New ‘SNL’ Hire Kam Patterson Attacks Show: ‘It’s for White People’

It sounds like Saturday Night Live is not a good fit for new cast member Kam Patterson.

The rising star joined SNL in 2025 ahead of season 51. But Patterson, 26, is now questioning why he took the job because the show is too “white.”

The Florida native appears on the new Netflix special Kill Tony: Once Upon a Time in Texas. Hosted by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe and podcaster Brian Redban, the special features a panel of famous comics who serve as judges and put up-and-coming comedians to the test.

Patterson, who is Black, roasted SNL for its lack of diversity during his stand-up set.

“You know what’s crazy? I think people are more excited for me than I am for myself though. People keep saying, ‘Congratulations’, ‘Good job’ and ‘That’s dope.’ But understand something, bro. I’m 26, and I’m Black. I’ve never seen the show. I have no idea what the f–k I signed up for, dog. I’m kind of just there,” he said.

The comedian also vented about the caliber of the show’s celebrity guests.

“And, listen, this s–t is not for me, it’s for white people. They have on celebrities I’ve never heard of in my life,” he said. “We had on Glen Powell at one point, and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ And they was like, ‘He was in Top Gun,‘ and I was like, ‘Never seen it.’ And then we had on Miles Teller, and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ And they was like, ‘He was in Top Gun.’ And I was like, I’m on to you ni—as.’”

Patterson wasn’t done dragging SNL, and said the writing and sketches are “gay as f–k.”

“I’m gonna keep it 100 percent with y’all, in the nicest way possible. It’s gay,” Patterson said about SNL. “It’s really gay, dog. It’s gay as f–k.”

Patterson said he’s “shot at somebody before,” now he’s on NBC telling jokes he considers “gay.”

“Do you know how crazy that change is in life? That’s insane, dog,” he told the audience.

While his comments were far from politically correct, they’ve gone viral and brought in a lot of eyeballs. The minute-long YouTube clip of his musings about SNL has been viewed nearly two-million times, and counting, in three days.

SNL announced Patterson would be joining the cast in September 2025. Before making the move to late-night TV, he was a regular on the “Kill Tony” stand-up podcast.

He got his start performing comedy at open mics events in his hometown of Orlando, and this past summer Patterson made his feature film debut in Netflix’s bachelor-party comedy 72 Hours from Kevin Hart and director Tim Story.