The controversial postelection episode of 'Saturday Night Live' got a lot of people talking — including Elon Musk
Will Heath / NBC via Getty Images
- The "Saturday Night Live" postelection episode didn't land well with fans of the show or Elon Musk.
- Fans said Bill Burr, this week's host, was racist and sexist after his controversial opening monologue.
- Musk criticized the show after Dana Carvey did an impression of him.
The "Saturday Night Live" postelection episode was criticized by people across the political spectrum, including Elon Musk.
The show featured a controversial monologue by the comedian Bill Burr and a skit featuring "SNL" alumnus Dana Carvey doing an impression of Musk.
In 2016 and 2020, when Donald Trump and Joe Biden won the presidential races, respectively, Dave Chappelle hosted the first postelection episodes. It's unclear why he wasn't chosen this year, but in recent years, he's been criticized for jokes viewed as antisemitic and transphobic.
Burr took over this year and joked that Asian people spread COVID-19 and that women should "whore it up" to become president.
"Listen, I know a lot of ugly women, feminists, I mean, don't want to hear this message. But just tease him a little bit. Make a farmer feel like he's got a shot," Burr advised future female presidential candidates after Kamala Harris lost to Trump last week.
Some fans said Burr's jokes were racist and sexist.
Did Bill Burr make a racist joke 10 seconds into his monologue?? #SNL #SNL50 pic.twitter.com/7fvMPPRbSH
— Kiki (@keila7345) November 10, 2024
I knew Bill Burr hosting the post election episode would be a disaster but good god. Making a racist pandemic joke immediately followed by saying female politicians need to “whore it up” and “give the farmers a little tease” in order to win the Presidency. Do better @nbcsnl. #SNL
— only kind of rad (@julianne_terese) November 10, 2024
#SNL had the opportunity to have a host whose monologue could have been unifying, healing, AND funny. Think Dolly Parton, among others. Instead, SNL leaned into Bill Burr's hate. "Ugly feminist" is a hateful trope, especially after US women lost body autonomy. ???? FFS Lorne ????
— Toutons (@LovesDaToutons) November 10, 2024
In a total shitshow of a week, it’s reassuring to know that people seem unanimous in their view that Bill Burr was the absolute WORST possible host #SNL could have come up with after the election. Crude, misogynist, sexist — perfect for Trumpers. Terrible for Earthlings.
— Ken Rudin (@kenrudin) November 10, 2024
Others defended the jokes, saying critics were being too sensitive.
This is one of the funniest sets I’ve seen on SNL. Bill Burr talks about Trump’s big win. pic.twitter.com/Gdcj7lhKjk
— Justin Hart (@justin_hart) November 10, 2024
I don't watch SNL but I had to watch Bill Burr's monologue after hearing the woke crowd got offended again. This is fucking hilarious! ????
— BQ (@BrendanQ_1999) November 10, 2024
This is what real comedy is. If people get offended, that's their problem for taking jokes seriously. pic.twitter.com/WpLVfMn5gH
To all the people that are offended by Bill Burr’s SNL monologue. You’re the reason Kamala lost the election. People are sick and tired of your hypersensitivity. Just say comedy offends you And Please seek mood stabilization therapy. #billburr #snl #Blast
— That Guy Shane (@ProfanityNewz) November 10, 2024
pic.twitter.com/S6BrmeKYHK
Later in the monologue, Burr turned his attention to Trump, calling him an "orange bigot" and "lunatic," but those jokes appear to have been overshadowed by his previous comments.
Burr is known for being controversial, with his last appearance on SNL in 2020 receiving a similarly mixed response from fans after he made jokes about white women, anti-maskers, and Pride month.
Before Burr's monologue, the show opened with the "Saturday Night Live" cast standing together onstage and saying they'd always been Trump supporters in an apparent joke about companies currying favor with the president-elect. Some fans said the joke wasn't funny.
#SNL's cold open with the cast pretending for their own safety to support Trump and Musk falls flat when it's exactly how networks and publishers have acted all along - as long as they get that tax cut.
— Karen DaltonBeninato (@kbeninato) November 10, 2024
And Bill Burr fell flat as a pandering pancake. pic.twitter.com/6RVBIbtZHb
saw this comment on the SNL live discussion thread that really sums up bill burr’s monologue :/ really hating seeing NBC just going with this pic.twitter.com/8arqVvByZy
— ˚₊ rhino⁎⁺˳✧༚ . (@rhinofriend) November 10, 2024
Later in the skit, James Austin Johnson, a cast member who usually impersonates Trump, appeared as a "hot, jacked Trump," while Carvey sent up Musk, who was instrumental to Trump's election campaign.
On Sunday, Musk, who has previously hosted the show, replied to three different X users to criticize the show.
NBC and Burr's representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
They are so mad that @realDonaldTrump won ????????
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 10, 2024
Dana Carvey just sounds like Dana Carvey
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 10, 2024