“Saturday Night Live” is facing backlash for parodying a Try Guys video that addressed Ned Fulmer’s cheating scandal – but arguably “missed” the point.
In the original now-viral clip, YouTube stars Eugene Lee Yang, Zach Kornfeld and Keith Habersberger explained their decision to fire their fourth member after discovering he was having a workplace affair with video producer Alexandria Herring, a junior employee.
Some “SNL” viewers argued that the sketch comedy show’s take on the video seemingly took aim at the trio for holding their co-worker accountable, instead of mocking Ned for cheating on his wife of 10 years, Ariel Fulmer.
“I should not care this much but snl doing a try guys bit where they make fun of NOT Ned but the other three for holding him accountable for all his s–t and being hurt by it is so nasty,” one person wrote on Twitter. “like pls tell me more abt how funny you think a man cheating on his wife with his employee is.”
Another tweeted, “Did SNL just gaslight the Try Guys?”
Others asked why “SNL” didn’t slam the “power balance” that was at play, arguing that Ned cheated with someone who had far less power than he in their workplace.
“is it just me or is it kinda screwed up that they are making fun of a POWER DYNAMIC of a sexual relationship between a company’s founder and one of its employees??” one person tweeted.
A second added, “Oof, rude awakening to SNL that the entire internet is on the Try Guy’s side. There were so many other ways they could have parodied this, but they went for making the victims the punchline while downplaying workplace harassment.”
The “SNL” version featured Bowen Yang, Mikey Day and Andrew Dismukes portraying remaining Try Guys members Lee Yang, Kornfeld and Habersberger, respectively.
“It’s obviously an evolving story, but CNN can confirm that the Try Guys have released an official Youtube video clapping back at ex-Try Guy Ned Fulmer, the wife guy–Try Guy,” Brendan Gleeson, who hosted the Oct. 8 episode, said at the beginning of the skit.
Day as Kornfeld then chimed in to say, “Worse, he committed the heinous act of having a consensual kiss and not telling us, his friends.”
The skit came two weeks after the Try Guys announced Ned had been fired from the group amid reports he was seen kissing Herring in a New York City bar.
“Family should have always been my priority, but I lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship,” Ned wrote in a statement at the time.
“I’m sorry for any pain that my actions may have caused to the guys and the fans but most of all to Ariel,” he continued. “The only thing that matters right now is my marriage and my children, and that’s where I am going to focus my attention.”
