Dan Crenshaw is having the last laugh.
The former Navy SEAL elected to Texas’ 2nd Congressional District Tuesday coyly mentioned a widely criticized joke from “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend.
Commenting on Crenshaw’s looks, comedian Pete Davidson compared the the vet, who lost his eye to IED blast in Afghanistan in 2012, to “a hitman in a porno movie” during the show’s news-like “Weekend Update” skit. The joke was slammed on Twitter and criticized by Davidson’s “SNL” co-star, Kenan Thompson, the son of a Vietnam vet who says the show is “figuring out a way to right that wrong.”
From the podium, Crenshaw recognized people from his team, including the man who persuaded him to run, while mentioning the “SNL” moment.
“He’s upset because the recent ‘Saturday Night Live’ controversy has resulted in me having more Twitter followers than (him),” Crenshaw cracked.
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Later, Crenshaw remarked Americans “are not a people that shatter at the first sign of offense” which resulted in laughter from the crowd.
In his speech, Crenshaw also elaborated on the pain and reality of his injury, while sharing a message of unity.
“[When] my wife Tara got the phone call that I’d been seriously injured, and I may never actually lay eyes on her again, she wasn’t alone,” he said. “Friends and teammates were with her. This life, this purpose, this American spirit that we hold dear, we are not alone, we do it together.”
After making his speech, Crenshaw addressed the “SNL” incident more directly.
Speaking with Ivory Hecker of Houston’s FOX 26, Crenshaw said he wanted his supporters to know “SEALs don’t get offended. That’s just not what we do. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t offensive, but let’s stop demanding apologies and firings of people. Let’s just … demand that comedy actually be funny, but let’s be good people.”
Davidson’s joke was knocked on Twitter from many, like “View” co-host Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Senator John McCain. She called the bit “incredibly tone-deaf.”
The comic has taken a similar, no holds barred, approach to comedy when it comes to his own personal life. He has used his dad’s death in 9/11 and his recent break-up with Ariana Grande as fodder.
He talked about the joy he got from making people uneasy with his humor to The New York Times in 2015.
“I like doing that,” he said. “I like making things that are dark, awkward, weird things that you don’t really find funny, funny.”
Erin Jensen, USA TODAY; Contributing: Cydney Henderson
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