In late September, rumors broke that Try Guys member, Ned Fulmer, was cheating on his wife with an employee. Fans had spotted Fulmer and the employee at a Harry Styles concert, portraying public displays of affection. While the internet ran wild with the rumors, it took only a few hours for the Try Guys to release a statement that Ned was no longer working with the company. Shortly after, Ned released a statement of his own confirming that the rumors were true. A few days later, The Try Guys released a video where members Eugene Lee Yang, Zach Kornfield and Keith Habersberger explained the situation.
On Saturday, October 8, Saturday Night Live covered the viral event. poking fun at the (now) three members of The Try Guys, the sketch is a parody of the video. The skit essentially downplays Fulmer’s actions and paints it as no big deal. At one point, the news reporter “interviewing” The Try Guys in the sketch asks: “Ok, so the full story is that your friend had a side chick and you fired him?” The reality is that this is not the whole story. Painting the situation as such is extremely harmful to not only the parties involved but workplace culture everywhere.
The skit is especially problematic when you consider the details of the affair. Fulmer was a boss, a man in a position of power, who abused power dynamics by having an affair with a subordinate. To complicate the situation even more, his wife also works for the company. Not that anybody asked for my opinion, but I think the company handled the situation tactfully and respectfully. With that being said, SNL’s commentary is way off base. HR is an essential part of any workplace. Fulmer exploited his position in power and disregarded basic workplace ethics. While Fulmer may have portrayed himself as the “family man” of the group, his actions say otherwise.
I’m all for making comedy out of serious conversations, but I also believe in holding shows like SNL accountable when they go in the wrong direction. They had the opportunity to make a hilarious sketch but just totally missed the point. Unfortunately, they sent a harmful message in the meantime. Instead of mocking the team who handled a complex situation with care, perhaps they could have talked about Fulmer’s wrongdoings and portrayed a message of workplace respect.
To SNL: I love the show, but do better. Be more thoughtful about what you write, and how it affects people. Words hold meaning and power, and should be respected and used carefully.