As America’s home for satire for nearly fifty years, SNL has definitely picked up the occasional controversy or two. Whether it comes to unnecessarily edgy sketches, polarizing political hosts, or musicians ripping up pictures of the pope, the show has seen an unfathomable amount of both onscreen and offscreen antics. Some sketches raise the question, to what extent does certain content count as “funny” or worthy of being satirized? Although criticized for growing more and more tepid over the years, SNL still continues to push these boundaries – whether they intend to or not. Now, remarkably, on its 47th season, here are some of the most controversial SNL sketches of all time, ranked.



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7 Nude Beach

Penned by a young Conan O’Brien in 1988, the “Nude Beach” sketch, featuring Matthew Broderick as the new guy on a nudist colony, included the word “penis” over 40 times. Although viewers might not bat an eye watching it today, the sketch generated 46,000 letters of complaint upon its release – It’s safe to say that references to genitalia were still pretty taboo back then. In fact, the main reason that the sketch even came to exist was because the FCC had updated censorship limitations only a week prior to include the word “penis.” Conan really took that opportunity and ran. Despite the controversy it stirred up, the “Nude Beach” sketch still remains a beloved one, prone to making anyone twelve years or older laugh.

6 Father Daughter Ad

What starts off as a touching moment between father and daughter (Taran Killam and Dakota Johnson) quickly takes a jaw-dropping turn for the worse in this incendiary sketch. Viewers are led to believe that Johnson is off to join the military, until a truckload of men with guns pulls up, as the ad reads, “ISIS: We’ll take it from here, Dad.” Many did not find the humor in this abrupt, unsettling sketch, especially since, at the time, many young girls were fleeing Syria to join the terrorist organization. However, others argued that “bullies” need to be criticized and ridiculed, or else they will become a “normal” part of society. The sketch reinforces ageless questions about the ends and limits of parody.

5 Jesus Visits Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos

In another controversial Taran Killam skit, we see the actor playing former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, only to have a quick locker-room run-in with Christ himself. Jesus, played by Jason Sudeikis, implies that he’s been helping the team win – “I just go where people need me the most!” – and shows annoyance at Tebow’s constant praying. Although neither Jesus nor Tebow are depicted in a particularly mean-spirited light, many Christian groups took issue with the skit, calling it “despicable.” Even politicians got in on the debate, with former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin declaring to Fox News, “I am so pro-Tebow. He is so unashamed of his savior, Jesus of Nazareth.” Oddly enough, Tim Tebow himself remained mostly silent on the controversy.

4 The Situation Room: Tiger Woods’ Accidents

This 2009 sketch aired when world-famous golfer Tiger Woods was accused of cheating on his wife with multiple women. We see Kenan Thompson as Woods, alongside his wife, Elin (Blake Lively), whom the sketch insinuates is repeatedly beating Woods between news segments. Overall, the sketch hits a relatively one-note “joke,” while being incredibly tone-deaf towards the issue of domestic violence. Many domestic abuse charities slammed the skit for its insensitivity, citing that it “made a mockery of abuse.”

3 Weekend Update: Gov. David Paterson State of the State

SNL has never been one to hold back on criticizing or satirizing famous politicians, whether they deserve it or not. However, this “Weekend Update” sketch pushes the envelope perhaps too far, poking fun at former New York governor David Paterson for his physical disability. Paterson is blind, and Fred Armisen plays up on this in an extremely exaggerated and caricatured way. The New York Times cited the portrayal as “disoriented and buffoon-like.” Clearly, lines must be drawn as to what is and is not comedic material – physical disabilities should certainly never be one of those things.

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2 Jimmy Fallon Impersonates Chris Rock

In 2000, Jimmy Fallon impersonated fellow SNL alum Chris Rock wearing full-on blackface. Although the incident didn’t cause any outrage when it was released, a resurfaced video of the sketch compelled Fallon to apologize in 2020. “I am very sorry for making this unquestionably offensive decision, and thank you all for holding me accountable,” the late-night host said. Rock himself, along with a scourge of other comedians such as Jamie Foxx, defended Fallon on the matter, although Rock also took the time to condemn the usage of blackface as a whole. Although the sketch’s controversy was fortunately resolved in an amiable manner, it still serves as a reminder to hold celebrities accountable for past behavior.

1 Word Association

This infamous sketch starring two SNL titans sees Chevy Chase interviewing Richard Pryor for a janitorial position. What starts as an innocent game of Word Association charges up very quickly as Chase begins spouting racial slurs, eventually saying the n-word on live television. The sketch was actually perceived as groundbreaking at the time, with magazines like Today calling it a “signature moment in SNL history.” However, the sketch has not aged well, with many finding it deeply problematic. It also capped off the purported tension between Chase and Pryor, who notoriously did not favor one another, as well as a tense week overall on the show. The sketch continues to be widely discussed and debated today.