upworthy

amy poehler

Saturday Night Live/Youtube

A TikTokker went viral for saying 'SNl" has never cast a 'hot woman." The female 'SNL' cast responded.

Recently a TikTok user who goes by Jahelis went viral for claiming “Saturday Night Live” has never hired “a hot woman” during the entire run of its show.

Well, the ladies of “SNL” caught wind of Jahelis’s insensitive remarks, and let’s just say they’re having the last laugh.

In the nearly four minute video, Jahelis clarifies “I’m not saying that every single woman who has been a cast member on SNL is ugly. It’s just that none of them have ever been, like, hot.… They all just kind of have looks that eventually grow on you.”

She then proposed the “theory” that this is because society can’t accept that “super beautiful women” can also be funny, followed by a slew of out-of-touch observations to seemingly prove this her pseudo-analysis.

Jahelis first pulled up a picture of Heidi Gardner (whom Jahelis couldn’t even name) claiming Gardner often plays the “super hot and super dumb” girl in sketches, even though “no offense, she’s not that pretty.”

Jahelis surmised this must be because “I guess technically the most conventional hot female on this cast.”

@jahelis Hoepfulky at least one person out there understands what I’m trying to say #kristinwiig #palmroyale #appletvseries #snl #snlwomen #mayarudolph #jimmyfallon ♬ original sound - Jahelis


To really drive her point home, Jahelis then went on to note that Jimmy Fallon, Andy Sandberg, Jason Sudeikis “even Bowen” Yang as “relatively hot men,” as if to suggest this injustice of hiring average looking people was one-sided.

But hey, at least she conceded that Maya Rudolph was “really beautiful.” Sadly, while Kristin Wiig “very conventionally attractive,” she still didn’t make the cut for “hot,” apparently.

It didn’t take long for the rant to make its way to actual female “SNL” cast members, who responded in rare form.

Sarah Sherman, replied on X with this tongue-in-cheek post: “Just found out I’m not hot. Please give me and my family space to grieve privately and uglily at this time.”

Meanwhile on Instagram, Chloe Troast hit back while singing Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and not-so-subtly flipping Jahelis off with both fingers.

Other viewers also chimed in to call out Jahelis’ “random and mean” analysis, not to mention question her logic…as well as her eyesight.

“Ego Nwodim is literally drop dead gorgeous," one person commented.

“Have you SEEN CHLOE FINEMAN?! She's so gorgeous,” another said.

Other perplexed reactions include:

“Kate McKinnon??!!! Melissa Villasenor?! Amy Poehler?!?? Kristen Wig?!!! helloOoOo.”

“Kate McKinnon is unironically one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen.”

“Julia Louis Dreyfus is one of the hottest women of all time?”

And perhaps this comment really sums it all up: “normalize journaling.”

Sure, we want to be able to express ourselves, and part of TikTok’s charm is being able to give those raw, unfiltered opinions. But degrading other people to make a point is probably not the best use of the platform. Luckily, nobody took this “hot take” too seriously.

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How Amy Poehler's Smart Girls is empowering teens through gaming.

A glimpse into Amy Poehler's Smart Girls' empowering new series.

Have you heard of Amy Poehler's Smart Girls? Because if you haven't, you really should.

Poehler is a lot of things — an improviser, a Red Sox fan, a mom, a Hillary Clinton impersonator. But she's also a trailblazer. And there's no better proof of that than Amy Poehler's Smart Girls, a group committed to empowering girls to be ... well, whatever the heck they want to be (and to feel great being it).

Rock climber? Astronaut? CEO? Poehler says go for it, girl.


Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for TNT LA.

Smart Girls has done a lot of neat things and started many important conversations since it originally launched as a web series, Smart Girls at the Party, back in 2008. But one of its latest endeavors, Smart Girls Build, is particularly notable as being freakin' sweet, as it's using a video game rooted in the virtual world to inspire actual girls living in the real one.

In the Smart Girls Build series, Poehler's Smart Girls teamed up with The Sims to let girls create their virtual selves.

Take, for instance, 13-year-old Californian Celeste Javier, who is the focus of the series' first episode. Among her many interests are dancing and playing with her (adorable) corgi pup.

All GIFs via Amy Poehler's Smart Girls/YouTube.

Javier got to visit the hub where the video game is created by publisher Electronic Arts (EA). In The Sims, users can create virtual versions of themselves and live out their dreams and aspirations (digitally, of course). And that's exactly what Javier got to do.

