Top 10 SNL Impressions That the Real Person HATED

Performed by: Gilda Radner

Getting impersonated on “Saturday Night Live” can either feel like a compliment, or a slap in the face, depending on who you ask. For legendary broadcast journalist Barbara Walters, it was more of the latter. From the show’s very first season, Walters was parodied by cast member Gilda Radner, who exaggerated her speaking style and dubbed the character “Bawa Wawa.” The sketch was a hit with audiences, but not so much with Walters herself. She initially detested the exaggerated speech impediment and worried that the caricature might stick. But one night, she stumbled upon her young daughter watching the show, who casually told her to “lighten up” about the portrayal. That small nudge completely changed Walter’s perspective.

Performed by: Bowen Yang

No one is safe from an “SNL” impression. Not even if you’re someone like Fran Lebowitz, who acts like technology is out to get her. In 2021, the author and public speaker was played by Bowen Yang in a “Weekend Update” bit that spoofed her Netflix docuseries “Pretend It's a City” with Martin Scorsese. At first, Lebowitz claimed she hadn’t watched the episode. But she later admitted her distaste for the portrayal, saying that only people who have never been parodied would enjoy such a caricature. Ironically, her disapproval of this impression was well-received by Yang, who considered it the highest praise he could’ve gotten from her.

Performed by: Molly Shannon

Even the most spot-on “SNL” impressions can sometimes still hit a nerve, especially if you’re the one being impersonated. That seemed to have been the case for Ann Miller. The late actress and dancer was played by Molly Shannon in a recurring sketch titled “Leg Up,” alongside Cheri Oteri as Debbie Reynolds. While the bit quickly became a fan favorite, Miller wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. According to Shannon, her main issue was the character’s habit of sliding into dirty jokes and celebrity gossip, which didn’t sit well with her. Still, it did put her back on the radar for younger audiences, so that at least counts for something.

Performed by: Aidy Bryant

Not everyone walks away from an “SNL”impression unscathed. Just ask Meghan McCain. The daughter of the late Arizona senator John McCain, she found herself portrayed by Aidy Bryant, who dubbed her the “Princess of Arizona.” Bryant’s impression poked fun at McCain’s tenure on the panel of “The View,” depicting her as a bit of a spoiled brat. Although she initially expressed her love for the impression, calling it “a huge pop cultural honor,” McCain ultimately admitted that it took a toll on her and made her feel like “the laughing stock of the country.” To add insult to injury, she felt that the show was more lenient with her fellow panelists than with her.

Performed by: Melissa McCarthy

Over the years, “SNL” has seen countless political impersonations, but few have left as lasting an impression as Melissa McCarthy’s take on Sean Spicer. McCarthy sunk her teeth into the role, playing up Spicer’s fiery exchanges with reporters, and she even snagged an Emmy for her performance. While Spicer himself found some humor in the impression, he thought it went a little too far. Speaking on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” he admitted that watching it was traumatizing enough to send him to therapy. He’d previously also noted that the gum-chewing was a tad excessive and could have been toned down. You’re entitled to your opinion, Mr. Spicer, but we have to disagree with it.

Performed by: Tina Fey

The real Sarah Palin may have briefly shared the stage with Tina Fey on “Saturday Night Live,” but don’t mistake that for a stamp of approval. In reality, Palin wasn’t exactly a fan of the now iconic impression. And honestly, who can blame her? While Fey’s portrayal was undeniably hilarious and created some of the most legendary “SNL” moments, it was a pretty unflattering depiction of the then Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential candidate. In fact, according to Palin, her appearance on the show was an attempt to counter the not-so-rosy picture Fey’s impression had left in the public’s mind. She even suggested that Fey ought to pay her for profiting off the impersonation.

Performed by: Chloe Fineman

While some politicians are able to take their “SNL” impersonations in stride, some others seem to take it quite personally. Case in point: U.S. congresswoman Lauren Boebert. Boebert was the butt of the joke in this cold open sketch featuring an impression by Chloe Fineman, alongside Cecily Strong as Marjorie Taylor Greene. The sketch lampooned the congresswomen’s love of guns and tendency to spread COVID-19 misinformation. Boebert was apparently triggered by Fineman’s performance, as she took to social media to label her a “no-name actress” with “poor trigger discipline.” In response, Fineman shared Boebert’s post to her Instagram, where she referred to the congresswoman as an “actual clown.”

Performed by: Chloe Fineman

It appears there’s something about a Chloe Fineman impression that gets the real people riled up everytime. Netflix’s “Tiger King” became a pop culture sensation during the COVID-19 lockdown, so it inevitably got the “SNL” treatment. In the first “at-home” episode, Fineman debuted her impression of Baskin on air after workshopping it on social media. It was a genuinely hilarious bit, with Baskin spouting her signature phrase and addressing the rumors about her missing husband. But the real Baskin was not laughing. The animal rights activist is quoted as saying that she “could just slap” Fineman for the performance. Nevertheless, it seemed to have resonated with audiences, as fans began asking Baskin to sing in her virtual Cameos afterwards.

Performed by: Kristen Wiig

For most people, having the legendary Kristen Wiig impersonate them on “SNL” would be a career highlight, but former “Today” show host Kathie Lee Gifford isn’t most people. Gifford didn’t seem to be amused back in 2009 when Wiig portrayed her as a boozy diva making sex jokes about her husband and constantly breaking into song. While you may have been laughing at home, Gifford was fuming. The impression left her so annoyed that she hit Wiig with the ultimate insult for a comedian: unfunny. If Kathie Lee Gifford had her way, Wiig’s impressions might have been shut down for good. But thankfully, the world isn’t run by her, so we got several more.

Performed by: Fred Armisen

As the first legally blind U.S. governor, David Paterson actually handled jokes about his disability quite well. However, when he was spoofed on “Saturday Night Live,” Paterson believed they crossed a line. In the “Weekend Update” segment, Fred Armisen’s portrayal of Paterson leaned heavily on crude stereotypes, making him appear disoriented and clownish. Paterson’s communications director quickly responded, calling out the show for mocking people with physical disabilities. The governor also urged them to try being funny without crossing into offensive territory. Yikes. Eventually though, Paterson seemed to have warmed up to the portrayal, as he appeared alongside Armisen in a later “Weekend Update” segment to poke a little fun at himself.




What is the single worst “SNL” impression you’ve seen over the years? Let us know in the comments below.