UPDATED: Kanye West remained onstage after his performance on “Saturday Night Live” tonight and gave a politically themed speech to the audience after the broadcast ended. In reports to Variety and clips captured on social media, he was at times confrontational as he discussed his support for President Trump, his pledge to run for president in 2020, the need for a “dialogue not a diatribe” and other familiar themes similar to his recent statements. Wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, West said at one point, “So many times I talk to a white person and [they] say, ‘How could you like Trump, he’s racist?’ Well, if I was concerned about racism I would’ve moved out of America a long time ago.” At another, he moves rapidly from topic to topic. “You wanna see the sunken place? Okay, Im’a listen to y’all now. I’ma put my superman cape on, because this means you can’t tell me what to do… You want the world to move forward? Try love.” The castmembers appeared embarrassed and two performers gently shook their heads in unison as he spoke. The audience was quiet and booed him at least twice. “The entire studio fell dead silent,” one eyewitness told Variety. West thanked the show for the platform “even though some of y’all don’t agree,” and then began singing, “Try love,” leading the band back into the song as he walked offstage. Earlier in the rant, he’d said: “They’re laughing at me. You heard them? They screamed at me. They bully me. They bullied me backstage. They said ‘Don’t go out there with that hat on.’ They bullied me backstage. They bullied me.” However, it was unclear who he was referring to. West was cheerfully tweeting by 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, first retweeting an online photo mashup combining him in the bottle suit with his wife Kim Kardashian’s famous champagne photo session from 2016 and then claiming that Michaels had invited him to host the show later this year. “Had so much fun at SNL,” he wrote. “Lorne agreed that I would host before the year is out. Need to set a date. Gonna be sooooooooo lit.” Reps for West, NBC and “Saturday Night Live” declined Variety‘s requests for comment. It had already been a bumpy evening: West and his accompanists veered between mediocre and bad on the three songs the show generously gave him. In the opening spot, West performed his latest single “I Love It” with Lil Pump. The pair were comically dressed as bottles of Perrier and Fiji water (respectively) that recalled Justin Timberlake’s “Liquorville” skits on the show. While the song’s chorus was self-censored to “You’re such a freaky girl,” it sounded like a few profanities slipped out during the track’s brief two minutes. The costumes were funny, but even many fans of the song agreed that the performance was not strong. On Sunday, the President tweeted his approval of West’s actions while slamming “SNL.” “I don’t watch Saturday Night Live (even though I past hosted it),” he wrote. “No longer funny, no talent or charm. It is just a political ad for the Dems.” “Word is that Kanye West, who put on a MAGA hat after the show (despite being told ‘no’), was great. He’s leading the charge!” Trump finished. Like many, I don’t watch Saturday Night Live (even though I past hosted it) – no longer funny, no talent or charm. It is just a political ad for the Dems. Word is that Kanye West, who put on a MAGA hat after the show (despite being told “no”), was great. He’s leading the charge! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2018 Most other reactions on social media were merciless. https://twitter.com/quintabrunson/status/1046263059847643137 https://twitter.com/polomaruwa10/status/1046257440277364736 For the second performance, he was joined by Teyana Taylor for an unreleased song that leaked over the summer (her “K.T.S.E.” was one of the string of five West-produced albums in five weeks that dropped in May and June). The two bounced through the track competently, standing still while the voiceover that ends the song ran for nearly a full minute. Finally, instead of the show’s usual sendoff — during which the cast and guests wave and chat while the credits roll and house band plays — the cast quickly left the stage to clear room for West, Kid Cudi and 070 Shake for “Ghost Town.” West took the stage wearing his “Make America Great Again” hat, which he hadn’t worn during the earlier performances, and delivered his lines competently, but Cudi was painfully off-key and 070 Shake — who is strong on the album — was uneven. As the credit-roll ended, West was inviting the cast back onstage, and then launched into his speech shortly afterward. West promised earlier this week that another album, “Yandhi” — his third of the year, including “Ye” and his “Kids See Ghosts” collaboration with Kid Cudi — would arrive on Saturday night, although it had not appeared on streaming services by noon ET on Sunday. https://twitter.com/2Cool2Bloggg/status/1046273060259729408<doc-sep>(CNN) — The credits began to roll on “Saturday Night Live,” but musical guest Kanye West still had plenty to say. After performing several songs on the show Saturday, the rapper went on a rant about President Trump as “SNL” went off the air. West’s comments were captured by comedian and former “SNL” cast member Chris Rock, who posted a video on Instagram Stories from his verified account. “I want to cry right now, black man in America, supposed to keep what you’re feeling inside right now,” West sang while wearing what appeared to be a “Make America Great Again” hat. The musical artist has long drawn controversy for his vocal support of President Trump and other, inflammatory comments. “There’s so many times I talk to like a white person about this and they say, ‘How could you like Trump? He’s racist,’” West said from the stage as other