Pete Davidson is catching some heat for mocking a former Navy SEAL turned congressional candidate who lost his eye in war.
During this week’s “Saturday Night Live” episode, the newly single Davidson stopped by the “Weekend Update” desk to offer his “first impressions” on several “gross” candidates running for office in the midterm elections.
After cracking jokes about Florida Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Peter King (New York), Davidson took aim at Republican Dan Crenshaw, whose picture appeared on the screen.
“You may be surprised to hear he’s a congressional candidate in Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie,” the comedian said, fighting back laughter. “I’m sorry, I know he lost his eye in war, or whatever. Whatever.”
Crenshaw, who’s vying to become the representative for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, lost his right eye to an IED blast in Afghanistan during his third deployment in 2012. The Navy SEAL was deployed twice more overseas in 2014 and 2016 after regaining sight in his badly damaged left eye, according to his website.
The war veteran responded to Davidson’s comments on Sunday.
“Good rule in life: I try hard not to offend; I try harder not to be offended,” Crenshaw tweeted. “That being said, I hope @nbcsnl recognizes that vets don’t deserve to see their wounds used as punchlines for bad jokes.”