Chris Rock stormed back onto Saturday Night Live this past weekend, hosting the December 14, 2024, episode with no-holds-barred humor that left feathers flying and audiences howling—or cringing. Whether you were in stitches or sipping tea, one thing’s clear: Rock didn’t just ruffle feathers; he sent the whole bird flying out of the coop.
The comedy legend, now on his fourth SNL hosting gig, turned Studio 8H into a roast chamber, setting his sights on Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and even pop-culture royalty like Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. In true Rock fashion, his monologue was sharp, hilarious, and unapologetically provocative, sparking a wildfire on social media that’s still smoldering.
Rock kicked off with a mic-drop moment, zeroing in on Trump’s infamous deportation policies.
“Trump’s so serious about deporting people, he’s teamed up with Elon Musk—the richest African American in the world,”
Rock quipped, letting the irony hang in the air like a Tesla on autopilot.
But he wasn’t done. Rock followed up with a line with the audience gasping:
“Nobody knows how to get rid of people like a South African.”
The reference to Musk’s controversial ties to apartheid-era South Africa wasn’t lost on the crowd, eliciting a mix of groans, nervous laughter, and wide-eyed stares.
“Trust me, folks,”
Rock continued with a sly grin,
“Elon’s got so many kids, he can start his deportation crew.”
Ouch.
Then came the rocket that launched the internet into orbit: Rock’s imaginary “SpaceMex” program. In his sharp critique of Trump’s deportation ideas, Rock envisioned Musk building a rocket to blast undocumented immigrants into space literally.
“Think about it—SpaceMex. Elon’s already got the infrastructure. He’ll just slap a new logo on one of his SpaceX ships!”
The absurdity of the joke was too on-brand for both Musk and Trump, leaving viewers wondering: Could this happen? (If Musk tweets about it, don’t say we didn’t warn you.)
Rock didn’t just stick to politics—he dipped into the glitzy world of celebrity culture, where his wit shines brightest. Aiming at Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Rock imagined a scenario where J.Lo remarried Affleck for immigration safety under Trump’s policies.
“She’s not even Mexican,”
Rock deadpanned,
“but Trump doesn’t know that!”
The punchline, equal parts pop-culture commentary and political satire, left everyone wondering how J.Lo herself might respond.
Rock’s monologue was a masterclass in juggling hot topics, from Jake Paul’s rise as a social media star to the bizarre assassination of a healthcare CEO. Whether he was roasting influencers or skewering the absurdity of our social media-obsessed culture, his jokes landed with varying degrees of impact.
One particular jab at Jake Paul’s boxing career—
“He’s punched more people than Trump’s deportation policies!”
—brought the house down, proving that Rock hasn’t lost his touch for blending cultural critique with biting humor.
Of course, not every joke landed smoothly. The Musk and Trump bits got under the skin of some viewers who argued Rock had crossed the line. But hey, that’s comedy-it’s not supposed to be safe.
