SNL Star Calls Marriage Legal Slavery, Faces Backlash

Former star Leslie Jones was slammed online after comparing marriage to legal slavery.

The 58-year-old actress-comedian made the bombshell comparison during an interview with popular YouTuber Ziwe on Tuesday.

The mostly satirical discussion took a serious turn when Jones was asked whether she would ever consider becoming a 'tradwife'.

She explicitly rejected the idea, leading her to give her strong opinion on the entire institution of marriage: 'Absolutely f*****g not.'

'Because that's not who I am. And my daddy didn't raise me like that,' she added.

A tradwife, or traditional wife, is a woman who plays the role of a housewife, as practiced in the fifties and sixties, rather than working. Followers of the movement claim it's all about embracing traditional roles.

'My dad used to literally say that to me. I didn't raise you to be somebody's wife,' added the comedian.

She went on to observe that most of the married couples she knows are now divorced.

Building on her earlier point, Jones asserted, 'I think marriage is legalized slavery.'

She doubled down when Ziwe asked, 'You do?' To which she replied, 'Yes, I do.'

Ziwe then asked Jones to elaborate, noting that she sees slavery and marriage as completely different concepts.

'Absolutely not. I don't know how you don't. Especially if he's expecting you to be a trad wife, it might as well pull out a whip and a chain,' said the comedian.

Surprised by Jones's answer, Ziwe invited her to address young women who might be watching and considering marriage.

Jones looked directly into the camera and said, with a smile, 'Don't.'

Jones concluded by emphasizing one final time that she doesn't believe in marriage, stating it's not beneficial for women and that she would never get married herself.

Jones also noted in the interview that she was disappointed in men because 'they're not stepping up to the plate.'

'While we sat and grew and got our sh-- together, they sat on the couch and played their Sega Genesis,' she added.

Her controversial comments outraged users online, who took to social media to defend the institution of marriage.

'I actually pity her. Service to your spouse (on both sides) is one of the great gifts of life. If it feels like slavery, then I don't think you've ever been in love,' one user wrote.

'What a mental damage to a young woman of color. And she feels so good and fine sharing such an illness with innocent fans. Dark days of mental health,' another added.

'Marriage is a blessing with the right person. Having a family is the best way to find happiness in life. Reject these ugly leftists who can't get married or stay married because they're bats**t insane, fat, and ugly,' a third added.

Jones joined SNL in 2014 and left after five years in 2019.