musicians, cast members and guests – including Saturday’s host, Adam Driver – stood behind him. “Well, if I was concerned about racism I would’ve moved out of America a long time ago.” West also said that the country needs to have “a dialogue and not a diatribe.” His speech was met with a mix of boos and cheers from the audience. When contacted by CNN, NBC said it had no comment on West’s remarks. The rant followed a performance earlier in the show that had West, along with Lil Pump and Adele Givens, sing a new song, “I Love It,” while dressed as a bottle of sparkling water. Those on social media found the musical performance worth watching but kind of bizarre. “I’m watching Kanye on SNL and is it possible I inhaled some LSD,” tweeted Sopan Deb, a culture writer for the New York Times. West alluded to his “SNL” performance Sunday by tweeting an image of his wife, Kim Kardashian West, spraying water from a bottle Photoshopped to look like her husband. It’s a playful reference to a famous 2014 magazine cover in which Kardashian West sprayed Champagne from a bottle into a glass perched on her butt.<doc-sep>The highlight of tonight’s Saturday Night Live came when cast member Pete Davidson evaluated last week’s musical guest Kanye West and his impromptu off-air speech given in support of President Donald Trump. Davidson said that many felt Weekend Update host Michael Che should have commented on Kanye, but that “even though Che is black and I’m crazy, we both know which side of Kanye is at the wheel right now.” Davidson said “what Kanye said after we went off the air last week was one of the worst, most awkward things I’ve ever seen here. And I’ve seen Chevy Chase speak to an intern.” Davidson recently took on Chase for saying the current SNL isn’t funny anymore. Twitter Back to Kanye: Davidson said they all had to stand behind West as he wore his MAGA hat, the red number that reads Make America Great Again. Davidson can be seen with his head bowed, but said he decided “I want a career, so I leave.” He can be seen exiting. Related Story Amazon-MGM Deal Renews Speculation: What Happens To 'The Apprentice' Outtakes? He said West said he was told not to wear the MAGA lid, but Davidson said the rapper wore it all week. “He wore it all week. Nobody told him not to wear it. I wish I told him not to wear it, suggested that it might upset some people. Like your wife, or every black person ever.” Davidson said West said Democrats broke up black families with welfare and that slavery is not real. Asked Davidson: “You know how wrong you have to be about politics for me to notice?” He said “Kanye is a genius, but like a musical genius. Like Joey Chestnut is a hot dog eating genius. But I don’t want to hear Joey Chestnut’s opinion on things that are not hot dog related. I know Kanye is saying, this is the real me. I’m off the meds. Take them! There’s no shame in the medicine game. I’m on them. There’s nothing wrong with taking them. If I ever got on a plane and the pilot said, I just want all you to know, this is the REAL ME FLYING!, I’d jump out. Being mentally ill is not an excuse to act like a jackass.” Davidson finished by donning his own red baseball hat that read “Make Kanye 2006 Again.” That ought to be an awkward encounter, when Davidson accompanies his fiance Ariana Grande and they bump into West. But it was the best moment of SNL tonight.<doc-sep>LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Vanguard Award winner Kanye West speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Kanye on 'Ellen': 'I'm sorry for the realness' LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 18: Rapper Kanye West performs at the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 18, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for iHeartMedia) SCRANTON, PA - JULY 27: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses a crowd of supporters on July 27, 2016 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Trump spoke at the Lackawanna College Student Union Gymnasium. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 30: Vanguard Award winner Kanye West speaks onstage during the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on August 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) A still frame from Kanye West's music video for the song "Famous" Kanye West performs on stage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2016 at Madison Square Garden in New York. / AFP / Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) President Donald Trump hugs rapper Kanye West during a meeting in the Oval office of the White House on October 11, 2018 in Washington, DC. LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 17: Kanye West onstage at adidas Creates 747 Warehouse St. - an event in basketball culture on February 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for adidas) (CNN) — Another day, another Kanye West controversy. Fresh off of stirring outrage with his “Saturday Night Live” speech about President Donald Trump after the show went off the air this weekend, the rapper took to social media to offer his thoughts about the 13th Amendment. Kanye West goes on a Trump rant from ‘SNL’ stage as show ends In a tweet which showed him appearing to be on a private plane while wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap, West wrote, “This represents good and America becoming whole again.” this represents good and America becoming whole again. We will no longer outsource to other countries. We build factories here in America and create jobs. We will provide jobs for all who are free from prisons as we abolish the 13th amendment. Message sent with love pic.twitter.com/a15WqI8zgu — ye (@kanyewest) September 30, 2018 “We will no longer outsource to other countries. We build factories here in America