A Saturday Night Live sketch featuring a parody interview with Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson has been criticised as playing on a “very racist stereotype” of Irish people. 

The two actors, who were in Hollywood after The Banshees of Inisherin received multiple nominations, were portrayed as unable to string a coherent sentence together. 

After the pair walked off, one actor exclaimed, “Wow - and they haven’t even started drinking yet.”

There was pushback on social media afterwards and Lunchtime Live listener Pádraic described it as “childish”. 

“What happens is, it draws on a very inaccurate and very racist stereotype which originates in the 19th century from Punch cartoons in Britain and the coverage of the first wave of Irish people who moved to the US as drunken simpletons,” he said.  

“It’s very unfortunate that this is still something that people think [others] will respond to and think is hilarious. 

“Secondly, in terms of people getting upset and annoyed, that this has become the story on an evening that should have been a major celebration for Irish talent on both sides of camera in the film and TV industry.” 

All the stars are out at the Oscars pic.twitter.com/BHKygkLJPW

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 12, 2023

Others were less offended; Allie rang up to say she disagreed with Pádraic. 

“I’ve been a long fan of SNL,” she said. 

“The whole thing about it, it is a parody and satire programme. 

“There’s over 336 million people in America and about four million watch SNL in the States and Canada. 

“Yes, we are a country that has experienced inherent racism and, in this instance, I just think people missed the context and understood the parody. 

“Albeit, the sketch was weak.” 

Another caller, Robbie, said he agreed. 

“I think it was absolutely fine,” he said. 

“As Allie, said, it’s SNL; everyone knows what SNL is about. 

“If people are getting offended by this sort of stuff, they’re taking their lives too seriously. 

“I think the only bad thing about it was - it wasn’t particularly funny.” 

Main image: The SNL sketch. Picture by: SNL