In a recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” the show dove headfirst into the swirling controversy surrounding the potential ban of TikTok in the United States. During the premiere episode of 2025 on January 18, cast member Michael Longfellow took center stage during the popular “Weekend Update” segment to deliver a hilariously poignant plea to save the Chinese-owned video app from an impending blackout set to commence the following day.
Longfellow, with a mix of earnestness and comedic flair, shared his first foray into political discourse with co-anchor Michael Che. He humorously struggled to distinguish between fact and fiction on TikTok, entertaining viewers with his wobbly but endearing commentary.
Che listed out supposed “legitimate reasons” to support the ban, prompting Longfellow to question the rationale behind the decision. With a comedic twist, he quipped, “Because it’s Chinese? So we’re just banning things because they’re from China now? You know who else was from China? That’s right, Jesus Christ… I thought he was Middle Eastern, but I saw it on a TikTok. Chinese. Jesus Christ was Chinese.”
Addressing concerns about data privacy, Longfellow shrugged off the idea of his personal information being harvested. “Who cares about my data?” he retorted. “Oh no, China knows I like thick Latinas. Who doesn’t? Give me a break.”
Refusing to be swayed by arguments that TikTok may adversely affect users’ mental health, he playfully dismissed the notion, exclaiming, “Ahh, this is boring, I’m bored,” as he theatrically swiped his arm upward to simulate a social media scroll.
In a comical turn, Longfellow shared his supposed ADHD diagnosis, humorously attributing it to a TikTok quiz result and subsequent Adderall prescription obtained through the app. Che probed him on protecting future generations from the app’s potential pitfalls, but Longfellow’s focus remained on the current cohort of users grappling with its absence.
As the conversation unfolded, Longfellow pondered the existential crisis of a TikTok-less existence, lamenting, “What becomes of us? How do we live now?” Che, ever the voice of reason, reminded him of life pre-TikTok, but Longfellow melodramatically declared that part of him was forever lost with the app’s removal.
The skit culminated in Longfellow’s tongue-in-cheek decision to relocate to China in search of his TikTok fix, drawing laughter and applause from the “SNL” audience. Viewers chimed in online, commending Longfellow’s comedic timing and relatability, with one commenting, “What do I watch during a movie actually resonates LMAO because I definitely pick up my phone during the boring parts.”
In a sea of jokes and witty banter, Longfellow’s satirical take on the TikTok ban reson
