Twitter Reacts to Gigi Hadid’s Melania Trump Impression at the American Music Awards: ‘Take the Microphone Away’

Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah were co-hosts at the 2016 American Music Awards. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Gigi Hadid and Jay Pharoah were co-hosts of the 2016 American Music Awards. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Gigi Hadid is a top model — but a TV host? Not so much. On Sunday night, the 21-year-old stunner teamed up with Saturday Night Live alum Jay Pharoah to host the American Music Awards. She looked amazing in an array of outfits, including a cutout red dress that left little to the imagination, but her skill set seemed to end there.

Hadid appeared to be a bit out of her element as she took the stage. Just a few minutes in, the opening set turned to politics and Hadid was called upon to do a Melania Trump impression. Now, to be fair, she was up there next to Pharaoh, who is probably one of the best impersonators on the planet, but still … Hadid’s impression could have used some help.

Related: Ciara Shows Off Baby Bump at the AMAs

“This is my Melania Trump impression. I have to get the face right,” she announced before turning away from the camera and working her expression into some serious duck lips as she said: “I love my husband, President Barack Obama, and our children, Sasha and Malia.” (ICYMI, this was a reference to Melania’s possibly accidental plagiarism of Michelle Obama during her speech at the Republican National Convention over the summer.)


Not surprisingly, fans and foes took to Twitter to react.

“Painful and embarrassing to watch,” one viewer said, adding, “girl stop please.”

Another compared Gigi’s attempts at hosting to those of Khloé Kardashian (who was famously terrible on The X Factor years ago).

Others begged for it to simply end, hoping someone could “take the microphone” from the model.

Others said they were “uncomfortable” with what was happening onstage.

Still, not everyone slammed Gigi. Instead they just encouraged her to “stick with” what she’s good at: modeling.

One sweet fan gave Hadid props “for trying.”

Yet another wise viewer gave a smart prediction for the future based on what he saw onstage tonight.

We’ll have to wait and see if the president-elect decides to go after the young model for mocking his wife, but he might still be too caught up in his feud with the cast of Hamilton to be paying much attention.