Bowen Yang Mocks JD Vance on The View, Sparks Laughter with ‘Pope Killer’ Remark
A recent appearance on The View by Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang has sparked controversy and amusement, after he made a joke about Vice President JD Vance being a "pope killer." Yang, who has been portraying Vance on SNL for months, made the comment during a discussion about his upcoming film, The Wedding Banquet.
According to The Independent, Yang joined the show’s co-hosts to discuss his portrayal of Vance, and revealed that he worked with a coach to get the accent "somewhere between Ohio and Appalachia." The panel was celebrating his performance, telling him he "nailed it," when Yang quipped, "Look, the guy’s a pope killer." The Independent reported that Yang was referring to Vance’s Easter Sunday meeting with Pope Francis, just hours before the pontiff’s death on Monday at the age of 88.
The panel, and audience, immediately burst out in laughter at Yang’s remark. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg turned away from the cameras to hide her reaction, while Sunny Hostin looked stunned. "Someone had to say it!" Yang added, with Joy Behar quickly explaining, "He doesn’t mean it literally. He’s talking spiritually." Hostin chimed in, "It’s just comedy!"
As The Independent noted, Yang has been open about his desire to have someone else take on the vice president’s portrayal, stating, "I just thought there would be better people for it… It was my impostor syndrome. I was like, there are better people for this." Despite this, Yang has been praised for his performance, with many considering him to be a talented impressionist.
Yang’s comments on The View come just days after Vance became one of the last people to see Pope Francis alive. When asked about his Vatican meeting with the late pontiff by reporters during his subsequent trip to India, Vance said he’d "thought a lot about that. I mean, it’s pretty crazy, actually… And obviously, when I saw him, I didn’t know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth." Vance continued, "I think it was a great blessing. But, you know, he saw a lot of people. I think he affected a lot of lives. And I try to just remember that I was lucky that I got to shake his hand and tell him that I pray for him every day because I did and I do."
The incident has sparked widespread media attention, with many outlets commenting on Yang’s joke and Vance’s meeting with Pope Francis. As reported by The Independent, Yang’s performance on SNL has been well-received, with many praising his impression of the vice president. However, some have criticised Yang’s joke, considering it to be in poor taste.
In an interview with NBC News, Yang previously shared his thoughts on playing Vance, stating, "I have a serviceable JD Vance, but I was like, you know what, this is a charge that I don’t take lightly… Like, I want to make it pop as best as I can. I’ve been very lucky to play political figures on that show." As The Independent reported, Yang is the first Asian American cast member in the history of SNL.
