Jack Harlow's Family Fooled by 'SNL' Impression

Ben Marshall's portrayal of the rapper was so convincing, even Harlow's aunt thought it was him.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:26am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up of shattered disco ball glass reflecting glittering light, conceptually representing the allure and artifice of celebrity culture.A dazzling close-up of the glitz and glam that captivates celebrity culture, mirroring the convincing SNL impression that even fooled Jack Harlow's own family.Oakland Today

Apparently Ben Marshall's impression of rapper Jack Harlow on a recent Saturday Night Live episode was so convincing that it even fooled Harlow's own family members. Harlow revealed on Instagram that his aunt sent him a text message saying she was 'proud of me for going on SNL and addressing everything' - referring to the recent controversy around Harlow's comments about 'getting Blacker' with the sound of his latest album.

Why it matters

The SNL sketch poked fun at the backlash Harlow faced for his comments about embracing Black musical influences, with the impression using exaggerated nicknames like 'LL Cool Whip' and 'D'Angelo'. The fact that Harlow's own aunt was fooled by the impression highlights just how spot-on and convincing the portrayal was, even to those closest to the rapper.

The details

During the Weekend Update segment, actor Ben Marshall appeared dressed in the exact outfit Harlow wore to the Marty Supreme film premiere in December, complete with the rapper's signature hairstyle. Marshall delivered an over-the-top impression, invoking the various nicknames social media users had given Harlow in the wake of his controversial album comments.

  • The SNL sketch aired on the April 8th episode.
  • On Monday (April 13), Harlow took to his Instagram Stories to reveal the incident.

The players

Jack Harlow

An American rapper who recently faced backlash for comments about 'getting Blacker' with the sound of his latest album, 'Monica'.

Ben Marshall

An actor who portrayed an exaggerated impression of Jack Harlow on a recent episode of Saturday Night Live.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“My aunt that I am related to actually thought that was me.”

— Jack Harlow

What’s next

Harlow is set to embark on 'The Monica Tour' starting on August 4th in New York and wrapping up on September 21st in Oakland, California.

The takeaway

The convincing SNL impression of Jack Harlow, which even fooled his own family members, highlights the power of satire and impersonation in popular culture, as well as the ongoing debates around cultural appropriation and artistic expression in the music industry.