Norm Macdonald’s Most Controversial Jokes, From O.J. Simpson to #MeToo

Norm Macdonald was never a comedian who worried too much about offending people. With his trademark deadpan delivery and razor-sharp wit, he built a career out of pushing boundaries, often leaving audiences wondering whether they should laugh, gasp, or both.

From his years behind the “Weekend Update” desk on Saturday Night Live to his notoriously unpredictable talk show appearances, Macdonald repeatedly found himself at the center of controversy. In some cases, the backlash was significant enough to cost him television appearances and reportedly even his job.

Macdonald died on September 14, 2021, at the age of 61, following a private battle with cancer. Now, Netflix’s latest documentary, Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald, revisits the late comedian’s life, his often controversial brand of humor, and the complicated legacy he left behind. Before you dive in, here are but a few of Norm Macdonald’s most controversial comments and the fallout that followed.

SaturdayNightLive/YouTube

1. His O.J. Simpson joke got him axed from SNL

What did he say?: “Well, it is finally official. Murder is now legal in the state of California.”
Also: “Congratulations to O.J. Simpson. According to a new survey, he’s now the most trusted man in America. In a related story, that survey was taken at a convention for the legally blind.”

During his tenure as Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” anchor from 1994 to 1998, Norm Macdonald repeatedly mocked O.J. Simpson, frequently calling him a murderer despite his acquittal. The jokes reportedly angered NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer, a close friend of Simpson. In January 1998, Ohlmeyer removed Macdonald from “Weekend Update,” citing declining ratings and quality, though many believed the decision was retaliation for the Simpson jokes. Macdonald’s longtime collaborator and head writer, Jim Downey, was also fired.

2. His defense of Roseanne Barr and Louis C.K.

What did he say?: “There are very few people that have gone through what they have, losing everything in a day… Of course, people will go, ‘What about the victims?’ But you know what? The victims didn’t have to go through that.”

In September 2018, while promoting his Netflix talk show, Macdonald sparked controversy after defending Roseanne Barr and Louis C.K. following their respective scandals. Macdonald implied to The Hollywood Reporter that the duo was losing more than the victims. The comments sparked immediate backlash, leading to the cancellation of his scheduled appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Macdonald later apologized, clarifying that while Barr and C.K. were his friends, he did not condone their actions.

3. When he doubled down on his #MeToo comments

What did he say?: “You’d have to have Down syndrome to not feel sorry for [Roseanne Barr].”

Following the backlash over his Hollywood Reporter interview, Macdonald attempted to clarify his comments on The Howard Stern Show, but only sparked further controversy. While expressing sympathy for sexual assault survivors, he remarked that someone would “have to have Down syndrome” not to feel sorry for the victims. His use of the disability as an insult drew additional criticism, prompting another public apology. Macdonald later appeared on The View, where he expressed regret for both his #MeToo remarks and his Down syndrome comment.

The Howard Stern Show / YouTube

4. His joke about Brandon Teena

Related

‘Who Is Martin Mull?’: 9 Essential Things to Know From Bob Saget’s Heartfelt Documentary About Martin Mull

What did he say?: “And finally, in Falls City, Nebraska, John Lotter has been sentenced to death for attempting to kill three people in what prosecutors called a plot to silence a cross-dressing female who had accused him of rape. Now, this might strike some viewers as harsh, but I believe everyone involved in this story should die.”

Following the brutal 1993 hate-crime murder of Brandon Teena (a transgender man), Macdonald delivered a punchline on Weekend Update mockingly misgendering Teena. Referencing murderer John Lotter’s death sentence, Macdonald’s joke drew criticism from transgender and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Following the broadcast, NBC reviewed the segment and publicly acknowledged that the line was highly inappropriate.

5. He made a joke about Steve Irwin’s tragic death

What did he say?: “I don’t know, people calling me up, man, they’re shocked. ‘Oh hey, you wouldn’t believe it, who got killed? The Crocodile Hunter? He was 44 years old. I’m like, ‘That’s a ripe old age for a crocodile hunter.'”

Just 10 days after the death of Steve Irwin in September 2006, Norm Macdonald sparked controversy during an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart by joking about the beloved Crocodile Hunter’s fatal stingray attack. Macdonald imagined a conversation between jealous crocodiles who were upset that Irwin had been killed by a “fruity fish” instead of one of them, drawing criticism for making light of the tragedy so soon after his death.

The Daily Show / YouTube

6. He attacked the standards held by the media in the Bill Cosby case

What did he say?: “A friend of mine said to me, ‘Norm, you know the worst thing about it is the hypocrisy.’ And I said, ‘I don’t think that’s the worst part. I think the worst part is the raping. Then it would be the drugging that preceded the raping… It was a big long list ’til you hit hypocrisy. That’d be way down there, I think, personally.'”

Using his trademark deadpan delivery, Macdonald mocked the idea that hypocrisy was the worst part of Cosby’s actions, pointing out the absurdity of focusing on his public image rather than the sexual assault allegations themselves.

Just for Laughs / YouTube

7. His Bill Clinton comment when he was on The View

What did he say?: “Well, Clinton, he murdered a guy… I thought it was a matter of record!”

During a November 16, 2000, appearance on The View, Norm Macdonald shocked the hosts by jokingly accusing then-President Bill Clinton of murder while discussing the contested presidential election. Macdonald expressed support for George W. Bush, saying he wanted to get the “homicide out of the White House.” When Joy Behar pressed him to explain, he deadpanned that Clinton had murdered someone, adding, “I thought it was a matter of record!” The outrageous, unsubstantiated accusation left the hosts scrambling to respond.

8. How he repeatedly targeted Michael Jackson on SNL

What did he say?: “According to friends, the two were never a good match. She’s more of a stay-at-home type, and he’s more of a homosexual pedophile.” (He was referring to Michael Jackson‘s divorce from Lisa Marie Presley.)

During his time as Saturday Night Live‘s “Weekend Update” anchor, Norm Macdonald repeatedly mocked Jackson over child sexual abuse allegations, once calling him a “homosexual pedophile” following his divorce from Presley. The jokes reportedly caused tension with NBC executives, who feared legal action and backlash.

Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald, October 16, Netflix