SNL’s “Welcome to Hell” sketch is taking on men who are just now realizing that sexual harassment is a real problem
Are you having trouble making sense of all of the sexual assault allegations taking over the web? Well, SNL’s “Welcome To Hell” sketch can help sort this out for you. Irish actress Saoirse Ronan joined forces with Saturday Night Live’s Cecily Strong, Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant, Leslie Jones, and Melissa Villaseñor to create the anthem we all need to hear. And it’s oh-so- unforgettable.
Sexual harassment and sexual assault doesn’t just affect those in entertainment. It’s a worldwide issue, and seeps into all industries, hangout spots, and even neighborhoods. The women of SNL wanted to show the naysayers, once and for all, that while utterly disturbing to witness, these allegations aren’t anything new. Many women can attest to swatting off some sort of unwarranted sexual advance a time or two. And men should totally use this time to reflect on their behaviors when interacting with women.
If anything, this really scary and unfortunate time further shows that we have a major cultural problem on our hands. The fact that a lot of men didn’t realize that sexual assault is a real problem definitely proves this to be true. Most women don’t want to be flirted with in their workplace. And women shouldn’t have to “walk in packs” in order to be safe.
And thanks to SNL, we have a catchy tune to recite just in case anyone needs a reminder.
Our favorite line?
“Oh, and this ain’t a girl group. We just travel in a pack for safety.”
While “Welcome To Hell” is hilariously real, the sing-along isn’t exactly the most intersectional. The cutesy girl group spoke the truth, and made mention of how the issues at hand are much worse for women of color. But when it came to threading in women of color throughout the dialogue, they missed the mark. The disenfranchised groups were treated as more of an afterthought.
It would’ve been awesome to have Leslie Jones a part of the routine starting from the opening credits. But having her there to represent those women whose voices go unheard more often times than not was certainly needed.
Sexual harassment and assault affects everyone — no matter the ethnicity, industry, sexual orientation, or tax bracket. And the conversation surrounding must be inclusive in order to progress.
