Leslie Jones Recalls The Fight She And Chris Rock Had Over Her SNL Audition

Leslie Jones didnt care about working for Saturday Night Live , which may be precisely why she got hired.

The former SNL cast member and Time Machine comedian told Howard Stern on Thursday that she didnt come to get a job when she stepped on stage to try out for a writing gig at the sketch comedy institution. She only went to the audition on the chance that it could lead to professional opportunities elsewhere.

I literally went to tell them how dope I was and was going to tell them, No, Jones said, describing her mentality at the time.

But she probably also felt obligated to go because Chris Rock got her the audition.

It was @chrisrock who got @Lesdoggg an audition at @nbcsnl, but she told @HowardStern she almost turned the job down. pic.twitter.com/5fnGcKxp3s

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It was @chrisrock who got @Lesdoggg an audition at @nbcsnl , but she told @HowardStern she almost turned the job down. pic.twitter.com/5fnGcKxp3s
Stern Show (@sternshow) January 29, 2020

He saw me at the Comedy Store one late night doing a spot and he was like, Yup, shes next level, shes ready, Jones recalled.

She said that after Rock saw her perform, he jotted her name down in his funny people book and then told SNL creator Lorne Michaels about her over dinner one night. Following that dinner, Rock called Jones to tell her that someone from SNL would be contacting her for an audition.

Jones completely freaked out.