A joke that aired on the latest installment of NBC’s late-night sketch comedy show “Saturday Night Live” isn’t sitting well with a number of social media users. The New York Post’s Page Six reports that the joke delivered by “SNL” regular Michael Che is being called transphobic.
“Che was mocking Kanye West and his latest album release, ‘Jesus Is King,’ during the ‘Weekend Update’ segment when he compared the rapper, 42, to [Caitlyn] Jenner, 70,” The Post reports.
Che is quoted saying: “I mean, he used to be one of the coolest black dudes on Earth, now he’s showing up to events in sweatpants and orthopedic sneakers, listening to Kenny G and trying to get black people to like Trump. How long before this guy changes his name to Cathy?”
Che added: “Now, you might think that I’m crazy, but about five years ago, there was a fella named Bruce Jenner, and he moved to Calabasas…” The Post says Che then trailed off “as the audience audibly laughed uncomfortably.”
Among the many Twitter critics who sounded off, one wrote: “Caitlyn Jenner was deadnamed and misgendered as a punchline. There wasn’t even a joke. The punchline was just dead naming her and then the bit ended. It was super uncomfortable for the audience.”
The report notes that deadnaming is using a person’s former name prior to his/her transition.
Other Twitter users called on Che to apologize for the bit.
Click here to go to a YouTube post with video of the telecast, with Michael Che’s Kanye material starting at about the 7-minute mark.
I am trans and although I don’t like people making fun of who I am, this was a joke. If you want people to hate you, get upset when they make jokes. 10 years ago people didn’t even think I existed or shunned me. I will take this joke over hiding any day.
Sad as it appears that this is just another example of how, in today’s world, only white males are held accountable. As, although not on the same level as those uttered by Shane Gillis, they are no less troubling and inappropriate. As Gillis can, at the very least, say that his remarks were a year old. Which is not saying much but, sadly, goes to prove the pathetic double-standard in play here.
Michael Che is a COMEDIAN and a great one at that. Let’s try to keep things in their proper context. If I do not like the COMEDY that “SNL” serves, then I have the PERSONAL CHOICE to watch something else.