Merlin the Pig is used to going viral. But this time, it wasn’t for one of his button-tapping “conversations” or cozy at-home clips. After Saturday Night Live referenced Merlin in a recent segment, calling him a “pork chop,” his owner, Mina Alali, had something to say.
© @merlinthepigShe posted an Instagram reel to Merlin's account after the episode aired on April 13, which has garnered over 3.4 million views. Alali said in a response, “While we appreciate the mention on SNL, we actually hoped the joke would be funnier." The tone wasn’t angry, just a little disappointed. “Calling a record-breaking animal who’s known for their intelligence and human-like behaviors a pork chop just feels a little outdated. Like a lazy joke.”
Known as the "talking pig," Merlin is a 180 lb Mini Vietnamese Potbelly, and it’s not the first time Merlin has been reduced to something he isn’t. “If we had a dollar for every time someone simplified Merlin to food, we would be flying private all the time,” she added.
Instead of letting the moment pass, she leaned into it, even offering up better punchlines. “A pig named Merlin just set a world record using communication buttons, which means a pig now converses more clearly than most people I know,” she joked.
Another one hit even harder. “A pig named Merlin is now learning to communicate with humans, which is ironic because humans are getting worse at it.”
They have a hoof to stand on, too. Merlin isn’t just a pig on the internet. He’s a Guinness World Record holder, officially recognized for having the largest Instagram following of any pig, with more than 1.2 million followers. On TikTok, he has double that - 2.5M.
There are videos with millions of views where it's almost hard to deny that he's not communicating. It even seems as if he can read. “He’s learning our language, and we used it to call him lunch,” she said. “Interesting choice.”
Using more than two dozen sound buttons placed around his home, Merlin has learned to communicate, ranging from statements like "yes" and "no" to "I love you." Not just basic needs, but emotions, preferences, even frustration.
Since adopting him in 2022, Alali has spent months training him and helping him associate each button with routines, reactions, and feelings. "The first year of having Merlin was a huge learning experience for me," Alali said.
“He was a lot more vocal (lots of high-pitched squealing), and obviously untrained. It took a lot of patience and work, but I have truly loved him like I would my own child since the day I adopted him, and would do anything for him.”
Pigs are often underestimated, but they’re considered one of the most intelligent animals, with cognitive abilities comparable to those of young children. They can learn quickly, solve problems, and even recognize routines, emotions, and social cues. “In general, I believe that with patience, time, and positive reinforcement, anything is possible with pigs,” Alali told Guinness World Records. “They have the intellectual capacity of a three to five-year-old child.”
But if Merlin is making you think of buying a "mini-pig," keep in mind they do not stay small. Approximately 90% of mini pigs are rehomed, abandoned, or surrendered to sanctuaries within the first one to two years of their life, because they grow much larger than owners were led to believe by breeders.
