American comedian Leslie Jones will soon be joining the youthful Saturday Night Live cast.
Originally hired as a writer for the show in 2014, Jones appeared in a Weekend Update segment in May where she had a commentary on how America’s views of African-American women has changed.
“See, I’m single right now,” she said on the segment, “but back in the slave days, I would have never been single. I’m six feet tall and I’m strong, Colin. Strong! I mean, look at me, I’m a mandingo … I’m just saying that back in the slave days, my love life would have been way better. Massah would have hooked me up with the best brotha on the plantation … I would be the No. 1 slave draft pick.”
Jones’ segment was met with controversy and she was quick to respond to the criticism on Twitter.
And it saddens me that BLACK PEOPLE bitch and moan about the most stupid shit. I'm a comic it is my job to take things and make them funny
— Leslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) May 4, 2014
Jones also appeared in the first and third episodes of the 40th season. But starting on October 25 with Dumb and Dumber To host Jim Carrey, the Tennessee native will be a featured player, making this the first time in SNL history that more than one African-American female cast member has been cast in the show, the other being Sasheer Zamata who was cast last year.
Along with her acting duties, Jones will also stay on as a writer for the show.
In addition to SNL, Jones has also guest-starred in scripted comedies such as Workaholics and The League.
Aside from Jones, the new season of SNL has already seen several changes. Former cast member Darrell Hammond can be heard as the show’s new announcer following the August death of Don Pardo who had been with the show since the premiere in 1975.
Pete Davidson, the first SNL member to be born in the 1990s, also joined the cast and Michael Che is replacing Cecily Strong as Weekend Update co-anchor.