Harry Styles made his return to Saturday Night Live this weekend, pulling double duty as host and musical guest to celebrate the release of his new album. The British singer charmed audiences with his dry wit and a surprise French accent in a sketch that has since gone viral among fans.
In his opening monologue, Styles riffed on his music, describing it as 'songs about fruit that people think are about sex,' and addressed accusations of queerbaiting with a cheeky retort. He also referenced Prince Andrew's notorious photo before kissing cast member Ben Marshall on the lips, drawing cheers from the studio audience.
The highlight of the night came during a sketch set on a German cruise line, where Styles and Chloe Fineman donned sparkly outfits and exaggerated German accents. The segment featured a French Def Jam comedian played by Kenan Thompson, but it was Styles's own attempt at a French accent later in a Best Buy sketch that truly delighted viewers, though some critics noted the 'funny voices' material was wearing thin.
Other sketches included a parody of medical drama 'The Pitt' with a rightwing twist, featuring James Austin Johnson as RFK Jr, and a courtroom sketch where Styles impersonated comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. The episode also saw a cameo from Ryan Gosling, who introduced Styles's first musical performance.
Weekend Update covered the upcoming Oscars, with Colin Jost making jokes about the ceremony. Overall, the episode was deemed 'decently silly' by critics, with Styles's natural drollness proving effective for delivering punchlines, even if his slow speaking style didn't quite achieve deadpan comedy.
