Catholic Diocese Is Not Amused by SNL's R. Kelly Joke

SNL has landed itself in a little holy hot water: Catholic officials in New York City are demanding the show and NBC apologize after a skit compared the Church’s sex abuse scandals to allegations against R. Kelly. The Diocese of Brooklyn released a statement on Monday heavily criticizing the "disgraceful and offensive” skit, per CBS News. Pete Davidson said Kelly was a "monster and he should go to jail forever," but then continued: "If you support the Catholic church, isn't that, like, the same thing as being an R. Kelly fan? I don't really see the difference, only, like, one's music is significantly better." The Church criticized Davidson for making light of sex abuse scandals that have rocked it in recent months, and plagued it for years.

The Diocese said that it "strives every day" to stop sexual abuse by clergy from happening again, reports Deadline. "The faithful of our Church are disgusted by the harassment by those in news and entertainment, and this sketch offends millions," the statement added. The SNL audience had what the Catholic News Agency called a "mixed reaction" to the joke. (More Catholic Church stories.)