“Saturday Night Live” comic Pete Davidson on Saturday night’s show mocked Texas congressional candidate Dan Crenshaw (R) for wearing an eye patch after losing his eye in combat while serving in Afghanistan, prompting swift backlash on social media from conservatives defending the former Navy SEAL.
The comment from Davidson came during a segment on the show’s mock newscast, “Weekend Update.”
“This guy is kind of cool, Dan Crenshaw,” Davidson said while showing a photo of Crenshaw wearing an eye patch.
{mosads}”You may be surprised to hear he’s a congressional candidate for Texas and not a hit-man in a porno movie,” Davidson added.
“I’m sorry. I know he lost his eye in war — or whatever,” he added, to laughter from the live studio audience.
“Whatever,” Davidson chuckled after the audience response died down.
Crenshaw is running in Texas’s 2nd Congressional District and was in the U.S. Navy from 2006 to 2016, serving as a Navy SEAL and lieutenant commander. He lost his right eye in an improvised explosive device blast in 2012 in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
Crenshaw went on to deploy twice more in the Middle East and South Korea before retiring in 2016.
The 34-year-old announced his intention to run for Congress in November 2017.
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released a statement on Sunday condemning Davidson and NBC and demanding an immediate apology.
“Getting dumped by your pop star girlfriend is no excuse for lashing out at a decorated war hero who lost his eye serving our country. Pete Davidson and NBC should immediately apologize to Dan, and to the millions of veterans and military families who tune in every weekend – because they’re not laughing,” said NRCC Spokesman Jack Pandol.
Pandol is referring to Davidson’s recent break-up with pop star Ariana Grande.
Backlash on Twitter promptly also ensued against Davidson and “SNL” for ridiculing the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor recipient.
Crenshaw also responded to “SNL” in a tweet, saying he tries “not to be offended” but the program should recognize “that vets don’t deserve to see their wounds used as punchlines for bad jokes.”
The Hill has reached out to NBC for comment.
-Updated 2:33 p.m.