His edgy jokes left many viewers uncomfortable. Source: YouTube
COMEDIAN Chris Rock hit a flat note with his opening monologue as guest host of Saturday Night Live over the weekend, with jokes about terrorist attacks in America leaving some viewers uncomfortable.
The comic and actor, who was an SNL cast member during the early 90s, opened the show by touching on topics including the Boston Marathon Bombing and the Freedom Tower, built in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre towers.
“Yesterday was Halloween, tomorrow’s the New York City Marathon ... scary. What could go wrong there? That Boston Marathon was scary. It was probably the most frightening, sadistic, terrifying terrorist attack ever. Just think about it: 26 miles. 26 miles. People jogging for 26 miles. You finally get to the finish line and somebody screams, ‘Run!’ That is horrible,” Rock said, to nervous laughter from the studio audience.
He then turned his attention to New York’s Freedom Tower, situated only a few kilometres from the SNL studios.
“In New York, we had our own terrorist attack and we bounced back. The Freedom Tower — they should change the name from the Freedom Tower to the Never Going In There Tower, cos I’m never going in there. There is no circumstance that is ever getting me in that building. Are you kidding me? Does this building duck? Who’s the corporate sponsor, Target?
“I am never going in the Freedom Tower. I don’t care if Scarlett Johansson is butt naked on the 89th floor in a plate of ribs — I’m not going in there.”
Rock’s edgy jokes made many uncomfortable, and social media was abuzz with critiques of his monologue:
wow, so it seems as though no one in the SNL audience thought Chris Rock was funny. It was awkward.
— dreamers often lie (@benjamin2971) November 2, 2014 I typed "Chris Rock A..." into Twitter search and it immediately suggested "Chris Rock Awkward" which pretty much describes tonight's SNL.
— Scott Hanselman (@shanselman) November 2, 2014 Chris Rock with arguably one of the worst monolgues in the history of #SNL. So awkward.
— Jason K (@knowles79) November 2, 2014 I know Chris Rock did not just make fun of the Boston marathon and 9/11. That's bad taste. #SNL
— Brittany N. (@chicagogirl482) November 2, 2014 Chris Rock may have just set the mark for the most tasteless @nbcsnl monologue in the show's history. Really bad.
— Bob Margolis (@BobMargolis) November 2, 2014 You can watch the monologue in full below:
