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NBC pulls ‘Nurses’ episode amid backlash; SNL slammed for antisemitic joke; QAnon followers believe Trump will be inaugurated on March 4

ADL Headlines newsletter

February 26, 2021

THE WEEK’S BIG 3

NBC has removed an episode from the series “Nurses” off its digital platforms and future airings following backlash over an offensive storyline that invoked antisemitic stereotypes against Hassidic Jews. ADL’s CEO is among the critics blasting a joke on last weekend's "Saturday Night Live" as antisemitic. Nearly 5,000 National Guard troops are expected to stay in Washington for at least another three weeks amid concerns over potential violence from QAnon adherents, some of whom believe former President Donald Trump will be inaugurated on March 4.

Read on for more on these headlines, news you can use to fight hate and the latest info about ADL from around the country.

1) NBC Removes ‘Nurses’ Episode From Digital Platforms Following Backlash Over Orthodox Jewish Storyline

“The episode of the Canadian sitcom, which aired Feb. 9, contains a scene in which a young Orthodox Jewish man named Israel is hospitalized for a shattered leg. A doctor informs Israel and his father, who insists that ‘the Creator’ will heal him, that Israel will require a bone graft, meaning part of a cadaver’s leg would be surgically inserted into his leg.” Variety: FULL STORY

+ Press Release: ADL Calls on NBC to Pull "Nurses" Episode Featuring Antisemitic Stereotypes

+ Jonathan Greenblatt tweet: The representation in this episode was offensive and ugly, reinforcing #antisemitic stereotypes. We appreciate this quick action after @ADL and others called for accountability…

2) Critics Slam SNL 'Weekend Update' Joke as Antisemitic

“The joke about Israel's vaccination program aired during the program's ‘Weekend Update’ segment and was made by anchor Michael Che, according to The Washington Post. ‘Israel is reporting that they vaccinated half of their population,’ Che said, ‘and I’m going to guess it’s the Jewish half.’” The Hill: READ MORE

+ READ: ADL Statement Regarding Recent Joke Made on SNL's "Weekend Update"

3) QAnon Believers Think Trump Will be Inaugurated Again on March 4

“They have tried to rationalize Biden becoming president in increasingly outrageous ways, claiming that Biden and Trump are working together and even that Trump and Biden somehow switched bodies. And they are now looking to March 4 as the next big watershed moment for their movement — the date that they believe Trump will once again be inaugurated.” Vox: LEARN MORE

+ ADL Resource: Extremists Face Arrests, Uncertain Future Following January 6 Insurrection

+ ADL Resource: QAnon -- A Glossary

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