“Saturday Night Live’s” newly-anointed “Weekend Update” anchor Michael Che made headlines this week over his sarcastic comments in response to a viral sexual harassment video.
Instead of apologizing after he came under fire on social media, the NBC comedian blasted out a series of bizarre tweets on other subjects, including race, cats and “white celebrities.”
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“Just one time I’d like a white lady that took my cab to say ‘No he was first. Take this,’” Che tweeted Thursday. “I wouldn’t even take it. But I’d just appreciate it.”
Che’s original incendiary comment was a response to the now famous “catcall” video, which depicted a woman named Shoshana B. Roberts being subjected to unwanted sexual attention on the streets of New York. The Hollaback!-produced documentary and social experiment hit the Internet on Wednesday and already has over 18 million views.
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“I want to apologize to all the women that I’ve harassed with statements like ‘hi’ or ‘have a nice day’ or ‘you’re beautiful,’” Che wrote on Facebook after watching the video. “I can’t imagine what that must feel like.”
Despite how his innocuous comments may seem out of context, the video shows that Roberts to be clearly disturbed by the the constant stream of sexual harassment she encountered, and Che soon faced backlash from publications and fans alike after seemingly making light of her experience by comparing it to his own.
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“I can’t imagine what that must feel like,” he continued. “The closest thing I’ve experienced is maybe when a girl recognizes me from TV and they say things like ‘Ahh! Oh My God! ‘SNL’ ‘SNL’ ‘SNL’! Take a picture! Take a picture! I love you so much! What’s your name again? Thank you! Thank You! Wait, say something funny!’ But even that is nothing like the harassment of having a complete stranger tell me to ‘smile.’”
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The comedian and television personality has since taken that comment down, but his bizarre Twitter musings haven’t slowed.
Here are just a few of Che’s tweets and retweets:
i think some of u are misunderstanding that post. im simply just making fun of something that is important to a lot of people.
– Michael Che (@CheThinks) October 29, 2014
so u white celebrities are just gonna sit there and not say the nword?
– Michael Che (@CheThinks) October 30, 2014
..and fuck cats!
– Michael Che (@CheThinks) October 30, 2014
@CheThinks Pretty amazing: you trivialized women’s struggles AND came off as a pompous douche. Way to make it about you being “famous”
– Jessica Sportello (@girlcliches) October 29, 2014
See video: Michael Che Debuts on ‘Weekend Update’ in Chris Pratt-Hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ Season Opener
Che replaced “SNL” veteran Cecily Strong this season in the “Weekend Update” chair, debuting alongside Colin Jost in the NBC sketch comedy show’s season premiere on Sept. 28. It marked the first time “Saturday Night Live” had gone with two male anchors on “Weekend Update.”
See the Hollaback! video about sexual harassment that sparked it all below.