Molly Shannon's Skit Sparks Controversy at Al Smith Dinner

At the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation dinner, Vice President Kamala Harris opted for a pre-recorded video featuring Molly Shannon reprising her iconic 'Saturday Night Live' character, Mary Katherine Gallagher. The skit, intended to inject humor into the event, received backlash from fans and critics who deemed it cringeworthy and inappropriate, particularly due to Shannon's portrayal of a Catholic schoolgirl at age 60. Critics expressed disappointment on social media, questioning Harris’s decisions and branding the performance as a desperate attempt at political propaganda. During the skit, Shannon humorously advised Harris on her speech, cautioning against lying and negativity towards Catholics, to which Harris responded with a nod to the dinner's bipartisan spirit. Donald Trump, present at the event, criticized Harris for not attending in person, calling her absence disrespectful to the tradition. The dinner, historically known for its political roast, featured other notable attendees like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and was emceed by Jim Gaffigan.