Leslie Jones has drawn a wave of online criticism after telling interviewer Ziwe that she views marriage as “legalized slavery,” and urging young women not to marry. The 58-year-old comedian made the comments during a wide-ranging Tuesday interview in which she rejected the idea of becoming a “tradwife” — a woman who embraces mid‑20th century domestic gender roles — and delivered blunt assessments of relationships and men.
Asked whether she would ever consider being a tradwife, Jones answered, “Absolutely f*****g not. Because that’s not who I am. And my daddy didn’t raise me like that.” She went on to say she has watched many marriages end in divorce and insisted, “I think marriage is legalized slavery.” When Ziwe challenged the comparison as extreme, Jones doubled down: “Absolutely not. I don’t know how you don’t. Especially if he’s expecting you to be a trad wife, it might as well pull out a whip and a chain.”
At one point Jones addressed young women directly, looking into the camera and smiling as she said, “Don’t.” She further explained her frustration with men, saying “they’re not stepping up to the plate,” and added a wry image of couples who stagnate while women work to improve themselves: “While we sat and grew and got our sh– together, they sat on the couch and played their Sega Genesis.”
The remarks have provoked a strong reaction on social media, with many users defending marriage and criticizing Jones’s comparison. Sample responses shared online included: “Service to your spouse (on both sides) is one of the great gifts of life. If it feels like slavery, then I don’t think you’ve ever been in love,” and “What a mental damage to a young woman of color. And she feels so good and fine sharing such an illness with innocent fans.” Another commenter framed marriage as a blessing and dismissed the critique as political.
Jones rose to prominence as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 2014 until she left the show in 2019. In recent years she has remained a visible presence in comedy, film and interviews, known for candid, sometimes provocative commentary. The tradwife movement she criticized describes a return to traditional domestic roles for women; supporters say it celebrates choice and family, while critics argue it can promote regressive gender expectations.
The interview offers a stark example of the cultural debate over marriage, gender roles and personal autonomy that continues to play out in public forums. Jones’s comments reaffirm her long-standing outspokenness on personal and social issues, and have sparked renewed discussion online about what marriage means today and whether traditional roles remain viable or desirable for women.