Former “Saturday Night Live” solid member Cecily Strong made a shock look at “SNL” gown rehearsal in her first return to the present since leaving on the finish of 2022 — however was changed within the precise present.

Multiple attendees to the “Saturday Night Live” gown rehearsal this weekend have shared that they noticed Strong play the Rep. Elise Stefanik function. By the time the present went to air, Strong had been changed by new featured solid member Chloe Troast within the function. The information was additionally shared by Saturday Night Network.

With fellow alum Kate McKinnon set to return to the present internet hosting “SNL” subsequent week, hypothesis rapidly turned to Strong doubtlessly holding off her return to seem on subsequent week’s episode. But why Strong was swapped out of the chilly open wasn’t instantly clear. It’s additionally not recognized how a lot prep Troast had earlier than being thrust into the function and discovering her personal tackle the political character.

The sketch appeared to obtain each lukewarm laughs and a largely unfavourable response from viewers sharing their ideas on-line. Conservatives particularly appeared to take subject with the phase — replies to the sketch shared on each X and YouTube had a number of feedback criticizing its method as antisemitic. As one commenter wrote, “This sketch was very similar to the university president themselves: afraid of offending someone, thus pissing off everyone.”

The sketch additionally got here shortly after information that University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was resigning from her function with the establishment following the widespread public blowback, together with from faculty alumni, to her look earlier than Congress earlier within the week. The quick-moving nature of the information may very well be one more reason it was determined to modify out Strong from the sketch, both for sensitivity causes or an absence of preparation time following the information.

Observers of the testimony by the precise faculty presidents earlier within the week have famous that, whereas the educational representatives appeared ready to defend their positions from a authorized standpoint, their testimony ended up coming throughout as tone-deaf to considerations over antisemitism from a broader public perspective.

Representatives for “SNL” didn’t instantly reply to request for remark.