Saturday Night Live (SNL) recently sparked backlash online following a skit that suggested that Vice President JD Vance caused the death of Pope Francis. Weeks after Francis died from a stroke last month, SNL aired a skit that featured James Austin Johnson as President Donald Trump, as he referenced a conspiracy theory that Vance was involved in the Pope's death.

"Otherwise, I'll have to send JD back to do his thing. Remember the last time JD met the Pope?" Johnson, as Trump said.

He later added: "He's got the Midas touch, but for bad things. He meets the Pope? Dead. Goes to India? War! Joins my campaign? Trump wins!"

According to Premier Christian News, the skit was met with criticism online for being disrespectful to Catholics and to the memory of Pope Francis.


"SNL's tasteless jab at Pope Francis' death and JD Vance is a new low for comedy," one viewer said.

"That's a new low, mocking death and spreading nonsense," another commented. "Proper decency's gone out the window, hasn't it?"

During a segment on "The View" to promote his new movie, "SNL" star Bowen Yang jokingly called Vance a "pope killer," which drew laughter from the show's co-host as well as the audience. As reported by the New York Post, Yang was discussing his portrayal of Vance on the long-running comedy show.

"I just thought there would be better people for it," Yang said, admitting that he did not initially want to play the role of the VP.

"It was my impostor syndrome. I was like, there are better people for this. I worked with an accent coach; I had to get it between Ohio and Appalachia with the accent. It's hard, it's very subtle!"

Meanwhile, co-host Whoopi Goldberg praised Yang's performance, calling it "funny as hell."

Yang, in his response, thanked Golberg, before jokingly saying, "I mean, look, the guy's a pope killer, OK?"

The panel and audience then reacted with laughter to the actor's comment.

"There's our new headline!" co-host Sara Haines said.

Goldberg, after regaining her composure from laughter, said, "Somebody had to say it!"

Yang likewise repeated to Goldberg, "Someone had to say it!"

Meanwhile, Joy Behar attempted to clarify the matter, saying, "He doesn't mean it literally; he's talking—spiritually." Sunny Hostin said, "It's just comedy!"

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