Saturday Night Live host and musical guest Dua Lipa, whose brand new album, Radical Optimism, was released Friday, was at a loss for how South Dakota’s Republican governor, Kristi Noem, could salvage her reputation as a puppy and goat killer.
In her monologue, Lipa explained that the title of her latest work means “looking on the bright side of any situation.”
She then took took questions from SNL cast members in the audience, beginning with Andrew Dismukes, who revealed, “My wife left me because during sex, I accidentally called her ‘mom.'”
No problem, Lipa replied: “You’ll have more time to spend with your mom. See? Radical optimism.”
After Bowen Yang said his doctor told him to cut out drinking, Lipa suggested: “There’s always poppers.”
But before Heidi Gardner, who introduced herself as a MAGA hat-wearing Noem, could even explain her issues, Lipa said firmly that she didn’t have anything to offer.
“No, no, no. Sorry,” she said immediately, shaking her head. “I can’t help.”
Noem has received immense, bipartisan criticism after admitting in her forthcoming memoir that she shot and killed her 14-month-old puppy in a gravel pit because it apparently was unruly and did some things dogs are known to do. The governor also said she killed one of her goats for a similar reason, but initially botched the execution, leaving the animal wounded for a time.
Yet that’s not the only problem of Noem’s making, as she falsely claimed in her book that she met North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un while a member of Congress. Other accounts of hers have also been called into question, like a 2020 phone call with Nikki Haley.
In short, Noem, who had once been considered a top potential running mate for Donald Trump, is facing a public relations mess that Lipa’s positivity can’t fix.
Michaela Coel in ‘The Christophers.’Claudette Barius/NEON
