Nikki Glaser raised eyebrows with jokes about sex trafficking, rape and child molestation in her Saturday Night Live debut.
The comedian, 41, hosted the NBC sketch comedy series for the first time on Saturday, November 8, with nearly 10 minutes of airtime being devoted to her standup monologue. The controversial portion of her routine started out with Glaser complaining about the perils of going to nail salons with her friends.
“You can go to the nail salon with a friend, but you get separated at the border. They do not let you sit next to each other. It’s so antisocial,” Glaser quipped. “You’re just sitting there watching Beat Bobby Flay on mute. You can’t talk to the woman doing your nails because … slavery? I don’t know! She seems stuck and sad. I don’t know.”
Glaser then moved on to discussing the sex trafficking warnings that women commonly see in public bathrooms.
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“I think I’m just paranoid and I think I’m just obsessed with slavery recently because every time you go … to a public women’s restroom and you sit in the stall, there’s always a poster on the back of the stall that’s asking you if you’re being trafficked,” she said. “They’re in every stall. They’re in every world language. The English is really tiny and it’s like, ‘You wish.’”
She went on, “Men’s restrooms do not have these signs. I don’t know what signs you have? You have signs that are like, ‘Want a slave? Text Traffick to 69-69.’”
The Dancing with the Stars alum pointed out that she wasn’t the only one worried about sex trafficking.
“It’s really a big fear of being trafficked, mostly for Gen Z girls,” she said. “I have a lot of Gen Z friends that I bought … and they’re terrified. I don’t relate. I’m 41. That was not a fear of mine ever in my 20s. In my 20s, I just feared good old-fashioned rape. I didn’t think it would be a career. We didn’t think it was anything more than a ‘temp job’ on a frat house futon.”
Glaser relayed feeling worried that she’d be trafficked during a recent night out with her younger friends.
“I was like, ‘What if we get trafficked?’ And they were like, ‘You’re good,’” she claimed. “They’re like, ‘We’re safer when you’re with us because they think you’re our madam.’”
She pushed the issue further by mentioning that her Gen Z friends thought she had “resting Ghislaine face,” in reference to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. (In June 2022, Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years in prison on sex-trafficking charges in relation to her activities with Epstein. She has denied wrongdoing.)
This was the second time Glaser invoked the Epstein sex trafficking scandal in her monologue as she had called New York City “Epstein’s original island” earlier. (Epstein owned a private island, Little Saint James, from 1998 until his death by suicide at age 66 in August 2019. The financier was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges shortly before his death and was previously convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.)
In another section of the monologue, Glaser joked about feeling discomfort when her 4-year-old nephew asked to take a shower with her.
“My sister was like, ‘He can take a shower with you. It’s fine. He does it with us,’” she recalled. “I’m like, ‘That’s fine for you guys but are you really OK with an adult showering with your child?’ Maybe it’s OK if you come and supervise.”
When Glaser’s sister asked why supervision was necessary, the comic declared: “What if I molest him?’ She was like, ‘Would you?!’ I was like, ‘Like, no! Never. That’s disgusting!’ But that’s what I’d say if I was gonna [do it]. [Abusers] lie. Don’t trust anyone! I don’t even trust myself.”
Glaser’s risqué monologue proved to be divisive with SNL viewers, as many felt it was inappropriate to make a mockery of sex trafficking and sexual abuse.
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“Okay nikki glaser lost me cause why are we talking about molestation and pedophilia!???” one X user complained, while another vented: “Nikki glaser Really giving me the ick on snl tonight.”
“Things nikki glaser managed to make into a joke on her snl open: domestic violence, racism, sa [sexual assault], pedophilia, sex trafficking. Do better,” another viewer demanded.
An SNL fan called Glaser’s jokes “shameful” and went on: “Nikki Glaser hosting @nbcsnl tonight. Wow, attempting humor on rape & sex trafficking…yea, no.”
“Nikki Glaser hosting #snl joking about sex trafficking is completely tone deaf and offensive. WTF,” an X user wrote.
Others defended Glaser’s jokes, including one SNL fan who felt she’d actually shined a spotlight on important issues.
“What I got from Nikki Glaser’s roast: She shouted out shorter guys. Gave awareness to resources if one was being trafficked. Spoke on how easy it can be for a family member to SA someone,” they argued. “I thought she was funny.”
Another fan expressed hope that Glaser would “win an Emmy for this s***.”
Us Weekly has reached out to NBC for comment.
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Glaser has another major hosting opportunity on the horizon as she will be returning to MC the Golden Globe Awards for the second year running in January 2026. The comedian was such a huge hit with her monologue jokes about Ben Affleck, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Adrien Brody last year that she was invited back by award show organizers Dick Clark Productions only two months after the 2025 ceremony.
“Hosting the Golden Globes this year was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career,” Glaser announced in March 2025. “I can’t wait to do it again, and this time in front of the team from The White Lotus who will finally recognize my talent and cast me in Season Four as a Scandinavian Pilates instructor with a shadowy past.”
Golden Globes president Helen Hoehne expressed excitement for Glaser’s return in 2026 due to the comic’s “refreshing spark and fearless wit.”
“Her sharp humor, and bold presence set the tone for an unforgettable night, making the ceremony feel vibrant and most of all fun,” Hoehne said.
Saturday Night Live’s next new episode airs Saturday, November 15 on NBC at 11:30p.m. ET with guest host Glen Powell and musical guest Olivia Dean.
If you or someone you know is a human trafficking victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
