by Daniel Johnson
February 4, 2024
However, SNL’s decision to give Haley such a massive platform struck many on social media as an irresponsible use of their platform.
Nikki Haley, who recently said that Texas has a path to secede from the United States before walking it back, made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live and poked fun at herself for previously refusing to say that slavery was a cause of the Civil War. As Deadline reports, Ayo Edeberi, hosted the Feb. 3 episode of SNL, made an appearance with Haley during the cold open portion of the program and pointedly ask Haley, “I was just curious, what would you say was the main cause of the Civil War, and do you think it starts with an s and ends with a lavery?” To which, Haley sheepishly replied, “Yep, I probably should’ve said that the first time.”
Edeberi, the breakout star of Hulu’s “The Bear,” also broke into tears during her SNL monologue, a moment that many actors and comedians still dream of.
However, SNL’s decision to give Haley such a massive platform struck many on social media as an irresponsible use of their platform. Others said it was emblematic of SNL’s fall from the position it once occupied, and any cultural currency they may have earned from making fun of Haley was immediately wasted as she was not only part of the joke, but in on it.
The “joke” references Haley’s refusal to say without exception that slavery was the cause of the Civil War, which it should be noted, is what historians credit as the cause of “The War Between The States.” Instead, Haley gave a version of the “states rights” defense, saying while at a New Hampshire town hall that the Civil War happened because of the federal government and freedoms.
“I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run — the freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do.”
Later, on a New Hampshire radio show, Haley attempted to walk this back a little, saying “Of course, the Civil War was about slavery.” Haley also added, “What it means to us today is about freedom — that’s what that was all about. It was about individual freedom. It was about economic freedom. It was about individual rights.” Haley then claimed that the person who asked the question was a Democratic plant, placed there to ask her that specific question.
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