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Leslie Jones taking the politics out of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all of our blessings in life, and it’s also the holiday where people are most likely to argue about politics with their families at the dinner table.

Even though a recent poll found that 77% of Americans find it inappropriate to have such conversations on Thanksgiving, they’re bound to happen. The same poll found that 41% of Democrats and 29% of Republicans say they’re likely to talk about politics during dinner even though they know they shouldn’t.

For those who don’t want the holiday ruined by an argument between a Sean Hannity-loving uncle and his niece who prefers to listen to NPR, comedian Leslie Jones is willing to lend her services. Jones is currently the guest host of “The Daily Show” until producers find a permanent replacement for Trevor Noah, who left the show late last year.


In a recent sketch on “The Daily Show,” Jones says she will come to your Thanksgiving dinner to quell any political conversations that crop up.

Warning: Video contains adult humor.

In the sketch, Jones pledges to stop your dad from discussing Roe v. Wade, shut down your uncle from calling his niece a “lazy socialist” and even stop "annoying conversations before they begin," like when a young man is preparing to try some "MAGA sh*t" during the holiday.

Jones won't even allow your progressive brother-in-law to get away with making a land acknowledgment during grace.

The sketch is funny, but it’s also a great reminder to all of us this holiday. When things get heated over dessert on Thanksgiving, we can all tap into our inner Leslie Jones and stop the conversations before things get ugly.

You've probably heard of badass Olympian Gabby Douglas.

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.

She's a gymnast who is currently competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics for Team USA.


On Aug. 9, 2016, Douglas and her teammates jumped, flipped, and spun their way onto the gold medal podium for the women's gymnastics team all-around. They got up on the stand and stood proudly as the U.S. national anthem blared through the stadium.  

It was a happy moment. Until some jerks on the internet chimed in.

People online started criticizing Douglas for not putting her hand over her heart during the national anthem. She wasn't being patriotic enough, they said.

Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.

The Virginia-born woman competing for Team USA in the Olympics while draped in a leotard almost literally made out of  the American flag isn't patriotic enough.

I would say it's absurd, but we all know her patriotism isn't really the issue. After all, Michael Phelps laughed at his buddies' antics while the national anthem played for one of his gold medals, and no one took to Twitter to harass him.

But Douglas is black and a woman, and internet trolls, that's a double whammy in terms of being a target for harassment about everything from her hair to her smile to her general demeanor and even accusing her of bleaching her skin.

Women of color have to deal with more online harassment than anyone else by a long shot.

"I tried to stay off the internet because there's just so much negativity," Douglas reportedly said, choking back tears. "Either it was about my hair or my hand not over my heart [on the podium] or I look depressed. ... It was hurtful. It was hurtful. It was. It's been kind of a lot to deal with."

"Ghostbusters" star and Olympics enthusiast Leslie Jones also knows a thing or two about online harassment.

Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Jones faced an absolutely horrific amount of harassment after "Ghostbusters" premiered in July, and when she heard what was happening to Gabby, she jumped to the gymnast's defense.

Jones started the hashtag #LOVE4GABBYUSA — a spin on the #LoveForLeslieJ hashtag people used to support her just a month ago — and other Twitter users started jumping in fast.

Gabby received support from TV producer Shonda Rhimes:

From actresses Kerry Washington and Gabrielle Union:

And TV writer Jose Molina:

If you ask me, comedian Aparna Nancherla said it best:

The internet can be a pretty terrible place. Harassment of women and people of color is commonplace, and most people don't have celebrities and hashtags to come to their defense.

One thing is for sure, though. Gabby Douglas is inspiring a lot more love than hate.

Because for every hurtful tweet, there's one like this:

On July 18, 2016, "Ghostbusters" star Leslie Jones had finally had it.

Photo by Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images.


Jones is a fabulous, famous black woman on the internet. So as you can imagine, she's used to a fair share of gross internet comments.

But the online abuse directed at her seemed to really hit a fever pitch this week with the premiere of "Ghostbusters," and it didn't help that Twitter didn't seem to do all that much to stop the influx of harassment.

