The glitz and glamour of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary celebration became an uncomfortable reunion for comedian Leslie Jones when she came face-to-face with director Dave McCary, husband of Academy Award winner Emma Stone.
In a candid podcast appearance, Jones described the awkward encounter at the milestone event, revealing that McCary approached her despite knowing about their contentious history.
“He comes over to me, and he know I don’t like him,” Jones recounted, clearly still harboring resentment from their time working together on the sketch comedy show.
The interaction took an unexpected turn when McCary requested a photo with the comedian. Jones was adamant in her refusal, telling podcast listeners, “I’m not taking a picture with you, you piece of s**t.”
However, actor Paul Rudd, who witnessed the exchange, appeared to find humor in the situation and encouraged Jones to take the photograph.
“Paul is like, ‘Oh, I’m enjoying this,'” Jones explained, noting how the actor stepped in. Despite her protests, the photo was ultimately taken, though Jones made her displeasure clear: “I wanted to kill him. And I just, get your f**king hand off me.”
This uncomfortable moment stems from Jones’ previously disclosed experiences working with McCary during his tenure as a segment director at SNL from 2013 to 2017. The former cast member, who appeared on the show from 2014 to 2019, has not held back in describing her interactions with McCary during a wedding-themed sketch with Kyle Mooney.
Jones characterized McCary as someone who approached comedy sketches with unwarranted self-importance, describing him as taking himself far too seriously for the material. She accused him of displaying inappropriate behavior during the production and creating a hostile environment on set.
Most disturbingly, Jones suggested that McCary’s treatment of her had racial undertones, recalling moments where his demeanor communicated disrespect without explicit language. “There’s a way a person can look at you, and you’re just like, Yeah, I know you’re calling me a n***a,” she stated.
The situation allegedly escalated during filming when Jones expressed her desire to leave the set. According to her account, McCary questioned “what makes you so special?” which led to a heated confrontation. Comedian Tiffany Haddish reportedly stepped in to support Jones during the exchange.
In her podcast appearance, Jones also directed broader criticism at workplace dynamics, particularly regarding what she perceives as entitlement in certain professional environments. Her willingness to confront McCary at the anniversary celebration demonstrates her commitment to standing by her previous statements.
McCary, who married Emma Stone in 2020 and gained recognition for his work on various SNL digital shorts, has not publicly responded to Jones’ allegations or the recent encounter at the 50th anniversary event.
Jones’ continued openness about her SNL experiences has contributed to ongoing conversations about workplace culture at the iconic show, particularly concerning the treatment of performers from diverse backgrounds. Since leaving the program, she has maintained an active career in comedy through stand-up and various television projects.