20 Times SNL Made People REALLY Mad

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the moments when the legendary NBC sketch show landed itself in hot water. Has “SNL” ever pissed you off? Let us know in the comments below!

#20: The Rise & Fall of Shane Gillis

The standup comedian and podcaster definitely wasn’t the first “SNL” cast member to be fired from the show, even before ever appearing in an episode, but it’s safe to say that he’s the most prominent. Slated to appear alongside Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman ahead of “SNL’s” 45th season premiere in 2019, Gillis was quickly ejected from the cast following accusations of making racist remarks on a podcast appearance a few years earlier. Gillis’ comedy career didn’t suffer permanent damage, and he was even invited to host “SNL” during its 49th season in 2024.

#19: Tim Tebow, Jesus, & Everything In Between

If you’ll recall, the former Denver Broncos superstar’s signature move is literally kneeling in prayer. This made him a ripe target for “SNL,” which poked fun at the quarterback’s devout Christianity in 2011. The sketch itself was fairly tame, with cast member Jason Sudeikis portraying a version of Jesus visiting the Broncos' dressing room. However, the response from the Christian community was far from gracious. Veteran televangelist Pat Robertson and Fox News analyst Bob Beckel were among those who criticized the comedy show for its perceived blasphemy. Expanding on the issue, Beckel opined that “there’s nothing funny about” commercializing Christianity.

#18: Woody Harrelson Uses “SNL” As a Soapbox

The outspoken multiple Oscar nominee is no stranger to controversy. Once arrested in Kentucky for planting hemp seeds, it might not come as a total surprise that Harrelson found himself the subject of backlash following remarks made during his 2022 “SNL” monologue. The actor and former “Cheers” star quickly veered into conspiracy theory territory, metaphorically referring to the American government as a “cartel” forcing “drugs” (in this case, the COVID-19 vaccine) onto an unsuspecting public. Having previously been criticized for promoting such conspiracies on his social media accounts, Harrelson was roundly reprimanded for spreading disinformation.

#17: Trying to Tackle the Try Guys

You guys remember this, right? It was all over the Internet in September 2022. The Try Guys, a group of four male YouTubers, were rocked by scandal when it was revealed that Ned Fulmer, one of their members, had had an affair with one of their production company’s employees. The fallout sent shockwaves across the web as fans tried to reconcile their squeaky-clean image with Fulmer’s betrayal. Of course, “SNL” had to cover it in some way, but still caught serious flak for it. Writing for Mashable, Elizabeth de Luna chastised the show for “condoning brazen workplace misconduct” and “[m]isunderstanding the Try Guys brand and fandom.”

#16: Dave Chappelle’s Monologue Results in Backlash

Ever the provocateur, Chappelle on “SNL” is always must-see TV. Having previously hosted two episodes following major U.S. electoral events, both admirers and detractors eagerly awaited his takes. However, his November 2022 hosting appearance took a slightly different turn, focusing on other recent news. In his somewhat bizarre and disjointed monologue, the notorious comedian addressed then-recent accusations of anti-Semitism directed at Kanye West and NBA player Kyrie Irving. Chappelle faced criticism from Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt for lacking sensitivity and nuance, as well as for not strongly disavowing the men’s remarks.

#15: Safelite AutoGlass

For the uninitiated, Safelite was probably the last company anyone would expect the show to poke fun at, considering their main business is selling and fixing car windshields. The premise of a 2017 sketch parodied Safelite’s previous commercials, with Beck Bennett portraying a Safelite technician who uncomfortably hits on a customer’s underage daughter in progressively creepier ways. Safelite responded negatively on Twitter, expressing disappointment at the show’s portrayal of its employees and calling it “not cool.” In response, NBC swiftly but quietly removed the clip from all of its official platforms.

