+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

All the ways 'Saturday Night Live' referenced Roe v. Wade during powerful Mother's Day episode

May 8, 2022, 22:19 IST
Insider
The cast's "1973" shirts were just one reference to Roe v. Wade in the May 7 episode of "Saturday Night Live."@nbcsnl/Twitter
  • "Saturday Night Live" tackled the Supreme Court's leaked draft opinion on Roe v. Wade this week.
  • Kate McKinnon played Justice Amy Coney Barrett to discuss Roe v. Wade on "Weekend Update."
Advertisement

This weekend's episode of "Saturday Night Live" took aim at the Supreme Court's leaked draft opinion on Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that made access to legal and safe abortion a constitutional right. Politico obtained and released the 98-page document that threatens to overturn the ruling, leading many to wonder what the future of abortion looks like in America.

The cast of "SNL" used its Mother's Day episode, hosted by Benedict Cumberbatch with musical guest Arcade Fire, to tackle the issue in several ways.

The show's opening sketch traveled back to medieval times to mock the leaked draft opinion

Benedict Cumberbatch and several cast members riffed on the leaked draft opinion on Roe v. Wade during the May 7 episode of "Saturday Night Live."Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

In the show's cold open, Cumberbatch and cast members Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Chris Redd, Alex Moffat, and Andrew Dismukes took viewers back to 13th-century England, where the show suggested Justice Samuel Alito drew his inspiration for the leaked draft opinion he purportedly authored.

A narrator introduced the audience to the sketch, saying, "We now go to that profound moment of moral clarity, almost a thousand years ago, which laid such a clear foundation for what our laws should be in 2022."

While discussing ideas for abortion law, Cumberbatch's character said sarcastically, "We should make a law that would stand the test of time so that hundreds and hundreds of years from now, they'll look back and say, 'No need to update this one at all. They nailed it back in 1235.'"

Advertisement

Kate McKinnon played Justice Amy Coney Barrett while discussing Roe v. Wade on "Weekend Update"

Kate McKinnon portraying Justice Amy Coney Barrett during "Saturday Night Live" on May 7, 2022.Will Heath/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

On the show's satirical news program, McKinnon joined "Weekend Update" cohost Colin Jost to discuss the case. When Jost suggested that the justice was happy about the draft of the ruling on Roe v. Wade, McKinnon said, "Well, I don't know what would make you think that other than everything I've ever said."

McKinnon continued: "You are a murderer if you have an abortion, but you're not a murderer if you put a baby in a bag in a mailbox ... I have seven children and a job and I make it work, so why every single other woman can't do the same is beyond me — unless I'm missing something about class in America."

Arcade Fire's lead singer Win Butler made a statement about women's rights

After Arcade Fire finished performing their single "The Lightning I, II," Butler said to the crowd, "Women's right to choose forever and ever and ever, amen."

The musician also played with a guitar that read "Call your mom" and "1973," a reference to the year the decision on Roe v. Wade was passed.

Cumberbatch and several cast members also closed the show in T-shirts that referenced the historic ruling

Cumberbatch and cast members like Strong and Mikey Day also wore shirts that read "1973" while closing the show.

Advertisement
You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article