SNL's Pete Davidson made a tasteless joke about a GOP candidate. House Republicans hit back with an Ariana Grande jab.

Pete Davidson gets into trouble at SNL
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/SNL)

Pete Davidson addressed his high-profile breakup with singer Ariana Grande on Saturday Night Live, saying things just didn't work out between them and the details are nobody's business, but he took a long and iffy road to get there. "So the midterm elections are obviously a huge deal, and after I had to move back in with my mom, I started paying attention to them," Davidson joked on "Weekend Update." "And I realized there are some really gross people running for office this year. So here are my first impressions."

Dan Crenshaw, a Navy SEAL who lost an eye in Afghanistan, was Davidson's third impression. "You may be surprised to hear he's a congressional candidate from Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie," Davidson said. "I'm sorry, I know he lost his eye in war or whatever." He went on to give his impression of "a Democrat, so I look fair," then poked fun at himself: "I'm not insane, I know I shouldn't be making fun of how anyone looks — I look like I make vape juice in a bathtub. I look like a Dr. Seuss character went to prison."

Crenshaw was not amused by the bit.

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The National Republican Congressional Committee took umbrage, too, getting a little personal: "Getting dumped by your pop star girlfriend is no excuse for lashing out at a decorated war hero who lost his eye serving our country."

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Crenshaw is running against Democrat Todd Litton in a Houston-area congressional district being vacated by Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas).

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.