Leslie Jones is making headlines after a standout moment during her recent appearance on Ziwe’s interview series.
During the March 31 conversation, the comedian and former Saturday Night Live star rejected the idea of becoming a “tradwife” and went even further, arguing that modern marriage itself is fundamentally stacked against women.
When Ziwe asked whether she could ever embrace the increasingly popular traditional-wife lifestyle, Jones did not hesitate.
“Absolutely not,” Jones said. “Because that’s not who the f*ck I am. And my daddy didn’t raise me like that.” She explained that her father never wanted her to define herself through a relationship, adding, “My dad used to literally say that to me. I didn’t raise you to be somebody’s wife.”
The exchange came as the “tradwife” trend continues to gain traction across TikTok and Instagram. The movement, which took off around 2020, centers on women embracing old-school domestic roles, often presenting themselves as homemakers who cook from scratch, homeschool their children, and submit to a husband who serves as the family’s sole provider.
Influencers like Nara Smith and Ballerina Farm have helped popularize the aesthetic, which often mixes soft-focus content with a broader rejection of modern feminism.
Jones made it clear that she sees the trend very differently. When Ziwe asked whether she could ever fit into that role, Jones responded by linking it directly to her broader feelings about marriage. “Most of the people that I know that’s gotten married are divorced now,” she said. “I think marriage is legalized slavery.”
After Ziwe pressed her for an explanation, Jones linked marriage to women being expected to give up their independence. “Especially if he expecting you to be a trad wife, it’s might as well pull out a whip and a chain,” she said.
Jones also said she does not believe marriage benefits women. “I don’t think it’s beneficial for a woman at all,” she said, later telling younger viewers simply, “Don’t get married.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Jones described her ideal partner as someone who allows her to be vulnerable while still accepting her “authentic self.”