Some people feel no topic should be off-limits for humor. That said, there’s nothing funny about life-threatening infirmities like cancer, diabetes, and stroke, jokes about which are in poor taste and play down their severity in the eyes of others.
That brings us to this week’s Saturday Night Live skit by “Miss Eggy,” played by cast member Ego Nwodim, featured in this edition of our popular “You Be the Judge” series.
In it, she rants about airline food while she is supposed to be commenting on the operational issues at Newark Airport (which are a travesty in their own right).
All is well and good until her comment about peanut allergies:
“And y’all went and took peanuts off the plane cause everybody wanna have an allergy. If you don’t take a Benedryl and shut your gay ass up, then hell…”
This has stirred up a hornet’s nest of outrage, followed by the inevitable internet trolling on social media.
So, now we turn to you, our readers, who have been around the block a few times regarding food allergy “humor” in the media. Do you find the outrage appropriate or an overreaction? Sound off in the comments section below.
I think there should be more outrage and she should be permanently removed from the program
I find “shut yo gay ass up” outrageously offensive!!
Both are extremely offensive!
I want to see if they’d make such “jokes” about cancer! I would’ve said rapes, but we all know it’s up there for such people with food allergies, Celiac, gay…
Yeah, there’s a whole lot going on with her comments that I’m not happy with, but the biggest issue is that it exacerbates myths that actually place our lives in danger. I don’t think any specific topic should be off limits for jokes – the Portlandia Allergy Pride Parade skit is one of my favorites – but when the joke makes a marginalized group that is literally in danger of death seem like a bunch of overreacting whiny babies, maybe you just suck as a comedian? Don’t punch down.
It isn’t wise to joke about a food allergy, especially when adult onset is on the rise. I wouldn’t tempt fate. Food allergies are no fun. Given the current climate a skit like this might give someone an idea of a stunt to pull on an airplane. And, would you make the same joke about some other life threatening issue?
Not cool. Those with allergies already feel we are not always hearts and are not taken seriously. Skits like this add to the frustration allergy sufferers face every day. Please do better SNL.
Havin grandchildren with food allergies I. find this skit very offensive! SNL needs to get educated.
Not cool
People are blowing this way out of proportion. It’s obviously satire and anyone who doesn’t realize this probably thinks Johnathon Swift actually ate babies. People make jokes about cancer and dementia all the time, why is it suddenly off limits when it’s about peanuts? I thought we were trying to legalize comedy.
Gay ass is more offensive than the food allergy joke. Signed, mom of an allergic kiddo
This angers me to no end.
while I found the super bowl commercial that mentioned peanut allergy offensive (and other comics’ skits like Fallon & Ricky Gervais offensive!), I didn’t find this skit offensive and take it personal even though I have kiddos with a life-threatening peanut allergy. SNL skits are typically R rated, over-the-top, adult humor. They aren’t family-friendly Seinfeld or Nate Bargetze comedy shows. We should expect to be offended by parts of SNL comedy and not watch if these types of shows upset us.
It is wrong because it attempts to trivialize a life threatening situation while giving incorrect remedy information. It is easy for people’s minds to retain “why don’t you just take a benadryl”
Yeah, this is the real issue with the skit. It exacerbates the existing hugely incorrect issues regarding allergic reactions and how they’re perceived by the general public.
Just goes to show how people need to be educated on food allergies. Jokes like this undermine the severity of allergies. This is no joke, allergies can kill.
We need to remember SNL is a late night show based on satire. They have been controversial since the start. I do not believe the show is promoting or encouraging dangerous behavior. It’s a skit portraying someone unhappy. Acting over the top. Don’t match that energy by being “offended” by a comedy skit that you have the option not to even watch.
When a family member can have an anaphylactic reaction caused by even just a trace of an allergen, thoughts about the subject change. It is just not a laughing matter and SNL should know better. I am not offended, I am surprised at the lack of information on allergies.
It’s comedy. People will be insensitive and we just need to move on. Be offended? YES! Is punishment other than choosing not to watch the show necessary? IMHO, no.
Pure ignorance plain and simple. Jokers will joke, but being educated about the material is key to being respectful while bringing humor to a situation.
SNL stopped being relevant years ago. This just proves that now they are collectively stupid AND irrelevant.
What a disgrace! Children and people’s lives are at risk and this turns into a comedy skit! Horrified for all this offends and impacts!
I don’t think it’s funny as I have a grand daughter with a severe allergy to peanuts. Some people just have a hive like reaction. My grand daughter’s reaction is death. I know people will say, “So what.” But those that say, “So what.” do not have death staring then in the face within all unverified food items. Get a severe allergy where just a minuscule amount will kill ….. then what you say matters. Not until “You walk a mile in another man’s shoes” as they used to say.
I was surprised at the skit. However, I have always been bothered by the many TV shows that portray allergy reactions as a joke, Puffy face, swollen eyes, lips 3 sizes too big etc etc and they treat is a big funny joke not as a potential death waiting to happen.
I don’t take offense at any joke about any subject. The key word here is “joke”. A joke usually has a punchline or satire or irony. It’s recognisable as a joke even if the words are offensive. This has none of that. I’m not offended by any of this skit, I just don’t find it funny and the “comedian” is a try-hard who simply can’t do comedy.
I honestly agree with what she said about everyone wanting to have an allergy. I’ve seen so many people pretending to have an allergy that people sometimes think I’m pretending too. She also probably wasn’t the one to write the joke, she’s just getting the hate because she delivered it. Sometimes it’s good to joke about allergies, but this definitely was not the right way to do so.