The daughter of Hillary and Bill Clinton shared her feelings in the new Apple TV+ show Gutsy, where she said she didn’t think it was “funny or OK” to have been made fun of by comedians on national TV.
In the show, Chelsea and Hillary Clinton speak to “gutsy” women. During Episode 1, “Gutsy Women Having a Laugh,” Chelsea explains how she has a different relationship with comedy because she was made fun of so much as a child.
Chelsea told a panel of women, which included her mom Hillary, that she could take comments from people like Rush Limbaugh, but it hurt when it was from professionals.
“When SNL made fun of me, I was like ‘wow. A group of adults, sat in a room, all decided this was a good idea.’ Nobody thought like, ‘maybe we shouldn’t make fun of children,’” Chelsea said.
“I was like, ‘I just don’t think I think that’s funny or OK. So I just don’t think comedy is funny or OK.’”
When pressed by the panel on which comics she likes now, Chelsea couldn’t answer the question.
In 1992, a Wayne’s World sketch starring Mike Myers and Dana Carvey made fun of Clinton, who was 13 years old at the time. The show received public criticism for the joke, which caused SNL to ease off.
“We felt, upon reflection, that if it was in any way hurtful, it wasn’t worth it. She’s a kid, a kid who didn’t choose to be in public life,” executive producer Lorne Michaels said at the time, as reported by the Seattle Times.
Myers, who played Wayne in Wayne’s World, is reported to have written a letter of apology to the Clintons. The joke was subsequently removed from reruns of the sketch.
After the sketch aired in 1992, Bill Clinton in an interview with People agreed that Saturday Night Live crossed a line.
“I really find it hilarious when they make fun of me,” Bill said, “But I think you gotta be pretty insensitive to make fun of an adolescent child. I think there is something pretty off-center with people who do that.”
Gutsy which stars and was executive produced by Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, sees the pair travel the world interviewing women from different walks of life. Guest stars include Amy Schumer, Megan Thee Stallion, Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn, Kim Kardashian and Wanda Sykes.
The show has seemingly been review-bombed on IMDB with 66 percent of viewers giving Gutsy a 1/10 review.
All eight episodes from the first season are available to watch on Apple TV+ now.