Saturday Night Live is a polarizing show. There are the people who think the sketch-comedy show been unwatchable for years, and then there are the people who watch it religiously because, well, routines or something? Last night, indie rocker Phoebe Bridgers was the musical guest, and it seems her performance united both camps, because it's all that Twitter is talking about.
At the end of Bridgers' final performance, the musician smashed (or attempted to smash, depending on who you ask) her guitar. Guitar smashing is a long-running and classic rock move, one that performers such as Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Pete Townsend were quite skilled at. But judging by some of the confused reactions on Twitter, people have forgotten the longstanding albeit destructive tradition. Some of the takes suggest widespread boredom - because people are equating the smashing to white privilege. Other takes are spent defending Bridgers' actions. Phoebe herself had to explain that it was an inexpensive guitar, and she had obtained the blessing of its manufacturer. The best tweets, however, add some comedic flair to the weirdly controversial performance.
me watching phoebe bridgers destroy her guitar #SNL pic.twitter.com/oPYUbqLJ1f
— kathleen (@kathleen_hanley) February 7, 2021
Phoebe Bridgers on #SNL tonight... pic.twitter.com/MOba12yzB4
— Woody White🧢 (@Woody_White_) February 7, 2021
ladies and gentlemen, my mom moments after watching phoebe bridgers perform i know the end: pic.twitter.com/JQ0oMcJKop
— mia andrea (@miagandrea) February 7, 2021
the experts showing up in the phoebe bridgers replies pic.twitter.com/E3EvFTKJkh
— dr inspector (@lftflth) February 7, 2021
My take on the Phoebe Bridgers thing is that there is absolutely no excuse for anyone to still be watching SNL at this point
— In the Time of Jezzers (@Jezzerat) February 7, 2021
Pheobe Bridgers: I am going to smash my guitar on snl live
— Patrick Doran Ⓜ️ (@lunch_enjoyer) February 7, 2021
Pete Townshend: I am going to smash my guitar on my computer because of some of the files I have on it
RT if you love classic rock
Why did this woman, Phoebe Bridgers, destroy her guitar on SNL?
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) February 7, 2021
I mean, I didn't care much for the song either, but that seemed extra. pic.twitter.com/ayXgFXtex4
the replies to this aged me 300 years and every time i close my eyes i’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and i honestly might walk toward it. that’s how unbearable this experience has been https://t.co/EuxiEArWdt
— helen (@helen) February 7, 2021
did phoebe’s guitar write this https://t.co/iFFJKbZUtS
— caleb hearon (@calebsaysthings) February 7, 2021
you’re telling me phoebe bridges did something half assed and corny 😂 no freaking way 😂
— Clarke (@pleasuresystems) February 7, 2021
It made me angry. There are so many who’d love to have a guitar like that and can’t afford it, and she’s just throwing hers away in front of the world. 😠
— it’s me, hi, i’m the problem, it’s me (@MeggityMcC) February 7, 2021
phoebe bridgers on snl pic.twitter.com/dTam5B2KAK
— lee ☻ (@M0UTHLOG) February 7, 2021
A very unjustifiably awkward display of white privilege. After the year the world has had with pain, suffering and death from #Covid it felt inappropriate.
— Kathleen Coughlin 🌻☮️ (@lokforwardangel) February 7, 2021
Think #charity or #donation or just being a positive role model.
I am so disappointed in Phoebe. There are millions of hungry kids out there who would have loved to eat that guitar. And now no one can eat it. I can’t stop crying. https://t.co/x3qBzAP8qV
— Drew Gooden (@drewisgooden) February 7, 2021
I just think its funny how bad she is at breaking the guitar https://t.co/PHChwOgze6
— unoffical cia operator (@DylanTop5) February 7, 2021
How dare “this woman” *read notes* continue a music tradition that has spanned decades...? https://t.co/5389jPFk9u pic.twitter.com/NXTVemivau
— LiamTheMusicReviewer (@liamthemusicguy) February 7, 2021
I told danelectro I was going to do it and they wished me luck and told me they’re hard to break
— traitor joe (@phoebe_bridgers) February 7, 2021