With Harvey Weinstein facing allegations of sexually assaulting multiple women over a span of decades, comedians are dealing with the issue of how to approach the topic, if at all. James Corden showed how horribly the situation could play out by offering a round of tone-deaf Weinstein jokes during a gala presented by the Foundation for AIDS Research Friday night.
Saturday, Michael Che and Colin Jost appeared to fare better as the pair took turns skewering Weinstein on SNL’s “Weekend Update.”
“Weinstein—who’s been accused of multiple counts of sexual assault—is reportedly going to Europe for sex rehab,” Jost noted, after leading with a joke about Weinstein-influenced emoji. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s gonna help anybody. He doesn’t need sex rehab. He needs a specialized facility where there are no women, no contact with the outside world, metal bars, and it’s a prison.”
The mix of laughs and groans Jost’s initial emoji joke got speak to the sensitivity of the subject. One SNL staffer, speaking on a condition of anonymity, told the New York Times that Weinstein jokes were cut from last week’s show because they “seemed to fall flat with the show’s studio audience.”
Last week’s lack of Weinstein material had viewers and Twitter users accusing SNL of taking it easy on Weinstein due to ties to The Weinstein Company and possible favoritism on the part of Saturday Night Live creator and Producer Lorne Michael.
Out of curiosity where is @realdonaldtrump from??? Seems like there could be more to that pass than this nonsense. https://t.co/N01MLZA0Wa
Remember when Kate McKinnon portrayed herself as Harvey Weinstein?
Me neither, because SNL can’t make jokes of their liberal friend.
Hard to believe SNL is going back to this Kellyanne-psycho well while also ignoring Harvey Weinstein.
Actually easy to believe.
“This is a tough spot for a comedian, because it’s so hard to make jokes about sexual assault,” Che noted before giving Weinstein a full clip.
“But it’s so easy to make jokes about a guy who looks like this,” Che added. “I mean he looks like chewed bubblegum rolled in cat hair.”
Weinstein’s alleged crimes occupied half of a five-minute “Weekend Update” clip, while the remaining portion went to frequent SNL punching bag (and former guest), President Donald Trump. Jost’s emoji reference to Weinstein begins at the very beginning of the clip above.
