(NBC)
Dakota Johnson and “Saturday Night Live” are facing a major backlash on Sunday after a controversial sketch that some interpreted as making light of ISIS. As Gossip Cop reported, Johnson, who was guest-hosting, starred in a mock commercial for the militant group as one of her pre-taped “SNL” bits. Watch the video below.
The ad parodied a Super Bowl commercial that featured a father tearfully sending his daughter off to join the army. In the “SNL” version, the dad sends the daughter, played by Johnson, off to join ISIS. She’s picked up by a truck full of militants, one of whom says “Death to America,” and they drive off with guns firing. The video featured the mock slogan, “ISIS. We’ll take it from here, dad.”
The skit came just a few days after 26-year-old aid worker Kayla Mueller was confirmed to have been executed by ISIS, two and a half years after her capture. “SNL” seemed to be satirizing the situation, pointing out the craziness of a young woman voluntarily going to war-torn Syria, where terrorists are killing people every day. But many viewers thought it was inappropriate to turn the situation into a joke.
“Just saw maybe the most unfunny #SNL piece of all time. Is ISIS really a good subject for humor? #nbc And I’ve loved SNL for decades,” tweeted one watcher. “Dear #SNL, jokes about Isis are not funny. See how much you laugh when you have to see your loved one(s) being slaughtered. No respect,” said another. Someone else wrote, “Wow. I found NOTHING funny about that ISIS #SNL skit. Sorry, but no laughing matter. Ever.” And one user posted, “Saturday Night Live making Dakota Johnson the host was bad enough, but making an ISIS joke was just downright offensive.” Not everyone, however, thought the piece should be objectionable, and instead highlighted its Onion-like nature. One tweeter wrote, “I’m not sure I’m ready to condemn this.” Another summed up the outrage as “Today in ‘people who don’t get satire’ news.”
Gossip Cop commenters seem to be divided. After we posted the video Saturday night, one of our readers commented, “WORST SKIT EVER!!!!..SOMEONE SHOULD BE FIRED!!!!!” Another said, “It’s totally insensitive to Kayla Mueller’s family and others who have been subject to these so called humans.” “The Super Bowl ad was one to remember. This spoof by SNL was absolutely uncalled for,” wrote another commenter, who even wondered if this would be the end of Johnson’s career. But a different reader posted, “Apparently no one knows the meaning of satirical anymore. Maybe the better question is what kind of moral compass are parents giving their kids that they would join a murderous band of barbarians like ISIS?” And a fellow commenter agreed, arguing that the skit wasn’t supposed to be funny, but “potent.”
“SNL” star Taran Killam, who played the father in the clip, took to Twitter Sunday to defend his work. “Proud of this. Freedom to mock is our greatest weapon,” he tweeted, interestingly adding, “Thanks to the writers who asked not to be mentioned by name.” Check out the full video below, and tell us if you think it crossed the line.
