User:Luke.sewpersaud/Weekend Update

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Kate: During one of the Weekend Update skits there was controversy surround transphobia. In the October 21st, 2020 skit, Micheal Che was referencing the reverse of the law "don't ask, don't tell" and made a joke calling it "don't ask, don't tuck". This joke was not taken well amongst SNL viewers leaving them stunned with the comment. Transgender advocates took quick action to different social media platforms speaking out about the skit, critiquing its "insensitivity". SNL never put out an official statement speaking on the matter.

Megan: On December 16th, 2023 on the annual Weekend Update Christmas episode, where Che and Jost joke swap. Che faced backlash on his “racist jokes” that were pointed towards Beyoncé, Coretta Scott King, and Obama.

He was criticized by some for making a joke about Beyoncé having a lighter complexion and blonde hair for her tour, saying how she was looking white. He also made a joke in which he said Scarlet Johansson, the wife of co-host Jost, was a better black widow than Coretta Scott King, poking fun at Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. And lastly, he compared former president Barack Obama to an African Dodo bird.

On January 31, 2021 Che was accused of being transphobic for his joke about Joe Biden’s executive order that reversed Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military. He joked about how Biden is calling it, “don't ask, don't tuck” which is a reference to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which banned gays from serving in the military from 1993 to 2010. Many trans activists criticized the joke made and called Che out for the “insensitive” comment.

In May 2014, Leslie Jones was criticized for the string of slave jokes. She made a joke Lupita Nyong’o, most well-known for her role as Nakia in Black Panther, being named People magazine’s most beautiful person, saying that during the slave days she herself would’ve been the most sought after. Making comments about how she would have been paired with the best guy on that plantation and would have been the number one pick in the “slave draft.” On Twitter she responded in defending her joke and how she was sad she has to defend herself to the black community.

Although they are criticized by people for their controversial jokes, many people stand by the jokes and the hosts/ writers.

Luke: Going to talk about an insensitive Beyonce, blackface being used, as well as justification of humor.

Kate H: There is currently no controversy section for the Weekend Update. Our group is adding a controversies section with each person adding a controversy per source.

In the mid-1990s, Former Weekend Update host Norm MacDonald was fired from SNL for tackling taboo topics including the highly controversial 1994 murder trial of O.J. Simpson. Macdonald's comedic approach to the sensitive subject matter often crossed lines for some viewers and network executives. Don Ohlmeyer, former president of NBC's West Coast division, was a close friend of Simpson, and took great offense to Macdonald's jokes, ultimately firing Macdonald for his poor taste in comedy during the 1995 season.

Macdonald was immensely popular with audiences, leading to questions about his abrupt removal. Controversy broke out about the comedic freedom regarding sensitive topics highlighting the complex dynamic between the network and talent.