In a firm rebuttal to swirling rumours, the esteemed producer of Saturday Night Live, Lorne Michaels, has categorically denied that the iconic sketch show ever softened its content to avoid offending former President Donald Trump.
The allegations, which have circulated in media circles for years, suggest that NBC executives applied pressure to shield Trump from the show's famously sharp satire. Michaels addressed these claims head-on during a recent appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher.
'The Network Never Interfered'
Michaels was unequivocal in his denial. "The network never once interfered in any way, shape, or form," he stated firmly. He elaborated that while NBC's standards and practices department did its job reviewing content, there was never any directive from above to alter material concerning the former president.
This defence challenges a persistent narrative that the network, which broadcast Trump's reality show The Apprentice, sought to protect its business interests by muting SNL's political commentary.
A History of Tension and Comedy
The relationship between SNL and Donald Trump has been complex and highly publicised. Trump himself has hosted the show and has been a frequent subject of its sketches, most famously through Alec Baldwin's impersonation.
However, Trump has also been one of the show's most vocal critics, frequently taking to social media to lambast its portrayal of him, often labelling it as "unfunny" and "biased."
Michaels' comments serve to firmly separate the creative decisions of the show's writers and cast from any external corporate influence, reinforcing the programme's reputation for operating with a significant degree of creative independence.
