Tulsa King Season 2 Criticized for “Cringe-Worthy” Cameo in Episode 2

Tulsa King Season 2 has officially premiered, but the second episode is receiving criticism for a particularly awkward cameo.

Created by Taylor Sheridan, this mobster drama features Sylvester Stallone as Mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi. The series delves into the fictional criminal landscape of Tulsa, which explains why many were surprised to see country-rap artist Jelly Roll appear in Episode 2.

In this episode, Dwight is throwing a launch party for a trendy new club called The Even Higher Plane. It’s during this scene that Jelly Roll makes his entrance, mistakenly referred to by Dwight as “Jelly Fish.” Their interaction—reportedly improvised by Stallone—culminates with Jelly Roll performing his song ‘I Am Not Okay’ in a recording booth at the club.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBKID-Fqq5I

Tulsa King | Season 2 Official Trailer | Paramount+ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBKID-Fqq5I)

Viewers, however, were not impressed with the scene. Many took to social media to express their displeasure, labeling the moment as “cringe” and “awkward,” especially since the show shifts focus to ensure everyone is captivated by their exchange.

One Reddit user commented: “The entire party segment with Jelly Roll was incredibly cringe; the smiling and laughing crowd was absolutely dreadful.”

Another user remarked: “Nothing about that made any sense at all lol. It completely pulled me out of the experience,” while a third stated, “I still love the show, but holy sh*t. It had all the energy of a guest appearance on a TGIF series.”

Someone else admitted, “I literally fast-forwarded through that part. It was too cringe for me.”

Jelly Roll in Tulsa King Season 2 — Paramount

Many felt Jelly Roll’s presence seemed forced into the storyline. As one viewer put it, “It felt really out of place and like he was just inserted to make an appearance. They could have been more creative about including him.”

Interestingly, Jelly Roll is an avid fan of Tulsa King. Executive Producer Terence Winter shared with USA Today: “Jelly Roll has an incredibly busy schedule, but he’s a huge fan, and we managed to find this opportunity. Everything came together rapidly, and we were delighted to have him on board.”

For more information, check out the filming locations for Tulsa King. You can also catch up on Sheridan’s other projects, including Lioness Season 2, Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2, and Landman.