For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails
Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson has addressed Kanye West’ s pro-Donald Trump speech, made during the comedy show’s season premiere.
Appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers , the comedian half-heartedly joked that the cast were “held hostage” as the rapper praised Trump on stage.
Thompson, who is the show’s longest-running cast member, began by explaining that he watched events unfold from backstage.
“I got to watch the circus unfold,” he said. “[West] voiced his opinion very loudly, and for a long time. We’re all entitled to our opinion. I don’t know if that’s the moment, necessarily, to hold people hostage like that.”
West’s speech about Trump was initially unaired but footage - taken by comedian Chris Rock who was in the audience - showed the musician claiming that he was bullied backstage for wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat.
“As soon as he said, ‘Hey, join me up on stage, everybody,’ I was like, ‘Oh, there goes the little cheese in the mousetrap,’” Thompson told Meyers.
“I felt so bad for those guys because it’s hard to stand there and not be able to debate, you know, somebody who is going so far against your personal opinion, and just stand there and take it.”
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in ManhattanShow all 22 1 /22Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Thompson said that the cast try to make all musical guests feel welcome, even those who are “a little bit crazy”, adding: “We don’t judge.”
West was expected to release his ninth studio album, Yandhi, after appearing on SNL. However, the record has since been delayed so he can record in Africa.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies