonates with viewers familiar with the series “Severance.” Madison’s character later mentions a movie date with Matt Gaetz, drawing attention to the real-life controversies surrounding the former congressman, who has faced scrutiny regarding allegations of misconduct.

As the sketch concludes, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, portrayed by Marcello Hernandez, comically adds a request for the teen girls’ names and addresses for “[email protected],” adding a stark and satirical contrast to the lighthearted theme of the chat.

This episode of “Saturday Night Live” effectively blends humor with real political controversies, including the Department of Defense’s infamous group text scandal. Mikey Madison’s performance, along with sharp portrayals of political figures, provides a satirical take on current events, reflecting societal perceptions of governance and youth culture. The unique inclusion of newsworthy issues within a comedic sketch underscores the ongoing intersection of politics and popular culture.

Original Source: variety.com