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“Saturday Night Live” is once again poking fun at Amazon.
Monica, portrayed by Ego Nwodim as a “happy Amazon employee,” appeared on the latest “Weekend Update” to discuss her role delivering packages for the tech giant, humorously answering questions from host Michael Che. The sketch included a comical line about hooking up with an Amazon drone. (“Can’t get an STD if he’s got a USB!”)
Although it’s always tough to be that person who says, “well, actually,” when the best satire is an exaggerated version of reality, it was difficult not to notice, as someone who reports on the company, that some underlying facts weren’t entirely accurate.
The most significant discrepancy arose when Che asked, “Does Amazon offer you benefits?”
“Oh, yeah, of course. Got to, yeah. They gave me this vest,” Monica replied.
In reality, Amazon does offer health-care benefits starting on the first day.
Venturing into minor nitpicks: the skit referenced Amazon celebrating “a 48-hour sale event, Prime Day,” traditionally held in the summer. Presumably, SNL was actually referring to “Prime Big Deal Days,” a separate 2-day sale that occurred last week.
Amazon’s treatment of logistics employees has been scrutinized for years. Federal and state regulators, labor unions, and Amazon shareholders have repeatedly expressed concerns over the company’s warehouse injury rates. Amazon has mentioned safety improvements, and it recently increased hourly pay once again.
There are also ongoing tensions related to workload expectations between Amazon and the business owners and drivers involved in its Delivery Service Partners (DSP) program. These independent entities hire the drivers who deliver packages in blue Prime-branded vans while clad in Amazon uniforms.
Another minor point: if “Monica” is a delivery driver, she isn’t actually an Amazon employee.
However, SNL might have hit closest to the truth at the end of the sketch by turning the whole scenario back on us.
“Monica, I’m starting to think Amazon is overworking you, and the conditions seem inhumane,” Che remarked.
“Oh, you really think so, Che?” Monica retorted. “So, are you going to stop ordering from Amazon?”
Che made a face, then ended the interview.
Amazon has been a frequent subject on SNL. The show has lampooned the cashierless Amazon Go stores and Echo voice speakers in earlier sketches. Steve Carrell mocked Jeff Bezos in a spoof of Donald Trump in 2018, and Owen Wilson parodied the Amazon founder’s space ambitions in 2021.
If they need anyone to thoroughly fact-check the humor out of the next sketch, I’m available.
