Saturday Night Live (SNL), an American late-night sketch/comedy show, has drawn ire for joking about the recent assassination of Brian Thompson, the late CEO of UnitedHealthcare.
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Colin Jost and also co-host Michael Che had some choice words to say about the police investigation. Their Weekend Update opens with a skit about New York City officials sending a "tough message on crime."
"If you shoot somebody in the street, you better get on your bike, hop on a bus, and get the heck out of here, mister." Jost then goes on to say that it really says something about America that a guy was murdered in cold blood, and the two main reactions were, "Yeah, health care stinks" and "Girl, that shooter hot."
Jost also pokes fun at the idea that the assassin just" bicycled away in broad daylight" while the police were preoccupied with guarding a Christmas tree.
Michael Che added to the joke with an image of the suspect from the front. He alleged they were flirting with a female employee of a local hostel, and her name was also reported as "Lucky S. Bechalive."
A Funny Skit or Tasteless Joke?
The Weekend Update Segment on the SNL YouTube channel has a very high Likes-to-dislikes ratio. Many comments build on the jokes and praise the show. However, other corners of the internet paint a different picture.
Several users took to X to voice their displeasure at the skit. Many bash the segment as classless and unfunny. One user even blasts the hosts as "soulless ghouls."
There are some strong comments, and it seems like opinions are divided on whether the jokes were appropriate.
John Acuna on X says, "It's a joke. Are we really getting upset at comedians now?" with several others sharing his sentiment.
On the flip side, users like Masculine Based see the skit as "SNL crossing the line again," adding that "some things just aren't funny.
Regardless of your stance on the SNL skit, it seems there is more to the story regarding the assassination. The Department of Justice was investigating Brian Thompson before the assassination. The CEO was also being probed for Insider Trading allegations.
