Paul Mescal has been criticized for his “lazy” joke about Brits after his performance on Saturday Night Live in the US last week.
Critics attacked the Gladiator II star in the wake of his Dec. 7 SNL monologue, framed as an attempt to address stereotypes about the Irish and concluding with a commentary on Ireland’s relationship with Britain.
“People also think Irish people hate British people,” he said. ‘That’s not true. We just don’t consider them people.
The comments received backlash from Irish social media users who deemed the joke “disastrous” and “painful to watch.”
Irish Times columnist Finn McRedmond urged Irish people to get over the “repetitive tedium of British-bashing” after the 28-year-old actor became agitated with an opening comment about stereotypes during his presenting monologue on Saturday.
in it columnMcRedmond urged Irish people to “retire” the “boring, intellectually unserious and derivative” joke and “work a little harder than this.”
“And yet, among the less interesting, it is fashionable to continue with the routine… and now those who go on SNL declare that the Irish do not consider the British as people,” he wrote.
‘Here we have a long list of second-hand banalities spoken with the air of people who believe themselves to be exotic iconoclasts. But, of course, they are not iconoclasts. They are peddlers of clichés who have mistaken their cynicism for funny humour.’
Edward White, Dublin-based journalist judged the spoof is a “disastrous foray into comedy”, warning that the actor could “really” find himself off the Christmas list of “Guy Ritchie and all the other British directors”.
“Monologue taken straight from the headlines of the 80s,” added Dr Eoin Lenihan.
The backlash comes just weeks after Mescal faced criticism for what fans deemed a “deeply inappropriate” exchange about his encounter with King Charles at the London premiere of Gladiator II.
Actor Paul Mescal delivers his opening monologue on SNL in New York on December 7, 2024.
As host, Mescal kicked off Saturday Night Live on December 7 with a several-minute monologue, in which he discussed his acting roles, his lack of comedy experience, and his background.
“I’m very proud to be Irish,” he told an encouraging audience in New York.
‘The Irish people have been through a lot: centuries of British occupation, the Great Famine, mass emigration, that U2 album that automatically downloaded to everyone’s phones…’
Before his next joke, Mescal said he hoped to clear up some “ugly stereotypes about the Irish,” making a self-deprecating joke about his countrymen before addressing the British.
He continued making a joke about Americans, drawing laughter from the audience.
Mescal finished with a joke about the luck of the Irish before saying he felt lucky to be in New York and opened the show.
Still, not everyone agreed with Mescal’s joke about the British.
a user saying: “As an Irishman, it was painful to see this.”
Mescal watches as Denzel Washington meets King Charles III as they attend the Royal Film Performance and world premiere of ‘Gladiator II’ in Leicester Square on November 13.
Paul Mescal is seen on December 5, 2024 in New York City.
Others disagreed. User pokeeffe wrote: ‘Get over yourself… it’s satire. Besides, it is our history, and how we see the British after 800 years is our choice, thank you very much.”
Kim Riley said the monologue may have been “written by SNL staff” but “should have had the good sense to refuse to say that line” in any case.
Some SNL parodies are co-written with the help of the show’s writing staff, although the hosts have been known to make their own.
The SNL monologue controversy came weeks after Mescal received a cold reception from fans for his comments about his meeting with King Charles.
Mescal was accused of “choosing honesty over consequences” for his comment about meeting the royals when questioned by US media.
When asked by Variety’s Marc Malkin how “wild” it was to meet King Charles at the London premiere, a bemused Paul replied: “It’s never something I thought was on bingo cards.” I’m Irish, so it’s not on the priority list…’
The County Kildare native continued: “But it’s kind of surprising for (director) Ridley (Scott) because I know how important it is to him.
“So to see his film celebrated in that context was pretty special.”
When asked what he said to the King, Paul shared, “You just nod and you’re wrong… I found it a little hard to hear what he was saying because your head is in a frenzy.”
King Charles, 75, spent the eve of his birthday watching Gladiator II at the Leicester Square premiere in London.
Paul Mescal stars alongside Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington in Gladiator II
“So you’re just nodding and smiling.”
Reacting to the exchange, fans wrote on X/Twitter: ‘I bet it was a nice experience. Meet a king? My God
“I really think asking Irish people about the British royal family is deeply inappropriate,” said another.
“God I love the reactions of Irish actors when they are introduced to the royal family,” said a third.
One fan on social media suggested, “the interviewer needs to read the room and maybe some history.”
“That was diplomatic of him, considering,” another added.