SNL’s Pete Davidson ripped for mocking GOP candidate who lost eye in combat

“Saturday Night Live” comic Pete Davidson on Saturday night’s show mocked Texas congressional candidate Dan Crenshaw (R) for wearing an eye patch after losing his eye in combat while serving in Afghanistan, prompting swift backlash on social media from conservatives defending the former Navy SEAL.

The comment from Davidson came during a segment on the show’s mock newscast, “Weekend Update.”

“This guy is kind of cool, Dan Crenshaw,” Davidson said while showing a photo of Crenshaw wearing an eye patch.

{mosads}”You may be surprised to hear he’s a congressional candidate for Texas and not a hit-man in a porno movie,” Davidson added.

“I’m sorry. I know he lost his eye in war — or whatever,” he added, to laughter from the live studio audience.

“Whatever,” Davidson chuckled after the audience response died down.

Crenshaw is running in Texas’s 2nd Congressional District and was in the U.S. Navy from 2006 to 2016, serving as a Navy SEAL and lieutenant commander. He lost his right eye in an improvised explosive device blast in 2012 in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.

Crenshaw went on to deploy twice more in the Middle East and South Korea before retiring in 2016.

The 34-year-old announced his intention to run for Congress in November 2017. 

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released a statement on Sunday condemning Davidson and NBC and demanding an immediate apology.

“Getting dumped by your pop star girlfriend is no excuse for lashing out at a decorated war hero who lost his eye serving our country. Pete Davidson and NBC should immediately apologize to Dan, and to the millions of veterans and military families who tune in every weekend – because they’re not laughing,” said NRCC Spokesman Jack Pandol.

Pandol is referring to Davidson’s recent break-up with pop star Ariana Grande.

Backlash on Twitter promptly also ensued against Davidson and “SNL” for ridiculing the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor recipient.

“lost his eye in war or whatever.”….. this is @snl – they address a cast members breakup as if it’s of vital importance. but laugh at a vet. https://t.co/4xoMLCKWTH

— GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) November 4, 2018

By Monday around 11:15 AM the narrative will start to change to how Davidson is a victim of the angry right and how artists shouldn’t bend to pressure from the unsophisticated mob. https://t.co/X87ULnIJ7I

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) November 4, 2018

Totally cheap, disgusting and classless of SNL to have Pete Davidson mock Dan Crenshaw for wearing an eye patch…then giggle that he was injured in the line of duty.@DanCrenshawTX is a Navy SEAL and hero who lost his eye in an IED attack in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/7VbMohQ3t2

— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) November 4, 2018

Pete Davidson mocking GOP candidate Dan Crenshaw because he wears an eyepatch after he lost right eye in an IED blast as a Navy SEAL was truly abhorrent and rotten to the core. And the fact that so-called “joke” was approved by an entire staff of writers is horrific. #SNL

— Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) November 4, 2018

Dan Crenshaw was nearly blinded in 2012 when he was hit by an IED blast in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, where he was on his third deployment. He lost his right eye in the blast, and his left eye was badly damaged.

Shame on you, @nbcsnl, this is disgusting! pic.twitter.com/VQnhXMa6iT

— The Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) November 4, 2018

This is absolutely revolting! You cannot credibly complain about @realDonaldTrump insensitive rhetoric if you’re going to turn around and do the same thing. @nbcsnl owes Mr. Crenshaw an apology. https://t.co/PCThsH4G7b

— Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) November 4, 2018

Crenshaw also responded to “SNL” in a tweet, saying he tries “not to be offended” but the program should recognize “that vets don’t deserve to see their wounds used as punchlines for bad jokes.”

Good rule in life: I try hard not to offend; I try harder not to be offended. That being said, I hope @nbcsnl recognizes that vets don’t deserve to see their wounds used as punchlines for bad jokes.

— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) November 4, 2018

The Hill has reached out to NBC for comment.

-Updated 2:33 p.m.