#14: The ADL Takes Issue with a Cold Open

When a show tackles hot-button issues on a weekly basis, it’s bound to rile some people up. On December 5th, 2023, the United States Congress held a hearing about anti-semitism on American college campuses in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, and subsequent related protests. On December 9th, “SNL” began with a parody of this hearing, with cast member Chloe Troast portraying U.S. representative Elise Stefanik. The sketch took aim at Stefanik and the Republican Party at large for being vocal about this issue, but choosing to remain silent about other, similar topics. “SNL” took heat on social media from the Anti-Defamation League, New York Post, and Republican politicians about their handling of the issue.

#13: ISIS Recruitment Sketch

Did anyone see where this one was going when they first saw it? Host Dakota Johnson and “SNL” cast member Taran Killam play a dad-daughter duo; Killam is seemingly dropping Johnson’s character off at college in a parody of a 2015 Super Bowl ad for Toyota. When a truck full of arms-toting ISIS militants pulls up, it’s pretty clear that Johnson’s not going to college. “SNL” audiences didn’t quite warm up to this absurd, heightened spoof that leans heavily into dark comedy. The sketch was roundly criticized by social media users, with one person writing on Twitter (now X): “I say this as a life long #SNL fan. The ISIS commercial was in poor taste. Scratch that. Horrible taste.”

#12: Gen Z Hospital

Billionaire businessman Elon Musk is a divisive public figure, to say the least — his “SNL” hosting gig on May 8, 2021 was no less polarizing than one would expect. While Musk’s comedic chops received predictably mixed reviews, one sketch in particular stood out with regard to the controversy it raised. Viewers were critical of “Gen Z Hospital” for its attempt to satirize contemporary trends; beyond that, the sketch came under fire for its perceived attacks on African-American Vernacular English. Michael Che, who claimed credit for writing “Gen Z Hospital,” responded via social media, stating that he was unaware of the term’s existence and insisting he meant no offense.

#11: Pete Davidson vs. Dan Crenshaw

Who ever said “SNL” never had an effect on American politics? Okay, maybe no one ever said that, but it is slightly amusing to think that this Weekend Update segment is likely what got congressman Dan Crenshaw elected. As part of a bit in which Davidson roasted GOP hopefuls who were up for 2018’s midterm elections, the “King of Staten Island” star referred to the then-candidate Crenshaw as, well… “a hitman in a porno movie”. Left- and right-wing publications alike criticized Davidson for mocking not only a military veteran, but a person with a disability. Crenshaw later appeared on the show to roast Davidson right back, after which the comedian apologized.

#10: President Trump Airs Out His Grievance Via Twitter

It is a never-ending cycle – “SNL” and Alec Baldwin mock Donald Trump during a skit, prompting the President to rage on Twitter. In turn, this provides “SNL” material for a future sketch, ensuring they never run out of jokes to make at Donald Trump's expense. Eventually, this cycle went meta, resulting in Donald Trump blasting “SNL” on Twitter about a skit making fun of how Trump uses the platform. Apparently, the joke went over the President's head; Baldwin would play the role until 2020, at which point incoming cast member (and viral Trump impressionist) James Austin Johnson filled his shoes.

#9: Adrien Brody Goes Jamaican

After winning an Oscar for his fantastic turn in Roman Polanski's “The Pianist,” Adrien Brody seemed to try everything in his power to squander that momentum. Besides giving Halle Berry an impromptu kiss at the Oscars, the talented actor's improv skills were put to question on “Saturday Night Live.” While hosting a 2003 episode, Brody dawned fake dreadlocks and tried out a Jamaican accent before introducing reggae musician Sean Paul. Brody has yet to re-host “SNL,” suggesting that Lorne Michaels was far from impressed.

#8: When Down Syndrome Was the Punchline

Humor works best when it is at the expense of someone else. So, over the years, “Saturday Night Live” has poked fun at nearly everyone. Still, why Down Syndrome? The Danny's Song skit centers around a group of friends sitting at a bar fondly reminiscing about a few unsavory memories. Jon Colman, the CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society, wrote a scathing letter to Lorne Michaels; criticizing the sketch as insensitive and derogatory. NBC replied with an apology and thanked Colman for sharing his concerns with them.

