Variety / Vanity Fair
Kanye West—who has appeared on six previous episodes as well as the 40th anniversary special—showed up to perform "I Love It" and "K.T.S.E.." Then, in lieu of the traditional cast farewell over the closing credits, West grabbed his MAGA hat and the mic once more for a third song: "Ghost Town." Twitter was already digging into Kanye for both the hat and his lackluster performances on those songs when footage of the singer that didn't make it to air cropped up online. After he finished his final song, video of West captured by a laughing, astonished Chris Rock popped up on Instagram. The singer can be seen rambling about the Democrats, Get Out's "The Sunken Place," and Donald Trump.
Behind West in the footage you can see several cast members and host Adam Driver looking at times confused and taken aback. Head writer Colin Jost starts shaking his head and laughing as did Rock who at one point seems to whisper "my god" from behind his phone's camera. According to an eyewitness who spoke with Variety, "The entire studio fell dead silent" as West carried on. In conclusion, West turned around and thanked the cast for the platform "even though some of y'all don't agree."
