In a recent episode of Saturday Night Live, comedian Bowen Yang appeared in full Jafar drag and used the character to criticize Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his opposition to LGBTQ+ rights. DeSantis and Disney have been in a longstanding feud after the company spoke out against the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation. In February, DeSantis attempted to remove Disney’s self-governing powers, but the company pushed through an agreement to maintain control of development in the Disney district.
During the SNL sketch, Jafar, one of Disney’s most notorious villains, referred to DeSantis as “the boy” and criticized him for his attacks on LGBTQ+ people. Jafar also took the opportunity to come out as gay, stating that his John Waters mustache should have tipped people off. The character went on to list other Disney characters who are canonically queer, including Ursula from The Little Mermaid and Scar from The Lion King, who Jafar said is bisexual.
The sketch ended with Jafar addressing DeSantis directly, stating that if there is no gay, there is no Disney. Jafar also poked fun at DeSantis’s own connection to the theme park, noting that the governor had married his wife there in 2009.
The skit was a humorous take on the ongoing conflict between DeSantis and Disney, as well as a celebration of queer representation in Disney’s history. It also highlighted the continued importance of LGBTQ+ visibility and advocacy in mainstream media.