Teyana Taylor is leaning all the way into cultural memory ahead of her Saturday Night Live hosting debut—and the show’s first promo made sure viewers caught the reference immediately.
In the newly released clip teasing her upcoming appearance, Taylor channels one of the most unforgettable moments in Black film history: Angela Bassett’s fiery scene in Waiting to Exhale.
The promo nods to Bassett’s portrayal of Bernadine Harris, whose calm, controlled rage culminates in setting her cheating husband’s belongings—and his car—on fire.
The original scene became iconic not just for its visual power, but for Bassett’s improvised line, “It is trash,” which helped cement the moment as a lasting symbol of self-possession and release.
Taylor’s homage doesn’t recreate the scene beat-for-beat, but the inspiration is unmistakable. The reference lands as both playful and pointed, tapping into a shared cultural shorthand that SNL rarely misses when it works best.
The promo arrives fresh off Taylor's major awards-season win. Earlier this month, she took home the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It marked her first Golden Globe nomination and win.
“To my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight,” she said, “our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter and our dreams deserve space.”
Now, Taylor is bringing that momentum to late-night television. According to WBLS, she will host Saturday Night Live on January 24, with indie rock band Geese serving as the musical guest. Her episode is part of the show’s Season 51 lineup, which also includes upcoming host Alexander Skarsgård.
While this marks Taylor’s first time hosting the long-running sketch show, it isn’t her first appearance on the SNL stage. She previously made a guest appearance during Kanye West’s 2018 performance.
Beyond SNL, Taylor remains busy across multiple lanes. She recently earned a Best R&B Album nomination for Escape Room ahead of the 2026 Grammy Awards