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Larry David has never been one to shy away from controversial topics, or push the boundaries of accepted taste -- just watch any episode of "Seinfeld" for confirmation of that. But the veteran writer and comedian found himself in hot water after his opening monologue as host of "Saturday Night Live" this weekend for making jokes about the Jewish connection to the Hollywood harassment scandal and the challenges of dating in a World War II Jewish concentration camp.
First, David touched on the recent scandals, pointing out very hesitantly, "I couldn't help but notice a very disturbing pattern emerging, which is that many of the predators ... are Jews."
He used this topic to segue into World War II Poland, where he imagined the challenges of trying to pick up women in a concentration camp. "The problem is there are no good opening lines in a concentration camp," he mused. "How's it going? They treating you okay?"
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View StoryThe monologue received laughs from the studio audience, but there was a much more heated response online, with people falling passionately on either side of the debate, including Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, who wrote that David "managed to be offensive, insensitive & unfunny all at same time."
Following are some of those reactions:
Watched #LarryDavid #SNL monologue this AM. He managed to be offensive, insensitive & unfunny all at same time. Quite a feat.
@JGreenblattADL
When Larry David says it, he gets applause and laughs.
@MrFrexlt
When the Alt-Right says it, we get our accounts suspended.https://t.co/DLygUMv3TX
Just when you thought Larry David's #SNL monologue couldn't get worse, he joked about seducing women in concentration camps. Wow. #HeBombed
@ThreeColumnsArt
Larry David making a joke about hitting on women in concentration camps #SNL #awkward pic.twitter.com/tmcWADk4n5
@omgitsmeli
#ReallyMakesMeCringe when we have people denying the holocaust & Larry David opens the door for them to think it's fine to joke about it. pic.twitter.com/w8SFjpieTa
@RedTRaccoon
I'm not a Jew, but I'm low-key offended by Larry David's holocaust jokes on #SNL. Not cool.
@ShanondaStar
Not feeling Larry David's concentration camp jokes @nbcSNL. Nothing about the holocaust will ever be funny. #majorfail #notfunny
@ChefCindi
Oh no. Larry David told an offensive joke. Countless are emotionally scarred. My thoughts and prayers are with all the victims.
@ninjadave26
People offended by Larry David would have passed out from shock listening to comedy in the 1970's. Comedians are edgy and uncomfortable.
@Carlie101
Seriously. If you thought Larry David's monologue was offensive. Your brain would explode at the first 5 seasons of #SNL
@hatrackstuffing
Guys...Larry David is Jewish, and we Jews are allowed to tell Holocaust jokes. It's our "black people can say the N-word."
@tonygoldmark
Oh look. A bunch of non Jews are telling Larry David, a Jew, he can't make holocaust jokes. I hate 2017 #SNL
@sylvesteralkan0
Dark gallows humor is a very important part of Jewish culture.
@michaelmalice
To criticize Larry David for it is reprehensible.
Hey folks complaining about Larry David. Please wait until the "Airing of Grievances" part of Festivus on December 23rd.
@DanLaMorte
Recurring guest star Alec Baldwin also came under some fire for a Weinstein joke he made during the show's cold open as President Trump, when he said, "[Weinstein] could have gotten away with all of it if only he'd gotten himself elected president."
The comedian was already enmeshed in a Twitter battle over earlier comments he'd made about the Weinstein scandal that resulted in him quitting the social media platform.
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