How’s everyone doing this week? Getting ready for the deliberations I’m sure. Me too, me too. Just a brief warning, today’s post has some adult content, if that’s an issue. This is definitely one of the funnier Key and Peele Sketches on the Internet, and has over 7 million views on YouTube. The rating of the sketch is boosted by the relevance of the topic. I’m sure by now we’re all familiar with various scandals that have taken down influential public figures and politicians. Some have been taken down because of sexting. With the #MeToo movement growing over the past year or so, issues like these have been brought into the public spotlight more and more often.
This skit heavily satirizes former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner, who was found to have sent inappropriate pictures to women multiple times. Keegan-Michael Key’s character here, the senator, even looks like Weiner. Ha.
In 2011, Weiner sent an inappropriate picture of himself to a woman on Twitter, and though he initially denied it, he eventually publicly apologized. And then admitted this might not be the first time. In fact, over the past few years he had sent naked pictures to 6 different women. After one such photo was leaked, Weiner resigned from Congress.
A few years later (2013) Weiner was back in politics, running for the Mayor of NYC. It came out that he had sexted another woman… after he had left Congress.
Three years later, it came out that, oh, yep, he was back at it again, sending an inappropriate picture of himself to woman. This time, his young son was spotted in the background of the picture. One month later it was alleged that he had sent naked pictures to a 15 year old girl. He pleaded guilty one count of transferring obscene material to a minor, and was put in jail for 21 months. He’s there till May.
Image via CNN
This skit takes this serious issue but really just makes it hilarious. This congressman in this case calls a press conference to at first deny the allegation of sexting (much like Weiner did). When he is then informed that TMZ has a picture of his genitalia, he admits that he did but it was a one time incident. When pressed he admits that he may have sent 4 total pictures like that, but no more. A woman in the sea of reporters then stands up to ask what about the picture he sent her right before stepping on stage. Suddenly every single reporter is receiving inappropriate photos from the Senator, and he steps away from the podium to reveal that he is pants-less and taking and sending the pictures while giving the press conference.
It is absolutely hilarious and much like this Senator has a chronic sexting issue, so did Anthony Weiner. It’s altogether a great skit that I highly recommend.
Via Comedy Central/ Key and Peele, YouTube
I liked this skit and your explanation of it. I wish I could watch the whole video, but I’m in class right now. Using humor to address a serious issue is often a good way for it to reach people and actually make them realize that it’s an issue by blowing it out of proportion (like what happened in this skit).
I have seen this video before and LOVED it! Key and Peele really do have talent- it’s a gift to be able to turn such a serious situation into a funny one. Although I’m sure it received some backlash, I believe comedians like Key and Peele are able to shed light on a situation in a way that doesn’t scare people off. People understand the severity of the situation, but without feeling uncomfortable about the topic since it’s being joked about.
Reading this blog was definitely amusing! The issue of sexting is definitely one that requires serious attention and the awareness of our entire country. Some people are not necessarily avid news watchers (or listeners) and for them entertainment, like the one provided watching this Key and Peele skit, informed and made them aware of events and people (like Anthony Weiner) in the country. Although presented in a comical way, I found the information depicted about Anthony Weiner in this Key and Peele skit to be quite informative on current news and civic issues in our country.
I have never watched the Key and Peele skits before but I am definitely going to check it out now!