Saturday Night Live faced criticism during its season 52 premiere after viewers accused the show of “glorifying” Chris Brown in a sketch that some called unfunny.
New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson made his hosting debut on the episode, while K-pop group Katseye appeared as the musical guest.
In one segment, Brunson portrayed a man attending an emotional support meeting after his partner went to an Usher and Chris Brown concert.
The two artists are currently performing together on their R&B Tour, which began in June.
Kenan Thompson played another member of the group. Struggling to explain what happened, his character said, “My girl was brought on stage at the Chris Brown and Usher tour.”
The other participants responded with sympathetic greetings as the meeting continued.
Saturday Night Live drew accusations of “glorifying” Chris Brown after some viewers criticized a sketch from the show’s season 52 premiere as unfunny
Jalen Brunson played a character who joined an emotional support group after his partner attended an Usher and Chris Brown concert; Brown was seen in New York City in 2024
Thompson’s character went on to say that his wife had surprised him with front-row tickets to one of the concerts.
“The show was fun enough. The dancing and ripping open their shirts and whatnot,” he said.
“Then six songs in, Usher jumps off the stage, dangling a d**n cherry, looking at dropping it into some lady’s mouth. Then suddenly, Diane is just hungry as hell,” Thompson continued in frustration.
When the group urged him to remain calm, he replied, “I’m just saying, cherries are out of season! Where did you get that, Usher?”
Brunson then shared his own story, explaining that his “girl was brought onstage at the Chris Brown-Usher tour.”
He said he had not attended the concert but had bought tickets for his partner and her friends.
“Next morning, I open TikTok. I see my girl strapped to a pole. Spinning like shawarma.
“There’s Mr. Breezy, no shirt on, drenched in sweat,” Brunson added, using Brown’s nickname.
Kenan Thompson portrayed one of the support-group attendees, saying, “My girl was brought on stage at the Chris Brown and Usher tour”
Brunson later took his turn, telling the group that his “girl was brought onstage at the Chris Brown-Usher tour”
“Next morning, I open TikTok. I see my girl strapped to a pole. Spinning like shawarma,” Brunson said
“My girl’s eyes rolling in the back of her head like she’s looking for memories. Video has 123,000 likes. Top comment says, ‘Pray for her man, y’all,’” the basketball star added
‘My girl’s eyes rolling in the back of her head like she’s looking for memories. Video has 123,000 likes. Top comment says, “Pray for her man, y’all.”‘
Brunson then added, ‘When I spent $1,200 on that meet and greet, I never expected her to actually greet his meat.’
Others at the meeting voiced similar incidents, with one saying, ‘This kind of stuff don’t happen at the Noah Kahan concert.’
The skit came to an end after everyone in the support group had their chance to speak, and Usher’s hit 2004 track Yeah! began playing in the background.
Following the sketch, some social media users jumped over to X to slam the sketch.
One penned, ‘the chris brown skit was not funny…,’ while another said, ‘Why are they talking about chris brown.’
‘Snl lowkey high key glorifying Chris brown in this new sketch is so icky,’ an X user typed, and one added, ‘g** a** skit glazing chris brown smh this is why the uk version is better.’
Another commented, ‘snl has several new women on their cast and they’re doing an all-male skit centered around chris brown. this is why they’re never beating the not funny allegations.’
Others at the meeting voiced similar incidents, with one saying, ‘This kind of stuff don’t happen at the Noah Kahan concert’
Following the sketch, some social media users jumped over to X to slam the sketch
However, others had a differing opinion as one penned, ‘Aye…I’m actually cackling at this Chris Brown/Usher Anonymous skit.’
Our News Outlet has reached out to representatives of SNL, Brunson and Brown for comment, but has yet to hear back.
It comes three months after Brown pled guilty to affray after a ‘vicious and unprovoked attack’ with a bottle on a music producer at a London nightclub.
His vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, also pleaded guilty to affray. The pair will be sentenced later this year on October 26.
Judge Tony Baumgartner bailed Brown and Akinlolu to be sentenced on October 26 at Southwark Crown Court.
The judge set bail conditions that allow Brown to leave the UK but he must return on October 25, the day before his sentencing.
It comes three months after Brown pled guilty to affray after a ‘vicious and unprovoked attack’ with a bottle on a music producer at a London nightclub; seen in 2025 in London
Brown and Usher kicked off their R&B Tour back in June with a show in Denver; the music artists seen in January in Paris
Back in 2009, Brown admitted at Los Angeles Superior Court to one count of felony assault relating to an incident that occurred hours before he and Rihanna were due to perform at the Grammy Awards.
Brown and Usher kicked off their R&B Tour back in June with a show in Denver.
The pair’s next concert is scheduled for September 29 in Glendale, Arizona. The tour is slated to concluded on December 12 in Tampa, Florida.
On Friday, the duo took to the stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and rapper Kanye West made a surprise guest appearance amid the performance.