and create jobs,” West tweeted. “We will provide jobs for all who are free from prisons as we abolish the 13th amendment. Message sent with love.” The 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865 and abolished slavery. Later Ye returned to twitter with a clarification. the 13th Amendment is slavery in disguise meaning it never ended We are the solution that heals — ye (@kanyewest) September 30, 2018 “The 13th Amendment is slavery in disguise,” he tweeted. “Meaning it never ended. We are the solution that heals.” Naturally, Twitter exploded with many people offering the same sentiment: “What the hell are you talking about?” What the hell are you talking about?!? — outraged (@Sabrina33381562) September 30, 2018 A few fellow celebs also took West to task. “There’s nothing more maddening than debating someone who doesn’t know history, doesn’t read books, and frames their myopia as virtue,” actor Chris Evans wrote while retweeting the controversial rapper. “The level of unapologetic conjecture I’ve encountered lately isn’t just frustrating, it’s retrogressive, unprecedented and absolutely terrifying.” There’s nothing more maddening than debating someone who doesn’t know history, doesn’t read books, and frames their myopia as virtue. The level of unapologetic conjecture I’ve encountered lately isn’t just frustrating, it’s retrogressive, unprecedented and absolutely terrifying. https://t.co/4jCFwB4T5U — Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) September 30, 2018 Singer Lana Del Rey responded in the comments on West’s official Instagram account. “Trump becoming our president was a loss for the country but your support of him is a loss for the culture,” she wrote. “I can only assume you relate to his personality on some level. Delusions of Grandeur, extreme issues of narcissism - none of which would be a talking point if we weren’t speaking about the man leading our country.” “If you think it’s alright to support someone who believes it’s OK to grab a woman by the p**** just because he’s famous-then you need an intervention as much as he does - something so many narcissists will never get because there just isn’t enough help for the issue,” she added. Producer Swizz Beatz addressed West’s claim of being bullied backstage at “SNL” for wearing the MAGA hat. Beatz said he and West had just talked about the rapper’s political fashion statement. The producer took the position that fans rightfully felt a certain way about West’s support of Trump. “Ain’t nobody bullying you, we love you,” Swizz Beatz said. “But you gotta stop that s***, that s*** ain’t right.” West has insisted in the past that he is merely trying to be a champion for free thinking. In August, West attempted to make amends for saying slavery was “a choice” earlier in the summer. Kanye West apologizes for how slavery comment ‘made people feel’ “I don’t know if I properly apologized for how that slave comment made people feel,” West told Chicago’s WGCI-FM during an interview. “So I want to take this moment right now to say … I’m sorry for people who felt let down by that moment.”<doc-sep>
Pete Davidson wants to "Make Kanye 2006 Again." The 24-year-old comedian made an appearance during Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update to address the controversial Pro-Trump comments that Kanye West made off-air during last week's episode -- which made many cast members uncomfortable. "Speaking strictly for myself, what Kanye said after we went off the air last week was one of the worst, most awkward things I've ever seen here. And I've seen Chevy Chase speak to an intern," he joked. "We all had to stand behind him, and here is what it looked like." Showing footage from the rapper's rant, Davidson is seen with his head down. "I'm here on the left and I'm like, 'Oh, god,'" he described. "And then I'm like, 'I want a career.' So I leave," as he's seen exiting the stage. "So, Kanye was wearing a MAGA hat… and he started by saying people backstage tried to bully him into not wearing it," Davidson explained. "He wore it all week. Like, nobody told him not to wear it. I wish I bullied you. I wish I would've suggested that it might upset some people like, your wife, or every black person ever." Davidson continued by sharing some of the things that West was complaining about. "Then Kanye said that Democrats broke up black families with welfare, and that slavery is not real. Do you know how wrong about politics you have to be for, like, me to notice? Do you know how annoying that is?" He then added, "Kanye is a genius, but like a musical genius. Like Joey Chestnut is a hot dog eating genius. I don't want to hear Joey Chestnut's opinion about things that aren't hot dog related." When Colin Jost asked Davidson how West could win his affection back, the comedian pulled out a red hat that read "Make Kanye 2006 Again." NBC A source told ET earlier this week that Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, along with their children, were all present during West's speech. The source also noted that Kim just stared at her husband and didn’t seem fazed by his remarks, despite him receiving audible boos from the crowd. The source also added that no one at SNL told him not to wear the red cap. In fact, the rapper wore the cap during the show's promos with host Adam Driver and cast member Kenan Thompson. The source further noted that West was nice to the crew for the most part, and was friendly with people backstage, even hugging some of the crew members. See more on the matter in the video below. RELATED CONTENT: Awkwafina Takes a Dig at Kanye West, Praises Lucy Liu in 'SNL' Opening Monologue How Kim Kardashian Reacted to Kanye West's 'SNL' Rant & More of What You Didn't See on TV Kanye West Delivers Uncomfortable Pro-Trump Rant on 'SNL' as Chris Rock Tapes It