Saturday Night Live drew backlash after its recent broadcast promoted abortions through a comedy sketch with a clown who had an abortion.
According to Faithwire, the skit featured “Goober the Clown,” played by actress and comedian Cecily Brown, who has been a cast member on the late-night show since 2012.
The segment was a part of the “Weekend Update” portion of the show. During the segment, cast member and “Weekend Update” co-anchor Colin Jost noted the Supreme Court heard arguments last week on Texas’ heartbeat bill, which bans all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
After Jost’s remarks, Goober, who was wearing a top hat, spinning bow tie and red clown nose, appeared in the scene to joke around and talk about her abortion experience. After spraying Jost with a flower water gun, sparking laughter from the studio audience, Goober revealed that she had had an abortion just before she turned 23.
“I had an abortion the day before my 23rd birthday!” the clown proclaimed.
The controversial segment remained centered on “clown abortion concerns” as a way to drive home the comedian’s point that all people should have access to abortions.
“I wish I didn’t have to do this, because the abortion I had at 23 is my personal clown business, but that’s all some people in this country want to discuss all the time,” Goober said before citing several abortion-related statistics.
“Did you know one in three clowns will have a clown abortion in her lifetime? You don’t because they don’t tell you,” the Goober asserted. “They don’t even know how to talk to other clowns about it!”
Towards the end of the performance, Goober made a case for abortion, asserting that her abortion affected the trajectory of her life and career.
“I know I wouldn’t be a clown on TV here today if it weren’t for the abortion I had the day before my 23rd birthday,” she said.
The skit was applauded by members of the audience as well as from pro-choice groups online.
“So much love to Cecily Strong for sharing her abortion story.” Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio tweeted. “This is so honest & powerful.”
So much love to Cecily Strong for sharing her abortion story.
— Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio (@PPAOhio) November 7, 2021
This is so honest & powerful. 💜 https://t.co/vw6agD1AKm
Our stories power our fights for justice and freedom — even when, no joke, they make us laugh, too. Thanks, Cecily,” wrote Planned Parenthood President and CEO Alexis McGill Johnson.
“I know I wouldn’t be a clown on TV here today if it weren’t for the abortion I had on my 23rd birthday. … It ought to be safe, legal, and accessible.”
— Alexis McGill Johnson (@alexismcgill) November 7, 2021
Our stories power our fights for justice and freedom — even when, no joke, they make us laugh, too. ❤️ Thanks, Cecily. https://t.co/1NefK2WT8j
Pro-life leaders, on the other hand, found the SNL skit to be tactless.
Jeanne F. Mancini, the President of March For Life, an annual rally and march in protest of abortion, tweeted, “Taking the life of an unborn child isn’t a laughing matter. Not for the mother or the baby.”
Taking the life of an unborn child isn’t a laughing matter. Not for the mother or the baby. https://t.co/3U2M9Lk5e7
— Jeanne F. Mancini (@jeannemfl) November 8, 2021
“Sacrificing your child to play a clown on SNL. Not worth it,” Live Action Founder and President Lila Rose added.
Sacrificing your child to play a clown on SNL.
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) November 8, 2021
Not worth it. https://t.co/41HlcpSLt0
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/September15
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
