Saturday Night Live has been appropriately mocking Donald Trump ever since he launched his campaign.
But a writer for the sketch comedy series is now getting in YUGE trouble over a pretty tasteless joke she made about Barron Trump.
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Last Friday, comedy writer Katie Rich posted — and later deleted — a tweet joking about the future of the President’s 10-year-old son:
Yeah… not great.
Critics blasted the writer for making a tasteless joke about an innocent child. And apparently, SNL didn’t take too kindly to the off-color jab either — over the weekend, it was announced that Rich was suspended indefinitely from the NBC series.
Rich issued an apology on Monday for her “insensitive tweet,” posting on Twitter:
I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I’m so sorry.
— Katie Rich (@katiemaryrich) January 23, 2017
While we’re sure her apology appeased many, some of Katie’s supporters made it clear they didn’t think she had anything to apologize for! On Monday afternoon, the hashtag #KeepKatieRich started trending in the wake of her indefinite suspension.
Katie’s defenders believe her punishment was much too harsh, especially given the new POTUS’s own history of disparaging comments on Twitter.
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Fellow comedy writers pointed out that suspending Rich for an over-the-line joke is ridiculous when it’s a part of her job to push boundaries with edgy comedy, sharing:
Katie Rich made a joke in poor taste and, unlike Drumpf, actually apologized. Don’t set a horrible precedent by firing her. #KeepKatieRich
— John The Revehater (@JohnHatesThings) January 23, 2017
Our @POTUS tweets worse things ever 30 minutes..maybe we hold him to a higher standard than a writer for a comedy show. #KeepKatieRich
— Lenny Jacobson (@Lennyjacobson) January 23, 2017
You can’t make a joke about a child and write for SNL, but you can talk about sexually assaulting women and be the President. #keepkatierich
— Jacqueline Felker (@whattheFELK) January 23, 2017
A comedy writer getting suspended for a relatively benign tweet followed by a perfect apology is a canary in the coal mine #keepkatierich
— Amelia Bonow (@ameliabonow) January 23, 2017
Mock the disabled & get to be POTUS. I guess us regular folks are held to higher standards than a leader of the Free World #KeepKatieRich
— JustKate (@punchkatesface) January 24, 2017
You know what’s an actual “attack” on children? Taking away their health care. #keepkatierich
— Marla Caceres (@MarlaCaceres) January 23, 2017
#keepkatierich
Katie Rich’s mistake was using twitter rather than saying it on a bus with Billy Bush.
├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥ Sin’s Beggar (@SinsBeggar) January 23, 2017
Others were quick to offer Katie other jobs, like Community creator Dan Harmon:
Aaaaaaaand hired. https://t.co/UrYxW0njEL
— (((Dan Harmon))) (@danharmon) January 23, 2017
Sure, knock knock, who’s there, a yummy child, I don’t care. Now you want her fired AND you don’t want her to work somewhere else? https://t.co/Tw8FfJgWij
— (((Dan Harmon))) (@danharmon) January 24, 2017
Maybe we should kill her. You know, for the children. We’re good people. Willing to stick our necks out so far. You know like in prison.
— (((Dan Harmon))) (@danharmon) January 24, 2017
If SNL aren’t going to #keepkatierich can @iamsambee hire her instead?
— Jason Peck (@jasonpeck15) January 24, 2017
Of course, Rich had her fair share of critics as well, with many firmly agreeing with Chelsea Clinton that Barron should be completely OFF LIMITS — and some even hoping she gets fired from SNL for good:
SNL writer no doubt thinks bullying a 10-year-old CHILD is hilarious. This is truly sick. LEAVE BARRON ALONE! pic.twitter.com/Px7XnvMaZe
— Paula Bolyard (@pbolyard) January 20, 2017
The fact that writers and other people are willing to attack Barron Trump, a ten year-old, just shows how much we really needed change.
— Jack Murphy (@RealJack) January 20, 2017
So glad liberals have Rosie, Michael Moore, Cher, Madonna and this assclown.Thought Presidents kids were off limits? https://t.co/FlKzqVsqAR
— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) January 22, 2017
Saturday Night Live writer @katiemaryrich attacks 10 year old kid, Barron Trump!
Left has no boundaries, no morals. #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/EqHueBq0ln
— Tennessee GOP (@TEN_GOP) January 20, 2017
SNL writer responsible for hate tweet against 10 year old Barron Trump.
This isn’t funny. Nobody is laughing. https://t.co/mUDXoTGFFJ
— 🤖🌙🇺🇸 (@technowizardry) January 20, 2017
Cannot believe NBC/SNL writer Katie Rich apparently suggested 10 year old Barron Trump might be a “homeschool shooter” I hope they fire her.
— JackieTillmanHarty (@JackieTHarty) January 21, 2017
Sounds like passionate arguments from both sides.
Rich’s joke was definitely poorly thought out, but we think it’s worth noting the dig was meant to be aimed toward Donald and Melania Trump as parents, ripping on the stiff and toxic Rapunzel-esque life Barron probably has growing up at Trump Towers.
Sadly, it seems Katie didn’t think about the collateral damage being done to an innocent 10-year-old in the process when expressing that sentiment…
The question is, should that lapse in judgment cost the writer her job?
How about it, Perezcious readers??
Do YOU think Katie should be fired from SNL, or was her punishment already too harsh for her crime? Cast your votes (below)!
