New year, same controversy. Over the weekend, Saturday Night Live head writer Michael Che found himself in hot water once again after delivering a “Weekend Update” punchline that many viewers felt was “transphobic” and insensitive. Is there really no one in the SNL writer’s room willing to check their boss?
Saturday Night Live hasn’t aired since before the holidays, so Che and co-host Colin Jost’s had quite a bit to recap during their first “Weekend Update” segment of 2021. “A lot has happened since our last show. Some of it was good — the inauguration, that was nice. Christmas. I like Christmas,” said Jost at the top of the segment. “And hey, now the terrorist watch list includes white people. So, yay for diversity.”
After the hosts ticked through the various news items of the past few weeks — the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Joe Biden’s inauguration, and the GameStop stock surge were all tackled — they turned their attention to Biden’s initial attempt to roll back various Trump-era policies. “President Biden signed an executive order repealing Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military,” said Che, by way of explanation. “Yeah, it’s good news. Except Biden is calling the policy, ‘Don’t ask, don’t tuck.’ Which is not good news.”
The audience laughed, but Che and Jost seemed to realize that the joke — which at that point, had been workshopped and rehearsed — was in poor taste. After Jost shot his co-host a quick glance, Che laughed, saying, “It’s whatever, man.”
Viewers at home, however, didn’t think the joke was quite so “whatever,” and they were quick to slam the punchline on Twitter. “I’m tired of our genitalia & our existence being discussed, obsessed about & laughed at,” wrote trans activist Plastic Martyr. “Wasn’t surprised at all to learn that Michael Che used the lifting of the transgender military ban to be his usual transphobic self,” added film critic Danielle Solzman. “What is Saturday Night Live’s weird obsession with transphobic nonsense?” asked Charlotte Clymer, a former Human Rights Campaign staffer. “It’s so lazy and sad.”
It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time that Che has come under fire for a transphobic joke. In October 2019, the “Weekend Update” host misgendered and deadnamed Caitlyn Jenner as part of an extended bit about Kanye West, and he was immediately (and rightfully) called out for the remark.
Unfortunately, given Che’s reluctance to internalize criticism, it’s unlikely that this will be the last time he finds himself in hot water. Still, we can dream, can’t we?
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February 01, 2021 at 09:46PM
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'SNL's Michael Che Faces Accusations of Transphobia Yet Again - Decider
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