In a candid and unexpected turn, veteran Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member Pete Davidson took center stage during the show’s season 49 debut, delivering a surprisingly blunt opening monologue. The topic at hand was none other than the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, a matter of immense global concern.
With his trademark humor and irreverence, Davidson began by acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
“This week we saw the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza, and I know what you’re thinking: who better to comment on it than Pete Davidson?” he said in a lighthearted attempt to ease into a conversation that is anything but lighthearted.
Davidson, often known for his offbeat humor and self-deprecating jokes, went on to describe the distressing images that had crossed his path. He spoke of “terrible” photographs depicting the suffering of Israeli children murdered or kidnapped by the Islamic terror group, Hamas, in an unprecedented attack the morning of October 7 with the sole goal of annihilating as many Jewish people as possible.
The attack left over 1,300 Israelis dead with over 3,500 wounded and over 100 hostages taken into Gaza including women, children, babies and elderly. Israel subsequently declared war on Hamas and immediately began bombing Hamas leaders and munition sites in Gaza.
Davidson also mentioned images of Palestinian children caught in the crossfire as Israel defended itself against an enemy that is pure evil.
What made Davidson’s perspective particularly poignant was his personal connection to tragedy. He drew a parallel between the current war and his own experiences.
“Well, in a lot of ways, I am a good person to talk about it because when I was seven years old, my dad was killed in a terrorist attack,” Davidson said recounting the loss of his father during the September 11 terror attacks in the United States. “So I know something about what it’s like.” .
As he shared his own story, Davidson also shared a touching memory from his childhood. His mother had attempted to console him after his father’s death by purchasing what she thought was a Disney film for the then-eight-year-old Davidson.
However, in an unexpected twist, she accidentally bought him Eddie Murphy’s stand-up comedy special “Delirious.” Initially, she sought to confiscate the mistakenly purchased disc, but then paused when she noticed her son “laughing again.”
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Addressing the conflict once more, Davidson admitted, “I don’t understand it, I really don’t, and I never will, but sometimes comedy is really the only way forward through tragedy.”
In a sincere and empathetic tone, Davidson concluded his monologue by expressing solidarity with the victims of the Israel-Hamas conflict. He stated, “My heart is with everyone whose lives have been destroyed this week.”
“But tonight, I’m going to do what I’ve always done in the face of tragedy, and that’s try to be funny,” he said, making a firm commitment to his craft and the purpose he believes it serves.
Davidson’s monologue on SNL was a departure from the typical comedic fare often associated with the show. Davidson demonstrated the power of comedy not just to entertain but also to bridge the gap between unimaginable sorrow and the human spirit’s irrepressible need to find moments of levity, even in the darkest of times.
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