SNL's Leslie Jones Talks About Slavery in Controversial 'Weekend Update' Sketch

Leslie Jones, a writer for Saturday Night Live, has made headlines following a sketch she starred in on "Weekend Update." In this sketch, Jones talks about her difficulties when it comes to her love life and how things would be different "back in the slave days." Talking to Weekend Update host, Colin Jost, she said, "See, I'm single right now, 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."

Many people were offended by the segment and took to the internet to express their criticisms. Jones responded to these criticisms on her own Twitter account saying things such as "I'm a comic it is my job to take things and make them funny to make you think. Especially the painful things. Why are y'all so mad. This joke was written from the pain that one night I realized that black men don't really **** with me and why am I single."

Saturday Night Live has been in headlines this past year for its lack of diversity amongst the show's writers and cast members. Since then, the show hired new cast member Sasheer Zamata, along with two writers, LaKendra Tookes and Jones.

Watch the "Weekend Update" segement below.