Saturday Night Live continues to face massive backlash over its “tone deaf” sketch of congressional hearings on anti-Semitism on campus – with former cast member Cecily Strong reportedly pulling out at the last minute.
The NBC show's opening remarks on Saturday attempted to downplay statements from the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT about anti-Semitism at the nation's top universities – but the joke didn't land.
Former SNL star Strong was set to play Rep. Elise Stefanik in the skit, but was replaced by newcomer Chloe Troast after the dress rehearsal, according to a report from The Wrap.
It is unclear why Strong was replaced or left the skit despite rehearsals.
However, the site notes that Strong may delay her return until next week, when her former SNL co-star Kate McKinnon will host the show. has contacted NBC for comment.
Greg Gutfeld, host of Fox News' The Five, was one of many critics of the skit, writing on “I wonder what colleges their writers attended.”
Saturday Night Live continues to face massive backlash over its “tone-deaf” portrayal of congressional hearings on anti-Semitism on campus
Former SNL star Strong was set to play Rep. Elise Stefanik in the skit, but was replaced by newcomer Chloe Troast after the dress rehearsal
Rabbi Shmuel Reichman said the skit was the “most embarrassing” he had ever seen.
“Unfortunately, that’s not surprising… SNL hasn’t been on the cutting edge for about a decade; “You're about as out of touch with reality as Liz Magill… This is probably the most embarrassing decision in the history of SNL,” the author wrote.
“(Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler are probably somewhere shaking their heads in disgust and ashamed at how low SNL has sunk since their heyday.)”
Fellow rabbi and writer David Bashevkin added: “SNL's Achilles heel is believing that the joke is always on Trump. “I'm an SNL fan, but this was a complete failure.”
Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, also addressed the sketch.
“Just saw the SNL opener from last night. “Whether you care about anti-Semitism on college campuses or not, this just wasn’t funny,” Friedman said.
For his part, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, tweeted: “The skit was cruel. The feeling is even more horrific.”
And the Republican representative from North Carolina. Following the skit, Greg Murphy demanded “nothing less than a full apology from the entire SNL staff.”
He wrote on
Conservative radio host Larry Elder also chimed in, writing on X: “It's been a while since I've seen SNL.” I quickly remembered why. Shameful. Why isn't it anti-Semitic to mock a critic of anti-Semitism because of her criticism of anti-Semitism?
Meanwhile, former State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert accused the NBC show of “hating Republicans more than anti-Semitism.”
And Babylon Bee editor-in-chief Kyle Mann was sad: “It's actually pretty incredible how this skit portrayed liberals who weren't willing to call genocide bad – and they WERE NOT the punchline of the joke.” Just goes to show “How unfunny you can become if you’re not willing to make fun of the people on your side.”
Ben Domenech, editor-in-chief of The Spectator, added: “The rotting shell of SNL can make fun of this all they want. “The damage is done, heads are rolling, and it's all because of a very simple question.”
Domenech's wife, Meghan McCain, also weighed in on the skit: “There's been a 400% increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes since October 7th, and SNL thinks it's hilarious…” This is disgusting. Disgusting.'
Several others wrote to X demanding the show apologize.
SNL creator Lorne Michaels was born into a Toronto Jewish family before moving to Los Angeles in 1968. He founded SNL in 1975 and ran it for most of its 50-year history.
The pre-written sketch came just hours after the disgraceful resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Amy Magill – whose testimony before the House panel seemed particularly smug – resigned after a dismal performance over the past eight weeks .
In a moment intended to ridicule Stefanik's widely praised listening prowess, she said, “I'm going to start yelling questions at women like Billy Eichner.”
“Anti-Semitism – yes or no?” she shouted at the three women playing the college presidents.
'Yes or no! Does calling for genocide against the Jews violate Harvard's Code of Conduct?
The actress, who plays Harvard University's Claudine Gay, replied: “Well, it depends on the context.”
'What? “That can’t be your answer,” replied Stefanik von Troast, repeating the shocking real-life interaction between the two.
“UPenn lady, same question, yes or no?” she asked the actress who played Magill.
“If you don't say yes, you're going to make me look good, which is really, really hard,” she continued. “So I'm going to ask you directly, 'Do you think genocide is bad?'
iHeart Radio host Mark Simone wrote on .'
While SNL deemed the congressional testimony a ridiculous affair, the consequences were real for UPenn's Liz Magill, who has since been forced to resign from her post.
While SNL deemed the congressional testimony a ridiculous affair, the consequences were real for UPenn's Liz Magill, who has since been forced to resign from her post
Harvard President Claudine Gay at the congressional hearing on anti-Semitism on campus
MIT President Sally Kornbluth's statement was widely criticized
The Ivy League school's chairman of the board of trustees, Scott Bok, also immediately resigned during a board of trustees meeting Saturday evening, just hours after Bok announced Liz Magill's resignation as president in just her second year.
Bok, a supporter of Magill, defended her during several months of criticism of the university's handling of various alleged anti-Semitic acts.
Universities across the U.S. are being accused of failing to protect Jewish students as global fears grow over anti-Semitism and the fallout from Israel's intensifying war in Gaza, which is facing increasing criticism over the rising Palestinian death toll.
The three presidents were called before the committee to respond to these allegations. But her legally ambiguous answers sparked renewed opposition from opponents, particularly centered on a question from Rep. Stefanik, who repeatedly asked whether “calling for the genocide of the Jews” would violate Penn’s code of conduct.
“If the speech leads to behavior, that can be harassment, yes,” Magill said. When pressed further, Magill told Stefanik, “It's a contextual decision, Congresswoman.”
Harvard President Claudine Gay and MIT President Sally Kornbluth responded similarly to Stefanik, and Bok pointed this out.
Magill, after five hours of aggressive questioning before a congressional committee, made a “very unfortunate misstep – consistent with that of two peer university leaders who sat next to her,” Bok said.
Nevertheless, criticism of Magill came from the White House, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, members of Congress and donors. One donor, Ross Stevens, threatened to withdraw a $100 million donation because of the university's “stance on anti-Semitism on campus” unless Magill was replaced.
A day later, Magill addressed the criticism, saying in a video that she would consider a call for genocide against Jewish people to be harassment or intimidation and that Penn's policies needed to be “clarified and evaluated.”
It didn't quell criticism.
In a statement Saturday, Stefanik said Magill's “forced resignation” was the “absolute minimum of what is necessary” and said Harvard and MIT should follow suit.
'One down. Two left,” Stefanik said, adding, “This is just the beginning of combating the pervasive rot of anti-Semitism that has destroyed America’s most ‘prestigious’ higher education institutions.”