SNL is excoriated for its ‘tone-deaf’ and ‘shoddy’ takedown of House anti-Semitism hearings… as it’s revealed ex-star PULLED OUT of controversial sketch despite rehearsing

“Saturday Night Live” continues to face massive backlash for its “tone-deaf” portrayal of congressional hearings on anti-Semitism on campus – with former cast member Cecily Strong reportedly pulled out at the last minute.

The NBC show’s cold open attempted to dismiss testimony from the presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania regarding anti-Semitism at the nation’s top universities, but the joke fell flat.

Former SNL star Strong was set to play Rep. Elise Stefanik in the sketch, but she was replaced by newcomer Chloe Troast after a dress rehearsal, according to a report by The Wrap.

It’s unclear why Strong was replaced, but the site notes that Strong may delay his return until next week, when the show will be hosted by former SNL star Kay McKinnon. DailyMail.com has reached out to NBC for comment.

Fox News “The Five” host Greg Gutfeld was one of the sketch’s many critics, writing on X: “How do you explain SNL siding with Ivy League neo-racists?” I wonder what colleges their writers went to.”

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman said the skit was “the most embarrassing” he had ever seen.

“Unfortunately, this is not surprising… SNL has not had its finger on the pulse for about a decade; they’re about as out of touch with reality as Liz Magill… This is probably the most awkward decision in SNL history,” the author wrote.

“(Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Will Ferrell and Adam Sandler are probably shaking their heads somewhere in disgust, embarrassed at how far SNL has sunk since its heyday.)”

Fellow rabbi and writer David Bashevkin added: SNL’s “Achilles’ heel” is that the joke is always on Trump. I’m an SNL fan, but it was such a flop.”

The former US ambassador to Israel added: “Just watched last night’s SNL opening night. Regardless of whether you care about anti-Semitism on college campuses or whatever you feel, it just wasn’t funny.”

Representative of the North Carolina Republican Party. Greg Murphy demanded “nothing less than a full apology from the entire SNL staff” after the skit.

He wrote on X: “Attacking @repStefanik instead of anti-Semitic progressive presidents sounds like their own anti-Semitism. Typical damn liberal hypocrisy.

Conservative radio host Larry Elder also weighed in, writing on X: “I haven’t watched SNL in a while. I quickly remembered why. Cringe. Why is it not anti-Semitic to ridicule a critique of anti-Semitism for its critique of anti-Semitism?”

Ben Domenech, editor-in-chief of The Spectator, said: “The rotting husk of SNL can mock this all it wants. The damage is done, heads are rolling, all because of a very simple question.”

Domenech’s wife Meghan McCain also wrote the skit: “Anti-Semitic hate crimes have increased 400% since October 7th and SNL thinks it’s funny…” This is vile. Vile.

Several others wrote to X calling on the show to apologize.

SNL creator Lorne Michaels was born into a Jewish family in Toronto and then moved to Los Angeles in 1968. He created SNL in 1975 and ran it for most of its 50-year run.

The pre-written sketch was released just hours after Penn State President Amy Magill, whose testimony before a House panel appeared particularly smug, resigned in disgrace following dismal results over the past eight weeks.

In a moment that was meant to poke fun at the quality of Stefanik’s hearing, which has generally been widely praised, she said, “I’m going to start yelling questions at women like Billie Eichner.”

“Anti-Semitism – yes or no?” she yelled at the three women playing college presidents.

‘Yes or no! Is calling for the genocide of Jews consistent with Harvard’s code of conduct?”

The actress playing Harvard University’s Claudine Gay responded, “Well, it depends on the context.”

‘What? That can’t be your answer,” retorted Troast’s Stefanik, echoing the pair’s shocking real-world interaction.

“Lady from Pennsylvania, same question, yes or no?” she asked the actress playing Magill.

“If you don’t say yes, you’re going to make me look good, and that’s very, very hard to do,” she continued. “So I’ll ask you directly.” Do you think genocide is bad?

iHeart Radio host Mark Simone wrote on X after the sketch: “Only a hate-filled and anti-Semitic SNL would do a sketch about anti-Semitic college presidents testifying before Congress and make the subject of the sketch the questioner, Congresswoman Stefanik. .’

While SNL found the congressional testimony laughable, the consequences were real for Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania, who has since been forced to resign from her post.

The Ivy League school’s board of trustees chairman Scott Bock also resigned with immediate effect during a trustees meeting Saturday night, just hours after Bock announced Liz Magill’s resignation as president in just her second year on the job.

Bock, a Magill supporter, has defended her during months of criticism over the university’s handling of various alleged acts of anti-Semitism.

Universities across the US have been accused of failing to protect Jewish students amid growing concerns about anti-Semitism around the world and the fallout from Israel’s intensifying war in the Gaza Strip, which has come under increased criticism due to the rising death toll of Palestinians.

Three presidents were called before the committee to answer these accusations. But their legalistic, ambiguous answers prompted new backlash from opponents, particularly in response to questions from Rep. Stefanik, who repeatedly questioned whether “calling for the genocide of the Jews” would violate Penn’s code of conduct.

“Yes, if speech turns into behavior, it can be stalking,” Magill said. Magill subsequently told Stefanik, “This decision depends on the context, Congressman.”

Harvard President Claudine Gay and MIT President Sally Kornbluth gave Stefanik similar answers, and Bock noted this.

Magill made “a very unfortunate mistake — similar to that of two fellow university leaders sitting next to her — after five hours of aggressive questioning by a congressional committee,” Bock said.

Still, Magill has faced criticism from the White House, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, members of Congress and donors. One donor, Ross Stevens, threatened to withdraw a $100 million gift because of the university’s “position on anti-Semitism on campus” if Magill was not replaced.

A day later, Magill responded to the criticism, saying in a video that she would view calling for genocide of the Jewish people as persecution or intimidation and that Penn’s policies needed to be “clarified and evaluated.”

This has not quelled criticism.

In a statement Saturday, Stefanik said Magill’s “forced resignation” was the “absolute minimum of what is required” and said Harvard and MIT should follow suit.

‘One is ready. There are two more to go,” Stefanik said, adding that “this is just the beginning of the fight against the pervasive rot of anti-Semitism that has destroyed the most ‘prestigious’ institutions of higher education in America.”