“Saturday Night Live” is facing criticism over the way it decided to roast an explosive House antisemitism hearing.
On Saturday, the comedy show addressed the subject of a hearing with the presidents of Harvard, M.I.T., and the University of Pennsylvania that has sparked a major backlash. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) grilled the presidents on whether calls for genocide of Jewish people went against the universities’ codes of conduct, and they declined to say they would punish students for such speech.
The proceeding led to such backlash that the University of Pennsylvania’s president, Liz Magill, resigned.
The “SNL” skit roasted the university presidents for dodging the answers, but the show is facing criticism amid allegations it depicted Stefanik in a worse light.
Chloe Troast, who portrayed Stefanik, kicked off the mock line of questioning by asking, “Antisemitism yay or nay!… Yes or no! Is calling for the genocide of Jews against the code of conduct for Harvard?”
At a separate point, Troast tells the actors playing the university president, “Keep in mind, if you don’t say yes, you’re going to make me look good — which is really, really hard to do.”
Winding down the segment, Troast disagrees with an assessment the hearing was “useless,” saying, “Not for me! For me it was very useful! I’ve had a great time! I’m the Hanukkah gift no one wanted!”
Watch the segment below:
Author Saul Sadka reacted to a story about the segment on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “Oh wow, this really is a shame. Did SNL fire all the Jewish writers? Why is it so lame?”
Oh wow, this really is a shame. Did SNL fire all the Jewish writers? Why is it so lame?
— Saul Sadka (@Saul_Sadka) December 10, 2023
Conservative commenator Meghan McCain wrote, “There is a 400% increase in antisemitic hate crimes since October 7th and SNL thinks it’s hilarious…. This is vile. Vile.”
There is a 400% increase in antisemitic hate crimes since October 7th and SNL
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 10, 2023
thinks it’s hilarious….
This is vile. Vile. https://t.co/mekxjIrKxS
“After three university presidents were universally panned for their testimony about anti-Semitism on campus, SNL decided that [Stefanik] was the one who embarrassed herself,” conservative commentator Greg Price posted on X.
After three university presidents were universally panned for their testimony about anti-Semitism on campus, SNL decided that @EliseStefanik was the one who embarrassed herself.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 10, 2023
https://t.co/wSympwPfEj
The New York Post’s Jon Levine argued, “SNL returning to its roots of sucking — worst cold open in years, possibly EVER!”
SNL returning to its roots of sucking — worst cold open in years, possibly EVER! https://t.co/XLfCtKW4te
— Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) December 10, 2023
Ben Domenech, an editor at large at The Spectator, wrote, “The rotting husk of SNL can mock this all they want. The damage is done, heads are rolling, and all because of a very straightforward question.”
