The most recent episode of “Saturday Night Live” (SNL), aired on December 7th, has sparked intense controversy due to the jokes made in the “Weekend Update” segment about the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
The public reaction has been divided between those who consider the humor to be appropriate and those who label it as insensitive and in bad taste. During the segment, hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che referenced Thompson's murder, which occurred on December 4th in New York, and the public perception of the American healthcare system.
SNL jokes about UnitedHealthcare CEO's death divide social media
During the segment, Colin Jost started with an ironic criticism of the New York Police Department's investigation, stating: "If you shoot someone in the middle of the street, you better hop on your bike, get on a bus, and get out of here, sir."
The humor continued with comments about the lack of suspects and the audience's reaction to the crime. "This really says something about the United States: that a man was murdered in cold blood and the two main reactions were 'Yeah, well, healthcare sucks' and 'Girl, that shooter is hot!'", Jost added, prompting laughter among the audience in the studio.
Michael Che also joined the irreverent tone when referring to an image of the suspect smiling at a shelter while flirting with an employee, adding more dark humor to the situation. The reactions on social media were quick to come and sparked a lengthy discussion between two sides.
Users on social media are discussing in depth SNL's jokes about the murder of Brian Thompson
On one hand, some viewers defended the segment and considered that the jokes were a satirical critique of a failed healthcare system. "The joke about the Port Authority passengers was spot on," commented a user on YouTube. Others took the opportunity to share their frustrations with the healthcare system on platforms like X.
During the discussions, there were many posts highlighting bad experiences with insurers like UnitedHealthcare. However, the controversy also included strong criticisms of the program. "Taking lightly someone's murder is in bad taste," wrote a user, while others described the segment as "tasteless" and "sick."