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SNL under serious fire for ‘vile’ skit about elite colleges’ antisemitism hearing

December 11, 2023 | | Print Article

The disconnect from humor caused by the “woke mind virus” found Saturday Night Live taking heat for a “vile” skit about a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism.

“This is no longer satire. This is propaganda.”

Tuesday, House GOP Conference Chair and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik challenged the heads of three elite universities over the prevalence of antisemitism under their watch, including calls for the genocide of Jews. The viral exchange was ready material for the so-called satirists of NBC’s weekly sketch show, only they saw fit to mock the line of questioning.

Portrayed by cast member Chloe Troast, the Stefanik character was introduced as a “MAGA superstar” and promptly asserted, “I’m going to start yelling questions at these women like Billy Eichner.”

“Antisemitism, yay or nay?” she shrilly challenged. “Yes or no? Is calling for the genocide of Jews against the code of conduct for Harvard?”

The cold open went on to convey the tone of Harvard University President Dr. Claudine Gay, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Dr. Sally Kornbluth as either dopey or disconnected, with Gay’s response of “well it depends on the context” treated as an acceptable response.

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SNL’s disconnect over the hearing, which had seen Magill resign from her position while the public called for the ousting of the others, resulted in their getting ripped online for missing the mark as it pertained to the skit and the broader climate following the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel by Hamas.

“There is a 400% increase in antisemitic hate crime since October 7th and SNL thinks it’s hilarious…. This is vile. Vile,” wrote commentator Meghan McCain in response to a since deleted post from Rolling Stone senior entertainment editor Marlow Stern.

The same post had Jewish Chronicle editor Jake Wallis Simons asserting, “Can’t believe SNL decided to mock those demanding tougher action on Jew-hatred on campus rather than those making excuses for calls for genocide.”

Dr. Sara Yael Hirschhorn piled on to that, “This is really appalling — [NBC] do you think antisemitism is acceptable as the punchline of a joke about American society? This needs to be investigated by the FCC.”

Meanwhile, Libs of TikTok had a simple question over the long-running show’s decision to poke fun at the congresswoman instead of the inane responses from academia. “Elise Stefanik handled the pro g*noc*de University Presidents beautifully. So of course SNL mocks her. This is so difficult to watch. Isn’t SNL supposed to be funny?”

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As previously reported, since the hearing, Gay had attempted damage control on her testimony and contended to the student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, “I got caught up in what had become at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures.”

Stefanik slammed the excuse and detailed, I asked you 17x(!!!) in the hearing about whether calling for the genocide of Jews violates [Harvard] code of conduct. You spoke your truth under oath 17x. And the world heard it.”

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The lawmaker later celebrated, “One down. Two to go,” upon learning of Magill’s resignation and added, “This is only the very beginning of addressing the pervasive rot of antisemitism that has destroyed the most ‘prestigious’ higher education institutions in America.”

Others heaped on to the “politically tone deaf” skit from SNL considered proof they’ve abandoned the entertainment business.

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Kevin Haggerty
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