(CNN) – “Saturday Night Live” host Pete Davidson addressed “the horrific images and stories of Israel and Gaza” in deeply personal comments in the first few minutes of the long-running sketch show’s new episode.
Davidson’s emotional comments focused particularly on children who have suffered as a result of the conflict.
Davidson spoke about his personal connection to dealing with tragedy and terrorism after his father, Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter, was killed in the September 11 attacks.
Read his full statement below.
“This week we have seen horrific images and stories from Israel and Gaza. And I know what you’re thinking, who better to comment on this than Pete Davidson? (Laughter)
“Well, in many ways I’m a good person to talk about this because when I was seven years old my father died in a terrorist attack. So I know something about what that’s like.”
“This week I saw so many terrible photos of suffering children – Israeli and Palestinian children – that it took me to a really terrible, terrible place. No one in this world deserves to suffer, especially children.”
“After my father died, my mother did everything she could to cheer me up. I remember one day when I was eight years old when she got me what I thought was a Disney movie, but it was actually the Eddie Murphy special “Delirious.” ‘. We played it in the car on the way home and when she heard what Eddie Murphy said she tried to take it away. But then she noticed something, for the first time in a long time I laughed again.
“I do not get it. I really don’t understand that. I never will. But sometimes comedy really is the only way out of tragedy.”
“My heart goes out to everyone whose lives were destroyed this week. But tonight I’m going to do what I’ve always done in the face of tragedy, try to be funny. Remember I said try it. And live.” from New York, it’s Saturday evening.
“SNL” returned with Davidson as host after a months-long delay due to the writers’ strike. Davidson was scheduled to host in May before the strike began.