Saturday Night Live is under fire for a recent joke in its latest episode that touched on the topic of Hamas. Viewers criticized the joke, deeming it “insensitive,” “tasteless,” and “unfunny.” The sketch, featuring host Timothée Chalamet, involves the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy trying to talk Chalamet’s character out of jumping off a building.
SNL drops a Hamas joke on a skit where Timothée Chalamet says he has a band called Hamas, which is followed by a ‘Please Don't Destroy’ member saying he’s not sharing a band by that name:
— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 12, 2023
“Dude I’m not sharing a song by Hamas on Instagram” pic.twitter.com/bylo3fbqxI
The punchline involves his fictional band being named “Hamas,” pronounced “Hay-mus,” leading to the characters refusing to support him on social media.
Criticism primarily revolves around the timing of the joke, coming shortly after the October 7 attacks on Israel with reported casualties. The region is currently grappling with a humanitarian crisis, with over 10,000 reported deaths since Israel initiated bombings in Northern Gaza.
making jokes about an ongoing genocide? when people are actually dying every single second of the day? so fucking disgusting these people are sick fuck timothée chalamet fuck snl https://t.co/bnJO6tcwY0
— una (@alicehenryli) November 12, 2023
most celebrities aren’t even bothered to say a single thing about the current situation but then they go on and make extremely tasteless jokes about people getting murdered. america at its best as usual. while you sit in your mansions and make jokes, children are getting bombed. https://t.co/agP1u58z82
— kaz (@azirascrowley) November 12, 2023
Critics questioned the appropriateness of lightening the situation through humor, drawing comparisons to “SNL’s” more respectful treatment of other global conflicts, such as Ukraine’s conflict with Russia. Some viewers expressed frustration with celebrities making light of serious situations, while others questioned the ability of “SNL” to deliver humor given the gravity of ongoing events.
timothée chalamet can go to hell bc wtf
— regulus (athena) black ౨ৎ | 🇵🇸 (@P6TTERISM) November 12, 2023
the fact he just blessed me with a reason to finally dislike him even more gosh i just love the way god works https://t.co/GaD7vQoPvz pic.twitter.com/hem4XAynlh
— vic’s haunted holidays ❄️ (@drugprblm) November 12, 2023
Source: Huff Post
