SNL Takes Down Al Franken, One of Its Own: ‘I Know This Photo Looks Bad, but Remember It Also Is Bad’

Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, was elected to Senate after working for Saturday Night Live for fifteen years.

On Thursday, he apologized after radio personality Leann Tweeden accused him of groping and forcibly kissing her on a USO Tour. Many wondered if the show would comment on this very cultural moment — especially since Franken is “one of their own.”

This weekend, the show took its time getting to the topic. The cold open focused on Donald Trump Jr.’s Wikileaks interactions. As the Daily Beast reported, “SNL waited until ‘Weekend Update,’ where Colin Jost and Michael Che reluctantly went in on the man who spent many nights delivering comic reports from behind that desk.” but they did make it clear where they stood.  Jost began with this:

“Thursday is Thanksgiving, and there’s so much to be thankful for this year. Unless you’re a human woman.” #SNL #WeekendUpdate pic.twitter.com/U1J7tO9SgK

— Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) November 19, 2017

Then, he specifically addressed the Franken situation:

Senator Al Franken is being accused of sexual misconduct on a 2006 U.S.O. tour by Leeann Tweeden, who posted this photo of Franken apparently groping her breasts while she was asleep. Now, I know this photo looks bad, but remember, it also is bad. And sure, this was taken before Franken ran for public office, but it was also taken after he was a sophomore in high school. It’s pretty hard to be like, ‘Oh, come on, he didn’t know any better. He was only 55.’ Tweeden is also claiming that Franken forced her to kiss him as part of a rehearsal for a comedy sketch they were performing for the troops. Come on, man — didn’t the troops in Afghanistan have it hard enough without having to sit through sketch comedy? I mean, people can barely stay up to watch sketches after “Weekend Update.”

Watch it below:

Image Credit: Screen Cap