Piers Morgan is speaking out against the controversial audience response to a “Weekend Update” joke about Luigi Mangione.
During last night’s “Weekend Update” segment, when host Colin Jost mentioned Mangione, the prime suspect charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the crowd immediately erupted into cheers, prompting figures like Morgan to criticize the show.
While Jost looked uncomfortable at the crowd’s reaction, unable to finish his sentence, he reacted sarcastically by saying: “You’re wooing for justice, right?”
Morgan wrote on X: “So disgusting… and Colin Jost just smirks away as if it’s all one big giggle. Shameful moment for SNL.”
Jennifer Sey, an author and business executive, also took to social media to respond to the cheers. On X, she wrote: “The SNL audience must be the dumbest group of pathetic woke conformists known to man. Here they cheer for a silver spoon/trust funder murdering a stranger with some deranged Robin Hood ‘I’m a hero’ story. Audience is moronic. And evil.”
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Right-wing accounts have specifically spoken out about the moment. Stephen Miller, president-elect Donald J. Trump’s homeland security advisor, subtweeted the video on X, writing: “Revolting. Sickening. Vile.”
Mangione being mentioned on “SNL” is yet another example of the media and world’s current fascination with him. Since being arrested, Mangione has gone viral, with many people taking interest in his Ivy League background and manifesto speaking out against the healthcare industry’s policies.
This also isn’t the first time “SNL” has mentioned Mangione in a segment. During last week’s episode, Sarah Sherman joked: “Y’all psychos find him a sex symbol … He has women and gay guys hot and bothered.”
Mangione is expected to be brought before a court in New York tomorrow. He is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center.