The Most Shocking Controversies In ‘SNL’ History…

For five decades, Saturday Night Live has pushed boundaries, and sometimes, it’s gone too far. In 1992, singer Sinéad O’Connor stunned viewers when she tore up a photo of The Pope live on air, declaring, “Fight the real enemy.” Her protest against abuse within the Catholic Church got her banned from NBC for life. O’Connor later said the act symbolized rebellion against hypocrisy and abuse, and she never regretted it. That same year, a “Wayne’s World” sketch crossed a line by mocking 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton’s appearance. The show quickly apologized after backlash, with creator Lorne Michaels admitting the remark about a child was “inexcusable.” More recently, in 2018, Pete Davidson drew outrage after mocking veteran Dan Crenshaw’s eye patch, earned from combat in Afghanistan. Davidson later apologized on-air, though he later claimed he was “forced” to, saying that he didn't think he did anything wrong.