Yes, creating your digital self is fun. But to Smart Girls, the new series gets at a bigger issue: inspiring girls to live out their creative pursuits, and finding the role models to help.

The Sims might only be a virtual reality to gamers, but the positive effects of playing it can seep into the girls' real lives, according to Maggie Lyons, director of development at SmartGirls.

“Our motto is ‘Change the world by being yourself,'" Lyons explained to Upworthy. "These girls really do that in The Sims, and hopefully are inspired to do the same in their real lives.”

Just 26% of jobs in computing fields are held by women.

The series focuses on opening doors for girls who might be interested in merging their passions with technology, as well.

In another episode, 17-year-old guitarist Tcarla collaborated with a producer to create music in the game. Every EA producer in the series is a woman, and while that may seem inconsequential, it certainly isn't.

"We also wanted to highlight female gamers and game producers," Lyons said. "If girls see more women creating and participating in fields like gaming, they’re more likely to say to themselves, 'Oh, cool! I can do that too!'”

Javier created a Sim that not only looked like her, but had the same qualities and passions as well.

Javier made sure her virtual self, or Sim, had the same traits and talents as she does. In her Sim's world, there was a dance studio, which was perfect for Javier; she's been dancing for nine years and is now in a competitive hip-hop dance group.


Letting girls know they do have a place in tech is vital, and we've got a (very) long way to go.

According to a study released last year by the American Association of University Women, a mere 26% of jobs in computing fields are held by women. When you look at engineering jobs, it's an even more cringeworthy 12%. (And by the way, these figures get more dismal when you consider how women of color, specifically, are represented.)

Looking at the gender makeup at top tech companies confirms this sad reality, as The Huffington Post reported in March 2015.

"At Google, women make up 30% of the company's overall workforce, but hold only 17% of the company’s tech jobs. At Facebook, 15% of tech roles are staffed by women. At Twitter, it’s a laughable 10%. For non-technical jobs at Twitter (think marketing, HR, sales), the gender split is 50-50."

Yes, The Sims is just one video game, and it won't solve this problem overnight. But it's one smart step forward.

"People really seem to be responding to the positive message, how inspiring these incredibly bright girls are, and our encouragement of female gamers," Lyons said of feedback from the Build series. "One girl even told us that Tcarla inspired her to start playing the guitar, which is awesome!"

Amy Poehler. She's the greatest, right?

RIGHT?


RIGHT?!

RIGHT.

So let's remember the show (more than "SNL"!) that introduced America to how truly awesome Amy was, is, and will be forever. And ever.

She's got a way of making you laugh but also making you wonder ... Am I a better person now? And also, how am I still laughing?

Here's how it's done.

Dear "Parks and Rec," thank you for the invite to Wisdomtown ... capital city, Amy-is-the-best-ville.

Let's take a field trip!

1. You shamelessly discuss same-sex relationships ...

All images via "Parks and Recreation."

2. You made men's rights activists seem appropriately ridiculous:

Are you for real, dude?

And thank you.

3. You took stereotypes about women and men — and kapow. You helped us realize that they are silly.

Women deserve opportunities in careers that aren't typically "female" — like sanitation jobs!

4. "Parks and Rec" made playing with pronouns cool. He/she/boy/girl/him/her/you, what? All of us!

Ben could be Michelle!

Leslie could be a real stand up guy!

Andy could be a lady!

Boys can be goddesses!

We all know Chris Pratt makes a beautiful goddess. No contest.

5. "Parks and Rec" proved that, despite stereotypes to the contrary, women can hold leadership roles...

...and men can hold kitchen roles!

Don't keep Ben out of the calzone zone. Don't keep Leslie out of the boardroom. You do you, Leslie. You do you, Ben!

6. Leslie shamelessly hearts lady parts.

She's a poet. And she knows it.

7. And don't forget the open and honest sex talks!

Teaching old folks how to put condoms on a banana. Classic.

"Condoms! Safe sex for everyone! Let's party."

Amy keeps it real. #blessed

8. "Parks and Rec" showed that representation is important for gender equality.

9. You showed that it's totally OK (and even adorable) when dudes cry...

...and it's totes fine when they're depressed or anxious, too!

Masculinity is no prison in Pawnee!!!

10. You showed the power of second chances, friendship, and the dignity of work.

Oh, Amy. This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and I hope it never ends.

Amy for president!