Mandela Sign Language Interpreter: SNL Skit Mocks Mandela's Memorial Service Imposter
An incident took place at Soweto Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa last Tuesday, Dec. 10 during the memorial service for the late Nelson Mandela. Thamsanqa Jantjie, a supposed expert sign language interpreter, is said to have made a mockery of the practice by using random hand movements instead of proper signing techniques while various world leaders took the stage to remember Mandela. If case you are woefully unaware, the 95-year-old Mandela was a South African freedom fighter, former President and Nobel Peace Prize recipient who was imprisoned for 27 years for leading the fight against Apartheid.
While it's ridiculous and actually quite funny how a man that doesn't know sign language can get a job as an interpreter and get away with such a farce at such prestigious event, his shady background includes accusations of rape and murder. It's lucky that nobody was injured, especially President Obama. The fact that nothing bad happened other than the quality of the signing means the situation can be laughed at.
As expected NBC's long running sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live has lampooned the Mr. Jantjie's actions, as well as other cringe worthy events that took place that day. The resulting video is comic genius. Keenan Thompson plays Mr. Jantjie while Jay Pharaoh portrays the president. Obama starts off by giving a speech about the Healthcare.gov website finally being operational. When he segues into the events surround the Mandela memorial service Mr. Jantjie pops up on his right. He makes hand gestures for several minutes until the President catches on to the crowd's laughter.
Unable to get the inappropriate interpreter off the stage Obama calls on his Secret Service agents to escort Mr. Jantjie out. The 4-minute long video delves into other embarrassing incidents that have taken place during President Obama's second term, including the NSA wiretapping scandal involving German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Merkel, played by Kate McKinnon, interrupts Obama's speech and requests that he pose for a few "selfies" with her playing off the infamous photo of British Prime Minister David Cameron, Obama and Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. McKinnon makes Merkel out to be a star-crossed lover of Obama. She is jealous that Thorning-Schmidt got a picture of him first. Obama relents after Merkel brings up the issue of her cell phone being wiretapped by the NSA.
Overall, the skit is one of the funniest SNL pieces in awhile. It manages to be humorous without offending anyone and doesn't take away from the somber moment brought on by Nelson Mandela's passing.
Did you like the skit? Let us know in the comments section.
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