Comedian Kenan Thompson said Tuesday that “Saturday Night Live” plans to “right that wrong” by addressing the show’s widely condemned joke about House candidate Dan Crenshaw’s war injury.
Asked by “The View” co-host Meghan McCain if the show planned to “do anything,” Mr. Thompson said, “I’m sure they are. I mean, I know it’s being handled internally.”
So far NBC and “SNL” have made no public statements on the uproar over cast member Pete Davidson’s joke about Mr. Crenshaw, a Texas Republican who lost his right eye in Afghanistan.
“You may be surprised to hear he’s a congressional candidate from Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie,” Mr. Davidson said, adding, “I’m sorry, I know he lost his eye in war or whatever.”
Mr. Thompson, a longtime “SNL” cast member, called the situation “unfortunate,” adding that, “It’s not our intention to disrespect anyone.”
“Pete’s a good kid. He has a big heart. He has tragedy in his life with his father passing on 9/11 being a firefighter,” Mr. Thompson said. “I don’t think he goes out to offend people, but unfortunately, that’s what happened in this case, so they’re figuring out a way to right that wrong.”
#SNL’s Kenan Thompson reacts to his co-star Pete Davidson’s joke about a wounded vet, saying it’s “never somewhere I would go”: “Pete’s a good kid, he has a big heart … I definitely don’t think he goes out to offend people, but unfortunately that’s what happened in this case.” pic.twitter.com/ioiIVd2C8y
— The View (@TheView) November 6, 2018
A slew of Republicans, including Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, have called for the show to apologize, while Mr. Crenshaw has said he doesn’t want “some hollow apology” but would like to see “SNL” producers donate to veterans’ groups.
“There’s a lot of veterans that really need help, and frankly, this kind of thing is offensive to them,” Mr. Crenshaw said Monday on CNN. “They feel laughed at.”
A congressional candidate who lost his eye while serving in Afghanistan says a joke made on “Saturday Night Live” mocking his combat wound was “dark” https://t.co/5PPUb451AL pic.twitter.com/xv9gpgeS8N
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 6, 2018
NBCUniversal spokeswoman Lauren Roseman said Monday that, “We are not commenting.”
Mr. Thompson has been the most prominent member of the show to speak out on the controversy as he makes the media rounds to tout his new movie, “The Grinch.”
“It’s not necessarily my department, but since I’m out promoting ’The Grinch,’ I get to answer these questions,” he told “The View.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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