Media

SNL's Michael Che turns Israeli election turnout into genocide punchline on Weekend Update

Campaign Against Antisemitism condemns joke as amplifying baseless claim, outrage coverage now carries the joke further than NBC ever could

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‘SNL’ co-host Michael Che turns Israeli voter turnout into ‘genocide’ punchline ‘SNL’ co-host Michael Che turns Israeli voter turnout into ‘genocide’ punchline foxnews.com
Michael Che sits at the Weekend Update desk on Saturday Night Live. Michael Che sits at the Weekend Update desk on Saturday Night Live. foxnews.com
Sherry Colvin of Arlington, Va., holds an Israeli flag while praying and dancing near the Washington Monument. Sherry Colvin of Arlington, Va., holds an Israeli flag while praying and dancing near the Washington Monument. foxnews.com
'Weekend Update' hosts on SNL 'Weekend Update' hosts on SNL foxnews.com

Michael Che closed Saturday's Weekend Update on NBC's Saturday Night Live with a joke about Israel's election: "This week, a record number of people voted in Israel's election, which is great to see regardless of if you're on the right side, or the left side, or the genocide."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism acknowledged the line was a joke but said it plays on a widespread but baseless belief that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. The organisation argued that genocide allegations against Israel portray Jews as perpetrators of the same crime committed against them during the Holocaust, and said such claims have fuelled abuse and violence against Jews worldwide. NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck countered that the segment could instead have highlighted Arab participation in the election — Arab-led parties won 19 Knesset seats in the recent vote.

Che has form. In February 2021 he suggested Israel's COVID-19 vaccination campaign favoured Jewish citizens, drawing criticism at the time. The same Weekend Update segment also targeted Donald Trump, JD Vance and Republican messaging ahead of Tuesday's midterms, drawing no comparable coverage.

The machinery around the joke is now the story. Late-night comedy is the last venue where political lines get tested on broadcast television, and each probe generates its own coverage economy — clips, condemnations, counters — with advertising revenue attached on both sides. The joke travelled further through Fox News and the campaign groups reporting it than it ever would through NBC's own audience.

The segment aired once, on Saturday night. The outrage ran through Monday.