During her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live on May 2, 2026, Olivia Rodrigo took a playful jab at her former Disney co-star Jake Paul during her opening monologue. Rodrigo looked back on their time together on the Bizaardvark, where the two worked as teenagers, before setting up a contrast between their early ambitions and eventual careers.
She said, “When I was 13, I was on a Disney show called Bizaardvark, and we had an incredible cast, which included acting legend Jake Paul. And we’d always talk about our futures, me and Jake. I’d say, ‘I really wanna create music that explores the complexities of girls my age,’ and he’d say, ‘Well, one day I really wanna beat up old guys on Netflix.’”
The punchline referenced Paul’s high-profile boxing match against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, which streamed on Netflix and drew over 82 million viewers. Rodrigo capped off the joke by noting that both ultimately achieved their goals, drawing laughter from the audience.
Olivia Rodrigo took a dig at former co-star Jake Paul during her SNL Opening Monologue pic.twitter.com/DZLfg55bfc
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) May 3, 2026
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The monologue marked Rodrigo’s first time hosting the long-running SNL. She also reflected on her personal connection to the show, noting that audiences often gravitate toward the cast they grew up watching, something she joked applied to her as well, given that her own era of fandom wasn’t all that long ago.
Olivia Rodrigo Proves Her Acting Chops And Debuts New Hits On SNL
Beyond the monologue, Olivia Rodrigo appeared in multiple sketches across the episode, showing her comedic range. In one segment, she played a baker struggling with chaotic lava cakes. She also incorporated music into the show, including a parody of her breakout song, Drivers License.
Introducing the segment, she stated, “You know, a lot has changed for me since my first single ‘Drivers License,’ which was about the biggest event in my life when I was a teenager. And now that I’m older, I decided to write a new song about the most recent big event in my adult life, and I really hope it speaks to you.”
The parody focused on obtaining a REAL ID. Rodrigo also performed two songs from her upcoming album titled Drop Dead and Begged, offering viewers a preview of new material.
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The episode featured a guest appearance by Aziz Ansari, who portrayed FBI Director Kash Patel in a sketch. The episode is available for streaming on Peacock.
