Michael Che appears on stage during Scleroderma Research Foundation's Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine New York 2018 at Caroline's on Broadway on December 11, 2018 in New York City.
(Picture: Getty Images for The Scleroderma)Comedian Michael Che of Saturday Night Live deleted all of his Instagram posts after coming under fire for making jokes about Olympic gymnast Simone Biles pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics 2021 competition for her mental wellbeing.
“I got like 3 mins of Simone Biles Jokes in my head. I’m going to the Cellar tonight to say them into a microphone. As the dorky kids say, I’m choosing violence,” Che wrote on his Instagram Story according to The Wrap.
Those who gave him Biles-related jokes had their jokes reposted on his Story.
Larry Nassar, the doctor who was jailed after being convicted of sexual abuse by more than 150 women, was the subject of one of the shared jokes.
For years, he worked with Olympians and young female gymnasts. One of his accusers was Biles.
“Larry Nassar understands Simone Biles better than anyone,” the joke read. “He too had to quit doing what he loved at the pinnacle of his career because of mounting pressure.”
In a subsequent Instagram Story, Che claimed after all the “jokes” that he was “hacked.”
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) July 30, 2021
Many people took to social media to voice their opinions, citing his treatment of Biles, with some saying he’d shown “hate” for Black women.
“If he thinks it’s funny, then defend it. If he sees the problem w/ the jokes, why say it for a five min laugh? She’s being criticised & that emotional distress lasts longer than five min. That said, when his life/ family happens is on the chopping block, he better not make a single peep,” another added.
“Michael Che, come on, bro smh,” wrote sports and gossip media outlet Baller Alert.
Michael Che come on bro smh pic.twitter.com/vi1Zz07yu0
— BallerAlert (@balleralert) July 29, 2021
Check out some other responses below.
Yes @nbcsnl @nbc is on hiatus, but doesn't Michael Che have an @HBO deal too? It'd be a great time to act on all the big talk of listening to Black women, and drop that talent-free wastrel who constantly maligns us. We have receipts for years but this latest stunt is inexcusable.
— @PiaGlenn (@PiaGlenn) July 30, 2021
Michael Che been tryna jump immediately into his “edgy Dave Chappelle” phase without spending all the time Dave did actually being funny.
— Pro Poverty P (@DrunkUncleP) July 30, 2021
Michael Che comes for people he thinks he can get away with dunking on. Trans women, Black women, sexual assault survivors. Judging by his flimsy "I got hacked" defense, it seems he had no idea how beloved Simone Biles is, or just how messed up it is to share a Larry Nasser joke.
— Delia Harrington (@DeliaMary) July 30, 2021
When are people gonna realize that a lot of men, at their very core, ABSOLUTELY H🤬TE WOMEN
— TheRealDuchessofHastings (@oswhyteknits) July 30, 2021
The guy who quit the Daily Show after 9 episodes has thoughts about leaving a gig early.
— Matt McDaniel (@themattmcd) July 30, 2021
Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics' all-around gymnastics competition on Wednesday to focus on her mental wellbeing.
Her decision occurred one day after pulling from the team competition during the first round after struggling on the vault, which is usually her strongest event.
For her decision to put her health ahead of a prospective medal, the four-time Olympic gold champion got both criticism and admiration, with much of the praise coming from fellow gymnasts.
indy100 reached out to NBC requesting comment.
