Saturday Night Live’s first episode of 2025 opened with a surreal and darkly comedic skit featuring Will Ferrell as the ghost of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In the cold open, Epstein’s spirit materializes in the Oval Office, startling a sleeping Donald Trump Donald Trump. The ghost delivers ominous news about Trump’s legal exposure, leaving the former president visibly shaken as he jolts awake in a cold sweat. The skit leaned into the dark humor that SNL is known for, blending real-life controversies with exaggerated satire.

The cold open didn’t shy away from the sensitive nature of Epstein’s crimes or the political fallout from his associates. Ferrell, known for his spot-on impressions, captured both the mannerisms and eerie tone of Epstein’s infamous interviews. The sketch played on long-standing rumors and investigations linking Trump to Epstein’s social circles, particularly in the mid-2000s when Trump and Epstein were photographed together at parties and events. While the skit didn’t directly reference specific legal cases, it tapped into the broader cultural memory of Epstein’s network and the unanswered questions surrounding his death in 2019.

SNL’s Take on Political Paranoia

The skit arrived at a time when legal and political tensions around Trump are at a fever pitch. The former president faces multiple criminal indictments, including federal and state cases related to election interference, classified documents, and business fraud. The cold open’s timing wasn’t accidental—SNL often uses its platform to comment on current events, and the Epstein-Trump connection has been a recurring topic in political discourse. Ferrell’s portrayal added a layer of absurdity to the serious allegations, making the joke land with audiences while still driving home the point about Trump’s legal vulnerabilities.

The sketch also highlighted how SNL continues to evolve under its new showrunner, who took over after the 2024 season. The writing team has leaned into more meta and surreal humor, blending politics with absurdist scenarios. This approach resonates with younger audiences who consume political satire through bite-sized clips on social media, where the cold open’s dark humor thrives. The Epstein ghost gag is a prime example of how SNL balances edgy comedy with mainstream appeal.

For Trump, the cold open might sting more than most. The former president has repeatedly downplayed his past ties to Epstein, calling him a “terrific guy” in a 2002 interview with New York Magazine. Those comments resurfaced during Epstein’s legal troubles and again after his death, fueling speculation about Trump’s knowledge of Epstein’s activities. The SNL skit didn’t invent the controversy, but it did package it into a digestible joke for millions of viewers, ensuring the conversation continues online and in watercooler chats.

What happens next? SNL’s cold opens often spark conversations that spill into Monday news cycles, and this one’s no exception. Expect clips of the sketch to circulate on platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram, where memes and reactions will amplify its reach. Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team is likely bracing for another wave of public scrutiny, even if it’s just for a few days. The Epstein ghost gag might be a joke, but the real-life issues it pokes at aren’t going away.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Rolling Stone
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 04:12 UTC
  • Category: Entertainment
  • Topics: #music · #rolling-stone · #culture · #cold-open · #jeffrey-epstein · #ghost-gives

Read the Full Story

This is a curated summary. For the complete article, original data, quotes and full analysis:

Read the full story on Rolling Stone →

All reporting rights belong to the respective author(s) at Rolling Stone. GlobalBR News summarizes publicly available content to help readers discover the most relevant global news.

Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O mundo do entretenimento nunca para de surpreender, e a icônica “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) acaba de lançar uma sátira que promete deixar muita gente rindo — e um tanto quanto desconfortável. Na mais recente edição do programa, o ator Will Ferrell deu vida ao fantasma de Jeffrey Epstein em um esquete que mostrou o ex-presidente Donald Trump acordando em pânico após um pesadelo nada convencional no Salão Oval.

A brincadeira, típica do humor ácido da SNL, ganhou ainda mais relevância ao abordar um tema que há anos circula nos bastidores da política e da mídia: as controvérsias envolvendo Epstein e suas ligações com figuras poderosas. No Brasil, onde a discussão sobre o caso Epstein já rendeu debates nas redes sociais e até especulações entre os fãs de teorias conspiratórias, o esquete serve como um lembrete de como o entretenimento pode refletir — ou distorcer — os fatos que ocupam o imaginário popular. Além disso, a participação de Ferrell, conhecido por suas imitações hilárias de políticos, reforça a capacidade da SNL de transformar assuntos complexos em algo palatável para o grande público.

Com o caso Epstein ainda cercado de mistérios e o humor da SNL sempre pronto para cutucar feridas, fica a expectativa: será que a próxima edição da atração terá mais doses de sarcasmo sobre os bastidores do poder?