If there is one thing Bowen Yang can do Saturday evening liveit steals the show – which he did in the season 50 premiere, dressed as Moo Deng.

That’s right, during the season opener on Saturday, September 28, Yang, 33, imitated the pygmy hippo, whose life in a zoo in Thailand went viral on social media earlier this month.

“Stop, stop clapping! Hi Colin (Jost)Is it okay if I say something?” Yang, dressed in a hippo costume, opened up during a “Weekend Update” segment. “For the past ten weeks I have been running around non-stop, eating lettuce, trying to bite the water out of a hose and the response has been overwhelming. But it’s gotten to the point where I have to set boundaries.”

Yang continued, “Reminder: Women don’t owe you anything. If I trip over things in my enclosure and bite my trainer’s knee, I’m working. That’s the project. Don’t shout my name and expect a photo just because I’m your parasocial best friend or because you appreciate my talent.

Yang’s Moo Deng further explained that his talent “has a smooth body that bounces.”

“Colin, before me the only hippos in the media were ‘hungry, hungry’ or Jada Pinkett Smith in MadagascarYang joked. “But now I’m your favorite hippo’s favorite hippo – and I’m thirsty.”

He added: “Trust me, I wouldn’t be in this position without my fans… (and) my Moo Deng boo thangs. But the harassment was unbearable. Oh my God, they’re throwing shellfish and bananas at me!

Yang’s comments draw comparisons to a pop star Chappell Roanwho describes themselves as ‘your favorite artists’ favorite artists’. Despite Roan’s enormous popularity, she has spoken out about her struggles with fan attention. In a lengthy statement on social media shared in August, Roan, 26, noted that she was “scared and tired” of certain “predatory” behavior when not performing on stage.

Yangs SNL The speech even directly copied parts of Roan’s comments, which 42-year-old Jost quickly realized.

“I have to say, Moo Deng, your life has been a lot like Chappell Roan’s lately,” Jost replied. “Do you know Chappell Roan?”

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Yang-as-the-viral-hippo replied that despite being ‘ten weeks old’, he was familiar with Roan.

“Of course I know Chappell Roan,” Yang said. ‘And by the way, leave her alone! Give her as much time as she needs for her mental health. We both deserve patience and mercy, so stop harassing her and stop throwing shellfish at her… it’s a matter of time Colin, this is what society does. It puts young women on a pedestal, only to tear them down with shellfish.”

For her part, Roan was scheduled to perform at the All Things Go music festival on Saturday, but canceled a day early due to mental health concerns. She is scheduled to make her later SNL debut as musical guest on the November 2 episode.

Saturday evening live airs on NBC Saturdays at 11:30 PM ET.