Saturday Night Live urged to apologise to John Davidson after 'abhorrent and pathetic' sketch

A Scottish charity has urged the producers and writers of Saturday Night Live to apologise to campaigner John Davidson following an “abhorrent and pathetic” sketch.

Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie was the latest celebrity host of the popular comedy show on February 28.

In one sketch, the actor and comedians took on the role of controversial celebrities, such as Mel Gibson, Armie Hammer and Bill Cosby, claiming their outbursts and actions were caused by Tourette’s syndrome.

The sketch comes in the wake of campaigner John Davidson shouting a racial slur as Sinners actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan were presenting a Bafta award.

Following the incident, the 54-year-old said he was “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning”.

He chose to leave the auditorium early as he was “aware of the distress my tics were causing”.

Tourette Scotland has sent a complaint to Senior Executives at NBC following the sketch describing it as “one of the most abhorrent and pathetic attempts at satire”.

The charity believes the writers “reinforced” the “dangerous myth” that the condition is not real.

The group has asked for the sketch to be “purged” from all media sources, for a public apology to John Davidson, for all members of the SNL staff to attend an awareness course, and for a public explanation.

The email read: “A decision appears to have been made to attempt to perpetuate these outrageous accusations of fakery and mock individuals living with the condition.

“This has simply added to the intense media frenzy there has been towards John Davidson, and other TS sufferers, over the past week and is wholly irresponsible behaviour by your organisation.

“We also note that this sketch included a doctored version of our charity’s logo. Our organisation for the past 30 years has offered help and support to thousands of individuals and their families living with this lifelong condition. To associate us with such a vile attempt at humour is to belittle the work we have done to support the Tourette’s community over several decades.”

NBC Universal has been contacted for comment.