Saturday Night Live aired a Weekend Update segment on May 6, 2026 [1], satirizing Katy Perry's Met Gala mask and influencer Alix Earle.
The segment highlights the show's continuing role in shaping the cultural conversation by blending high-fashion critique with digital-age celebrity mockery. By targeting viral moments, the program maintains its relevance among younger audiences who follow influencer trends and red-carpet fashion.
Anchors Michael Che and Colin Jost led the segment from Studio 8H in New York City [1]. A primary target of the episode was Katy Perry's choice of headwear for the Met Gala. An unnamed SNL writer said the mask was a "'Stupid Moron' moment that we just had to call out on Weekend Update" [1].
Beyond fashion, the segment touched on political figures, including references to former President Donald Trump [2]. The show also leaned into internet culture with a sketch focusing on influencer Alix Earle. The bit depicted Earle running into her former partner at the Miami Grand Prix [3].
Earle later commented on the attention her online persona received from the sketch. She said, "I was shocked to see myself in a sketch about running into my ex at the Miami Grand Prix" [3].
The episode also served as a reflection on the nature of the Weekend Update desk itself. Seth Meyers, a former anchor, recently discussed the transition from the sketch comedy format to late-night hosting. Meyers said people assumed he would be a great interviewer because of Weekend Update, but the reality is far different [4].
“The mask was a 'Stupid Moron' moment that we just had to call out on Weekend Update.”
The integration of TikTok-era influencers like Alix Earle alongside traditional political targets indicates SNL's strategy to bridge the gap between legacy television and the creator economy. By lampooning specific, fleeting viral events, such as a single Met Gala accessory or a Grand Prix sighting, the show reinforces its position as a curator of the week's most discussable pop-culture failures.