#7: Martin Lawrence

Nowadays, it might be hard to believe, but there was a time when Martin Lawrence owned Hollywood. The “Martin” series was hugely popular, and he even made the jump to the big screen with “Bad Boys” and “Nothing to Lose.” Despite being one of the hottest comedians of the ‘90s, Lawrence was banned from SNL due to an offensive monologue delivered while hosting a 1994 episode. The rambling intro spends an absurd amount of time lambasting women for not taking proper care of themselves, prompting “SNL” to ban the comedian.

#6: Tiger Woods Sketch Mocking Domestic Violence

Mocking Tiger Woods is perfectly fine – “Saturday Night Live” would have been crazy to not write a skit after the infidelity scandal broke out. During 2009's Thanksgiving weekend, Elin Nordegren chased her husband with a golf club before Woods crashed his car and was temporarily knocked out. While Florida Highway Patrol found no evidence of domestic violence, “SNL” turned it into the punchline, with Kenan Thompson's Tiger Woods trying to excuse his progressively worsening injuries. The sketch was criticized for suggesting that domestic violence is funny when the husband is the victim.

#5: David Spade Mocks Eddie Murphy’s Career

Celebrities and politicians are fair game, but you should never throw one of your own under the bus. David Spade and Lorne Michaels learned that the hard way when a brief “Hollywood Minute” segment ruined the show's relationship with Eddie Murphy. “SNL” owes a lot to the legendary comedian, which explains why Murphy was shocked and hurt when Spade joked that his career was on the downturn. After two commercial misses, the last thing Eddie Murphy needed was for his ex-employer to kick him while he was down. 20 years later, they finally put their bad blood to bed.

#4: Djesus Uncrossed

Christopher Waltz is Jesus H. Christ in “Djesus Uncrossed.” The trailer spoofs Quentin Tarantino's “Django Unchained” and “Inglourious Basterds” by portraying a renegade version of Jesus who is out for revenge against the Romans who killed him. In the twist of the decade - a few religious groups did not take kindly to this over-the-top depiction of their Lord and Savior. “SNL” angered both Muslims and Christians, prompting the Council on American-Islamic Relations to publicly lambast Djesus Uncrossed as distasteful and disrespectful. We doubt anyone involved was surprised by the outrage.

#3: Laughing at a Blind New York Governor

Over the decades, “Saturday Night Live” has supplied great satire on America's political system, but their Governor Paterson sketch is not one of them. Since the politician is legally blind, Paterson does require assistance with some tasks, but is otherwise self-sufficient. “SNL”’s portrayed the Governor as a Mr. Magoo type character, stumbling into and ruining a few different skits. The Governor was not pleased with the gag, explaining that it perpetuates the stereotype that the visually impaired cannot carry out even the most basic of functions.

#2: Norm Macdonald Angers NBC Executive Don Ohlmeyer

Lorne Michaels tends to have complete control over the comings and goings of “SNL’”s cast, but there was a time when it was taken away from him. During the O.J. Simpson trial, “SNL” was known for portraying the “Naked Gun” actor as guilty, including remarks leveled by Norm Macdonald during his “Weekend Update” segment. Rumors suggest that these jokes annoyed Don Ohlmeyer - NBC's West Coast Division president and Simpson's friend - leading to the comedian's dismissal. Macdonald definitely believed this was the case, but it was never outright confirmed.

#1: Sinéad O'Connor Takes on the Pope

Even after all these years, this still easily stands out as “Saturday Night Live’”s most infamous moment. Sinéad O'Connor had already garnered a reputation as a musician who is willing to rock the boat, but that was taken into overdrive in 1992. After performing a cover of Bob Marley's “War,” the singer tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II while demanding that people fight the real enemy. The moment did not help O'Connor's career and Joe Pesci jokingly threatened physical violence during the next “SNL” episode.