HOUSTON - Congressional candidate Dan Crenshaw says he doesn’t want an empty apology from "Saturday Night Live."
Comedian Pete Davidson mocked him, among other candidates, during the show’s “Weekend Update" segment.
“This guy is kind of cool. Dan Crenshaw,” Davidson said. “You may be surprised to hear he’s a congressional candidate from Texas and not a hit man in a porno movie. I’m sorry. I know he lost his eye in war or whatever.”
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The retired Navy SEAL lost his eye in an IED blast in Afghanistan during one of his five deployments overseas.
He fired back at the comedian Monday.
“The worst part about it is it wasn’t even funny," Crenshaw said. "I don’t think any of the jokes that guy makes is funny. I’ve never heard of him before this. Maybe that’s why."
Crenshaw’s democratic opponent for Texas Congressional District 2, Todd Litton, is also coming to his defense the day before election day.
“I think SNL, Pete Davidson and NBC should all apologize, not just to Dan Crenshaw, but to all the men and women who serve in our military and sacrifice for our country,” Litton said. “We don’t need to be mocking the men and women who serve in our military at all. We don’t need to be demonizing people based on where they come from, how they pray or anything of that nature. That’s not what our community is about.”
Crenshaw hopes SNL has learned a lesson that a veteran’s combat wounds should never be a punchline.
“I think we’ve all gotten really used to demanding apologies," Crenshaw said. "So what? Then what? It’s an empty apology. They don’t actually mean it. What I would like them to do is, I think SNL has enough capital, I think they can donate at least a million dollars to a series of veteran nonprofits."