I would argue that in terms of Jacob Elordi’s episode of Saturday Night time Stay from Season 49, probably the most memorable facet is musical visitor Reneé Rapp. A lot of the Gen-Z popstar’s SNL efficiency was iconic, from Rachel McAdams, Rapp’s fellow Regina George, introducing her second tune, to Megan Thee Stallion popping out of a cake for her rap on the bisexual anthem “Not My Fault”. Nonetheless, the true defining second was when Rapp got here out in the course of the stay broadcast, a call she made along with her girlfriend.
Reneé Rapp just lately appeared on Good Hold With Amy Poehler, and the 2 mentioned every thing from Rapp successful the Jimmy Awards in highschool to her new upcoming album, Chunk Me. Quite a lot of the dialog revolved across the “Fairly Ladies” singer’s queer identification, together with the time she publicly got here out as a lesbian stay on SNL (of which the episode may be streamed with a Peacock subscription). The Imply Ladies actress described what led to that call, and why she made it:
[SNL writer] Celeste [Yim] and a few different individuals had written into the skit that I used to be doing, they have been like, ‘OK, we’re gonna name you a bit, bisexual intern. And, on the time, I used to be very publicly bisexual. I had been for a really very long time. And, in non-public, I used to be speaking with my girlfriend and a whole lot of my associates for the final eight months earlier than that like, I really, like, do not feel very bi in the intervening time. I really feel very very similar to a lesbian, and it feels so good. That phrase feels wonderful, and it feels very, like, euphoric for me.
She’s come a good distance in a number of years, and her followers have had a entrance row seat. In an emotional interview final yr with Alex Cooper for the Name Her Daddy podcast, the “Tummy Hurts” artist detailed how tough her first season on The Intercourse Lives Of School Ladies really was. On the time, she was forged as Leighton, a closeted lesbian navigating her freshman yr and, all of the whereas, Rapp was struggling along with her personal sexuality.
Up till Rapp’s exit in Season 3 of TSLOCG, followers watched her personal journey mirror Leighton’s, making her portrayal of the fan-favorite queer character all of the extra impactful in hindsight. Across the identical time Rapp got here out as bisexual, her music profession began taking off. Her debut album, Snow Angel, is actually a masterpiece and a uncooked reflection of her exploring her bisexual identification freely, and it even received her a GLAAD award in 2024.
Earlier that very same yr, Rapp appeared on SNL as a musical visitor, slaying her ballad “Snow Angel,” and a enjoyable, attractive efficiency of “Not My Fault,” if I do say so myself. Now, I can see it was all a victory lap after her determination to change her skit introduction from bisexual to one thing that higher represented her identification. It feels like she felt the identical method:
I used to be like, ‘Do you assume we might simply change it to love, homosexual? I don’t know. Labeling your self publicly is actually, actually empowering, and likewise I believe may be type of intimidating. Since you’re like, ‘Jesus fucking Christ, this feels so good for me proper now, and I don’t wish to go by one thing that doesn’t really feel appropriate.’
The “Discuss Too A lot” singer instructed Amy Poehler that she talked in regards to the line edit with forged member Bowen Yang as effectively. However the 25-year-old pop star mentioned it was her dialog along with her girlfriend, British music artist Towa Chicken, that sealed the deal:
I referred to as Towa, and I used to be like, ‘Babe, I believe I’m simply gonna like rip. I believe it feels good. Additionally, to come back out as a lesbian on SNL is, like, fairly cunty. I used to be like, ‘I will do it for certain.’
As a fan of Reneé Rapp, this announcement didn’t precisely come as a shock. I’d watched as her music slowly progressed to being all about girls. Followers watched because the lights at her concert events subtly turned from the colours of the bisexual flag to these of the lesbian one. The indicators have been there, all culminating on this iconic public identification affirmation. Take a look at the sketch wherein she formally got here out:
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One of many essential explanation why the 25-year-old actress and singer arguably has so many followers, although, is as a result of she has at all times been unapologetically herself, making this transfer undeniably her. When Poehler requested her in regards to the suggestions from this skit, the Imply Ladies: The Musical alum mentioned that she personally feels so good about that life determination.
As for what different individuals assume, she doesn’t actually care. The “Poison Poison” songstress knew it was most likely going to disappoint some individuals who actually associated to her bisexual media, and simply anger others. Rapp says she lives for controversy although, one thing she made clear with the primary single off her upcoming album, wherein she seemingly shades The Intercourse Lives of School Ladies. Regardless of the case, likelihood is she’ll proceed to seize individuals’s consideration along with her c-ntiness (optimistic), and I am right here for it.