‘SNL’ Weekend Update anchor calls Republicans slurs, mocks Charlie Kirk in stand-up special

Michael Che, co-anchor of “Saturday Night Live” Weekend Update, has drawn attention for jokes in his new Netflix stand-up special about Charlie Kirk’s killing and President Donald Trump’s supporters. The routine includes repeated use of an ableist slur, which Che defended on stage, and mocks the political language used to criticise Trump.

The special, “Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota”, was taped at Minneapolis’s First Avenue venue. Che said he had not known who Kirk was before his killing, described watching footage of the assassination as distressing, and joked about the explanation that conservative Christian men were being silenced. He also criticised the choice of presidential candidates, comparing the process unfavourably with sports rankings; the article says Che did not immediately respond to a request for comment.