Viewers were dissatisfied after SNL opened cold Saturday night, mocking last week's congressional hearings on anti-Semitism on campus.
The opening sketch attempted to downplay the college presidents' lack of statements, but their efforts elicited few laughs.
Then there was backlash online, with viewers criticizing the skit for attempting to undermine the seriousness of anti-Semitism on U.S. college campuses in the weeks since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
The pre-written sketch was also released just hours after the ignominious resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Amy Magill – whose testimony before the House panel seemed particularly smug – after a dismal performance over the last eight weeks resigned.
SNL newcomer Chloe Troast portrayed Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the House Republican caucus leader and loyal supporter of former President Trump.
SNL newcomer Chloe Troast portrayed Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the House Republican caucus leader and loyal supporter of former President Trump
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 .'
“They (SNL) tried – strangely – to skewer Elise Stefanik (who by all accounts won the day) as shrill.” “I guess I had the misunderstanding that calling a woman 'shrill' was sexist.” , another user wrote.
A third disgusted user wrote: “Congratulations everyone, SNL.” Having not been funny in years, they have now simply gone beyond comedy and become one big joke. I'm not sure what's more pathetic: this vague attempt at comedy or the mockery of those who stand up against anti-Semitism at a time like this. Dirt.'
When the skit failed both live and online, the real Stefanik issued a scathing indictment of Magill and the other university presidents following news of the Penn president's resignation.
'One down. Two more,” she wrote.
SNL creator and longtime executive producer Lorne Michaels is Jewish and was born on a kibbutz in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine before moving to Toronto with his parents.
Under his continued leadership, the show moved particularly far to the left during the Trump years, using its airtime primarily to denigrate the political right and mock those who opposed vigilante politics.
College presidents (Ego Nwodim, L, Chloe Fineman, R) answer questions from members of Congress about anti-Semitism on their campuses during SNL's cold open
SNL newcomer Chloe Troast portrayed Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Molly Kearney (r.) portrayed Representative Virginia Foxx
The players tried to make fun of last week's hearing, in which the presidents of Harvard, MIT and Penn made disappointing statements to Congress about combating anti-Semitism on their respective campuses
Harvard President Claudine Gay at the congressional hearing on anti-Semitism on campus
MIT President Sally Kornbluth's statement was widely criticized
Amy Magill's hearing performance was the straw that broke the camel's back and ultimately cost her her job at the Ivy League — although she will remain a tenured law professor
Magill was sharply criticized for her statement, in which she said that censuring students who called for Jewish genocide was not a priority, but rather “context-specific.”
She was asked a “yes” or “no” question about whether calls for genocide against Jews counted as hate speech, and she repeatedly said it depended on the context.
On Wednesday, she tried to clarify her comments, but the damage was done: A wealthy alumnus withdrew a $100 million donation, and her comments drew sharp condemnation from the ADL, the White House and politicians across the board .
Magill released a groveling video statement in which she attempted to explain that she had failed to condemn calls for genocide against Jewish people on campus.
She said she was not “focused” on the issue and said she wanted to “make it clear” that calls for genocide were “plain and simple evil” – although she said the blame lay more with her university's policies and the constitution with her.
Magill said, “During yesterday's congressional hearing on anti-Semitism, there was a moment when I was asked whether calling for genocide against Jewish people on our campus would violate our policies.”
“In that moment, I focused on our university’s longstanding policies – consistent with the U.S. Constitution – that speech alone is not a crime.
“I did not focus, but I should have, on the irrefutable fact that a call for genocide against Jewish people is a call for the most horrific violence that human beings can commit. “It is evil, pure and simple.”
The real Elise Stefanik (pictured) celebrated Magill's resignation on Saturday with a message that began with “One less.” Two more left'
Magill said she hopes to draw a line in the sand and clarify her position.
“I want to be clear: a call for genocide against Jewish people is deeply threatening,” she said.
“It is deliberately intended to frighten a people who have been subjected to pogroms and hatred for centuries and who were victims of mass genocide in the Holocaust.”
“In my opinion it would be harassment or intimidation.”
But, Magill said, it wasn't officially classified as harassment – a policy that was outdated and needed to be reviewed.
Magill promised to work on updating the existing rules.
“For decades under multiple Penn presidents and consistent with most universities, Penn policy has been guided by the Constitution and law,” she said.
“In today’s world, where we are witnessing signs of hate on our campus and in our world spreading in ways not seen in years, these policies need to be clarified and evaluated.”
“Penn must initiate a serious and careful review of our policies.”
She concluded that she is “committed to providing a safe and supportive environment so that all members of our community can thrive.” “We can and will do it right.”
On Thursday, as the House Education Committee said it would continue to investigate the matter, the board of Wharton — the world's first business school, founded in 1881 at the University of Pennsylvania — said Magill would have to resign.
A letter addressed to her said the university's leadership needed to be changed “with immediate effect.”