Comic Says ‘SNL’ Ripped Off Season Premiere Sketch From Her Instagram
Another season of Saturday Night Live, another comedian complaining that the show ripped off their funny idea.
This time around, comedian Isa Medina is claiming her joke was stolen by SNL, as reported by LateNighter. Four weeks ago, Medina posted an Instagram Reel suggesting, “They should make a ChatGPT just for Latinas. It just argues with you. So if you say something, it just disagrees until eventually it’s like, ‘Okay, you won.’”
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Compare that set-up to the pre-taped SNL bit from last Saturday about ChatGPTio, a new A.I. app that dispenses questionable advice like a Latin uncle.
Medina admits that parallel thinking could be behind the similarity between the concepts, and given the way SNL blew out the bit, it’s the most logical explanation. But things get a little more suspicious based on Medina’s contention that an SNL writer commented on the Reel, then later deleted the remark. Hmmm…
The comic also points out that other SNL writers and cast members follow her, making her allegation more credible. A peek at her followers shows new cast members Veronika Slowikowska and Tommy Brennan are fans, as well as Weekend Update writer KC Shornima.
“This is so dumb and annoying bc I would not have asked for money or credit if they gave me a heads up,” Medina says in her current Instagram Story. “I would have just wanted to meet Bad Bunny. Gwatever, honored to have finally had an idea good enough for SNL to steal and expand upon.”
Getting accused of sketch theft is nothing new for SNL. In 2024, fans pointed out that a Scooby-Doo gag was very similar to one posted by Nerdist in 2016. That same year, a John Mulaney sketch was beat-for-beat comparable to an earlier bit by The Whitest Kids U’ Know. Similarly, a Charlie XCX sketch — again, 2024! — was called out for swiping an idea from Smosh. And on and on.
As for the inspiration for ChatGPTio? No official word from SNL, but LateNighter says “a source close to the show” claims that its writers independently generated the sketch.