News | Entertainment
17 Sep 2025 11:06
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
     17 Sep: Julianne Moore still likes to do "a little bit of work" on her days off
     17 Sep: Emmys host Nate Bargatze will not make the show political
     17 Sep: Travis Kelce cried as he proposed to Taylor Swift
     17 Sep: Channing Tatum realised a dream walking the red carpet with his daughter Everly
     17 Sep: David Beckham has paid tribute to "one of a kind" Ricky Hatton
     17 Sep: Charli XCX and George Daniel have wed for a second time in Sicily
     17 Sep: Tom Pelphrey felt "a sense of home" during the making of Task thanks to visits from his family
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Cam Roigard will make his return from injury this weekend, as one of 13 All Blacks available for rugby's NPC More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Potential traces of salmonella has forced a recall of 'Deep' brand's Green Garlic More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Julianne Moore still likes to do "a little bit of work" on her days off 11:01

    Law and Order:
    Charlie Kirk's alleged killer has sat emotionless during his first court appearance 10:47

    Rugby:
    Cam Roigard will make his return from injury this weekend, as one of 13 All Blacks available for rugby's NPC 10:47

    Entertainment:
    Emmys host Nate Bargatze will not make the show political 10:31

    Law and Order:
    Charlie Kirk shooting suspect Tyler Robinson charged with murder as prosecutors seek death penalty 10:27

    Politics:
    Questions around the use of anonymous sources will be raised in a defamation case between Talley's and TVNZ 10:07

    Business:
    Potential traces of salmonella has forced a recall of 'Deep' brand's Green Garlic 10:07

    International:
    Palestinians fear they have no place flee as Israel's army pushes deeper into Gaza city 10:07

    Auckland:
    One person has been critically injured, in a collision between a car and truck in Auckland's Silverdale 10:07

    Entertainment:
    Travis Kelce cried as he proposed to Taylor Swift 10:01


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd