News | Entertainment
19 Dec 2025 0:44
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Leslie Jones has urged protestors in America not to cause destruction during protests

    The ‘Saturday Night Live’ alum previously carried a sledgehammer when she attended protests against racial injustice 30 years ago, and has said that whilst she felt like a “hero” at the time, she now regrets bringing the object with her, and would discourage other protestors from causing destruction


    Leslie spoke amid the current protests taking place across America following the death of George Floyd, who died when a police offer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes during an arrest.

    When asked what advice she’d give her younger self during the protests, she said: "I would say, ‘Don't take that sledgehammer. Don't take that sledgehammer.' Because the sledgehammer literally made me a hero in so many places. I opened up so many doors with that sledgehammer. I remember I broke - and I have to tell you this - it was a supermarket and there was a chain fence and they couldn't get it open. So, I came with my sledgehammer and … it went open and everybody was like, ‘Yeah!’ ”

    The 52-year-old comedian and actress quickly realised the damage she’d helped cause the following day when she saw people “crying about their business being burnt down”, and vowed to never join riots during protesting again.

    She added: "I can laugh about it now, but imma tell you, I didn't laugh when I was riding through my city after that and seeing burnt down buildings and having nowhere to shop. And, you know, seeing black people crying about their business being burnt down. It wasn't funny then, you know?

    "So, I think I would say to my 22-year-old self, ‘What do you think you're gonna change by going out there with that?’"

    Now, Leslie is using her platform to speak out against injustice, and to urge her fans to vote in the upcoming US presidential election.

    Speaking during an appearance on ‘Late Night With Seth Meyers’, she said: "I'm gonna use my platform to make sure everybody understands the importance of voting. I think we all just need to realise that we're all human and living on the same Earth and need to start working together before we don't have nothing."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     18 Dec: Kelsey Grammer feels his newborn son gives him a second chance to nail fatherhood
     18 Dec: Kelly Ripa "tries not to act so much anymore" because she does not want to be away from her family
     18 Dec: King Charles' cancer treatment "can be reduced in the New Year"
     18 Dec: Kim Kardashian's law mentor has praised the star for being transparent about failing her California bar exam
     18 Dec: Glenn Close wants to die in the replica of her grandparents' stone cottage that she is building
     18 Dec: Timothee Chalamet pranked Trisha Goddard when she asked the Hollywood star for a selfie
     18 Dec: Matt Smith has spilled that filming on Star Wars: Starfighter has wrapped - and he is confident it's going to be a major hit
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    High jumper Hamish Kerr is shaping as one of the major contenders for the Halbergs Supreme prize in February More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Most parts of the economy are growing again More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Australian man Lamar Ahchee sentenced to 12 years in prison for role in Bali cocaine-smuggling plot 23:37

    Hamilton:
    Police are working to find out who's involved and track them down - after a person died and another's been seriously injured in central Hamilton 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Kelsey Grammer feels his newborn son gives him a second chance to nail fatherhood 21:50

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Ripa "tries not to act so much anymore" because she does not want to be away from her family 21:20

    Rugby League:
    Rugby league's NRL has issued breach notices to the Sydney Roosters in relation to salary cap overspend and the Melbourne Storm in relation to team selection protocols 21:17

    Law and Order:
    Former senior police officers detail why Bondi Beach terror incident was so difficult to defend 20:57

    Entertainment:
    King Charles' cancer treatment "can be reduced in the New Year" 20:50

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian's law mentor has praised the star for being transparent about failing her California bar exam 20:20

    Living & Travel:
    How to handle awkward comments and conversations this Christmas 19:57

    Entertainment:
    Glenn Close wants to die in the replica of her grandparents' stone cottage that she is building 19:50


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd