Michael Che Has Different Take on Comedians Speaking Their Minds

With Jimmy Kimmel out of the picture, at least for now, some fans are calling on Michael Che to continue the battle in the Great Culture War of 2025. “We need you more than ever,” a fan shouted in Che’s DM box. “F*ck em up.”  

But hold up a second, replied Che in his Instagram Story. He might not be the guy for the job.

“nahhh son, you aint getting me fired..,” Che responded, referring to Charlie Kirk as a guy he’d barely heard of until his murder in Utah this month. You want jokes or commentary about that firestorm? Go somewhere else. 

With both Kimmel and Stephen Colbert removed from the airwaves since Saturday Night Live concluded its 50th season in May, another fan speculated that Che’s trademark, in-your-face punchlines on Weekend Update could make SNL next in line for cancellation. Don’t think that hasn’t occurred to Che. “its definitely crossed my mind..,” he confessed, punctuated by a laughing/crying emoji (and two periods, his trademark concluding punctuation).

Another fan implored Che to throw satirical punches, but the SNL star dumped a cold bucket of reality onto the conversation. “listen, im black,” he wrote. “we have a different understanding of ‘freedom of speech’ .. ive always been more of a ‘right to remain silent’ kinda guy, personally..”

It’s easy to demand that Che taunt people in power, but he offers other realities to consider:

Still, Che knows what everybody slipping into his DMs knows — the guy was born with that “tell me not to say it, and I’ll have to say it” comedy gene. While SNL’s political sketches have been relatively toothless for years, it’s Che and Colin Jost whom comedy fans could count on to kick the status quo in the crotch. Che says he doesn’t want to risk it, but as recently as May, he was firing off shots like this one: 

President Trump says he was interested in reopening Alcatraz because it represents something “horrible and beautiful and strong and miserable and weak.” Which are also his nicknames for his five children.

Bam!

It’s the eternal push and pull — everyone wants to do the right thing, but at what cost? Che’s grandma would prefer someone else to be the hero. 

So is Che going to watch his tongue when Weekend Update returns in two weeks? If FanDuel were taking bets, I’d still put my money down on Che saying something baaad on the first show back. But it’s hard to argue with his reasoning if he chooses to do otherwise.