Instead of ignoring her haters, though, Jones starting sharing some of the awful messages being sent her way on Twitter.

The disgusting remarks — which you can read here (I'm going to keep the energy in this article positive, thank you very much) — was a harsh reminder that yes, sexism and racism are still alive and well.

Jones, being a human being and all, was understandably upset about the hateful sentiments thrown her way.

But while the Internet can be an abysmal place at times, it's worth remembering that kindness has a tendency to save the day.

In response to all the negativity, the hashtag #LoveForLeslieJ started trending on Facebook and Twitter, with thousands of fans expressing their support for the comedian and her badass movie.

Several celebrities chimed in using the #LoveForLeslieJ hashtag to show their support.

Like "Ghostbusters" Director Paul Feig.


Sophia Bush didn't let her love for Leslie go unnoticed.


Anna Kendrick chose to focus on how amazing "Ghostbusters" actually is.


Margaret Cho is confident Jones has a very bright future ahead of her.


Angela Bassett said a lot in just a few characters.


James Corden reminded Jones the love definitely outweighs the hate.


John Boyega sent some serious #MondayMotivation vibes Jones' way.


Brie Larson made it clear she is not here for the haters.


Jada Pinkett Smith encouraged Jones to keep being fabulous.

Elizabeth Banks used four simple words (and an emoji) to express her support.


Kristen Davis committed to standing in solidarity.


Chelsea Peretti went on a caps-lock spree to defeat evil.


Candice Patton encouraged Jones to continue radiating awesomeness.


And Tia Mowry sent out a memo we all could probably use right now: Love wins.


If it wasn't already abundantly clear, the world loves and appreciates you, Leslie Jones.

And no cowardly, mean-spirited tweet can change that.

Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.

If you don't know who Leslie Jones is, she's about to be a household name.

The 48-year-old comedian, actor, and "Saturday Night Live" cast member is one of the stars of the hotly anticipated remake of "Ghostbusters," which opened July 15, 2016.



Jones at the "Ghostbusters" premiere in her Christian Siriano dress. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images.

Jones' stand-up comedy and work on "SNL" has already earned her some serious street cred in the comedy world, and now she's about to be officially launched into stardom.

Like most people in show business, Jones was once just a kid inspired by the people she saw on TV.

Chief among them? Whoopi Goldberg, the EGOT-winning actress and comedian who currently co-hosts "The View."

Whoopi's famous one-woman show "Whoopi Goldberg: Direct from Broadway" appeared on TV in 1985 — when Jones was just 18 years old.

Goldberg in her 1985 HBO special. Image via OWN/YouTube.

Recently, Jones appeared on "The View" to promote "Ghostbusters," and she finally got to thank the woman who inspired her all those years ago:

"When I was young, my dad always let me listen to comedy albums. I always knew about comedy. I always loved comedy. The day I saw Whoopi Goldberg on television, I cried so hard. Because I kept looking at my daddy going, 'Oh my god! There's somebody on TV who looks like me! She looks like me! Daddy! I can be on TV. I can be on TV. I can do it. Look at her. Look at her. She looks just like me!"

Leslie Jones on "The View." Image via The View/YouTube.

Jones went on to describe a communications class she took in college where she performed a monologue as one of Whoopi's characters, including a white sweatshirt draped over her head.

Image via The View/YouTube.

Then, as if she'd been waiting her whole life to do it, Jones eloquently and emotionally thanked Whoopi for the inspiration she gave her as a child:

"I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart because now I know what I'm doing when I put on that Ghostbusters suit and little girls see me on TV now. They're gonna go, 'I can do it,' and you gave that to me, and I love you. I love you from my heart and my soul. I love you for what you've done for black women. I love you for what you'd done for black comedians, and I love you."

Image via The View/YouTube.

With the opening of "Ghostbusters" and her continued work in comedy, Jones is passing that torch of inspiration forward.

Millions of people will get to see Leslie Jones in a summer blockbuster, and millions more watch her every Saturday night on one of the most important and iconic comedy programs of all time.

If even one of them sees her and says: "She looks like me. Maybe I can do that too," then that's a job well done.

Watch Leslie Jones' full interview on "The View":