The Daily Show is back.
Tuesday night marked the show's return after former host Trevor Noah's departure on December 8.
Saturday Night Live alum Leslie Jones was the first guest host in a series planned by the show, and, well, she did not hold back.
Jones opened with an honest take on a new Martin Luther King, Jr. monument in Boston.
The $10 million sculpture—with a focus on wrapped arms—was designed to commemorate the iconic embrace between MLK and his wife Coretta Scott King after he learned he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
Below is a video of the unveiling in Boston Commons.
\u201cBREAKING: The bronze sculpture called \u201cThe Embrace\u201d honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King has just been unveiled on the Boston Common #7news #MLKWeekend #MLKDay2023\u201d— Amaka Ubaka (@Amaka Ubaka) 1673643093
As Jones displayed a photo of the statue, she stoically asked the audience:
"Has anyone in here ever been eaten out?"
Once the audience got over the initial shock, Jones continued:
"Because they are celebrating you right now in Boston!"
"Listen, I know Dr. King went down in history, but this is not how you show it!"
As the camera cut back to Jones, she let "White people" know they should sit out this debate.
"White people: You don't need to be saying sh*t about this statue. You understand?"
"You need to sit your *ss in the back of the bus for this one. You need to honor the statue."
"This is a civil rights icon... going down on his wife."
"You show some d*mn respect."
Jones even brought in Seneca Scott—cousin of Scott King—to weigh in and she felt the statue "looked like a penis."
Jones asked desperately:
"OK, Black people, what the f**k we gonna do?"
"We got to talk about this because you know it's messed up when Black people and the Proud Boys hate the same statue."
She concluded:
"I can't unsee it!"
You can watch the segment below.
WARNING: NSFW language
\u201cLeslie Jones (@Lesdoggg) is our first guest host and she's got some thoughts on that new MLK Jr. statue...\u201d— The Daily Show (@The Daily Show) 1674010225
Viewers of the segment did not disagree with Jones.
Hahahaha I’ve looked at that statue several times and I just don’t get it. Bad design. Again maybe in a 100 years it will be marveled. 🙄
— TrishFraga (@TrishFraga) January 18, 2023
pic.twitter.com/SI34zQnQlD
— mikeijames (@mikeijames) January 18, 2023
I’m with you @Lesdoggg 🙌🏾😂
— Jess 🎯 (@jcardan1) January 18, 2023
Thank you Leslie Jones @Lesdoggg for speaking what we white art folk felt but needed to let a black person say. Whew.
— Julie Stephens (@juliesteph88) January 18, 2023
Hilarious….and thanks a lot @Lesdoggg Now I CANT unsee it either!
— JB (@AlphaDeuceGRho) January 18, 2023
I was very confused when I first saw this. Sometimes it looks exactly like what it is, other times it looks like you need to avert your eyes 🫣.
— From700Isles (@LFrimaire) January 18, 2023
Though Jones was only the first guest host, Twitter wants to see more, many rooting for her to stay on permanently.
@dulcesloan should host this show. Love her!
— Robin Hood. Latin Lover. (@mozo_saa) January 18, 2023
Omg 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 @Lesdoggg for permanent host of @TheDailyShow please lol
— Jorge Andrés (@IBThatRaspOnTV) January 18, 2023
More Leslie Jones hosting please
— Yup Maria (@YupanotherMaria) January 18, 2023
Several guest hosts, including Chelsea Handler and Roy Wood, Jr., will temporarily join The Daily Show in the coming weeks.
We, however, believe this Jones bit will go down as one of the best.
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AMC