"SNL" actor Kenan Thompson plays a parent who is not amused by his daughter's involvement in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. Thompson's character is more concerned about his daughter's education and the high tuition he pays for her to attend the prestigious school.
"Saturday Night Live" took aim at the student anti-Israel protests on Saturday, specifically from the perspective of parents who have kids attending Columbia University during the cold open.
Kenan Thompson played the father of a Columbia student and began by praising young people standing up for what they believe in during a mock interview. However, when asked about his daughter specifically, Thompson said she "better have her butt in class."
"Let me find out she in one of those damn tents instead of the dorm room that I pay for," he said, before the interviewer questioned his initial statement about supporting the students.
"I am in support of y'alls' kids protesting — not my kids. My kids know better," Thompson said. Asked what he thought of the group of protesters that took over Hamilton Hall, an academic building on Columbia's campus, he said, "That's good for y'alls' kids, but they ain't mine."
Thompson said Columbia had the "nerve" to charge $68,000 per year in tuition.
"I’m out here busting my hump to pay all that tuition," Thompson said. "I do it all: Uber all day. Uber Eats all night. Cut grass on the weekends, sell Gucci wallets out of my truck... I bounty-hunt whenever possible. All of that just so she can say she got a degree in African-American studies. It’s like, little girl, you’ve been Black your whole life. You know what it is."
Thompson revealed exactly what he planned to do when his daughter graduated, and insisted that the university would hold a graduation, even if he had to do it himself. Several universities have weighed canceling their graduation ceremonies as anti-Israel protests have taken over campuses.
"You can take that to the bank. This girl started her college during COVID," he said. "Had me out here paying $68,000 for tuition, and she is at my house taking classes on Zoom, learning about the applied history of the BET Awards. Man, if she don’t walk — Columbia is going to be on the news for something else!"
Police cleared Columbia's Hamilton Hall on Tuesday after protesters took it over on Monday. The encampment on campus was also cleared of agitators — only their tents remained when the raid was over.
Students protesting the Israel-Hamas war have descended on college campuses over the past few weeks in an effort to get their universities to divest from companies linked to Israel.
In related news, Fox News contributor Paul Mauro says law enforcement is prepared for just about anything on 'Hannity.' Mauro discussed the recent anti-Israel protests on college campuses and said that law enforcement is taking the threats seriously.
"They are prepared for just about anything," Mauro said. "They are not going to tolerate any violence or disruption."
Mauro also said that law enforcement is working closely with university administrators to ensure that the protests remain peaceful.
"They are working together to make sure that these protests do not get out of hand," Mauro said. "They are prepared to take whatever action is necessary to keep the peace."
