Bowen Yang recently admitted he wasn’t eager to play Vice President JD Vance on Saturday Night Live. During an appearance on The View, co-host Sara Haines asked if it was true he didn’t want the role. “I just thought there would be better people for it,” Yang replied. He said his reluctance stemmed from impostor syndrome and not feeling like the right fit.
“It was my impostor syndrome. I was like, there are better people for this,” he explained. Yang said he took the role seriously and worked with an accent coach. He had to find a voice somewhere between Ohio and Appalachia, which he admitted was difficult to nail down.
Despite his doubts, the hosts reassured him that he nailed the impression. Yang accepted the compliment with a bit of humor, quipping, “Look, the guy’s a pope killer.” That comment drew laughs from the hosts and the audience. Joy Behar quickly added, “He doesn’t mean it literally, he’s talking spiritually.”
The joke referred to a viral internet meme. JD Vance visited Pope Francis on Easter Sunday, just one day before the Pope passed away. Some online users jokingly blamed Vance for the timing, dubbing him a “pope killer.” Yang leaned into the absurdity of the meme for the sake of the laugh.
Later, Haines brought up country star Morgan Wallen’s recent moment on SNL. Wallen walked offstage after Mikey Madison thanked him for being the musical guest. “Nothing happened that we knew of, but we got a great meme phrase out of it—‘Get me to God’s country,’” Yang said. That line has since taken on a life of its own.
Wallen followed up the performance with an Instagram post using that exact phrase. He told followers he was just excited to get back home. Yang said the cast has since adopted the phrase as an inside joke. It became a memorable part of an otherwise quiet moment.
Haines also asked Yang about a skit that poked fun at actress Aimee Lou Wood. The White Lotus star initially called the joke “mean and unfunny,” after the show commented on her teeth. Yang said the team reached out and made peace with her afterward.
“We’re huge fans of hers,” Yang said. “And sometimes comedy goes too far.” He emphasized that no harm was intended and that they truly respect Wood. The segment ended with the cast reflecting on how sketches sometimes cross lines even when the intent is playful.