Saturday Night Live Spoofs Nelson Mandela Sign Language Interpreter

As the world said goodbye to former South African president Nelson Mandela at the Dec. 9 memorial service, attention turned to the sign language interpreter, who was incoherently signing at the event next to some of the world’s top leaders including President Barack Obama. So to open its Dec. 14 episode, Saturday Night Live chose to spoof the incident along with some of Obama’s other criticisms from the event using comedian Jay Pharaoh to play the nation’s leader. 

“I felt like Lemony Snicket, because I experienced a series of unfortunate events,” Pharoah as Obama joked. 

After a photo was snapped of the president taking a selfie with other top political leaders as wife Michelle Obama looked on with a perturbed expression, many questioned if the First Lady was upset with her husband’s behavior. 

“Some people said Michelle was angry at me for that, but I talked to her afterwards and I can assure you, she was furious,” Pharoah continued. 

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As he tried to transition into talk of health care, Kenan Thompson appeared behind Pharoah, impersonating the now-notorious sign language interpreter. Later a jealous German ChancellorAngela Merkel (played by Kate McKinnon) begged Obama to take a selfie with her before being dragged off the stage saying, “I will always love you!”

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