Joe Pesci: Resurfaced SNL clip shows actor saying he ‘would have slapped’ Sinead O’Connor for Pope stunt

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Joe Pesci is being called out for historic comments that saw him claim he would have “slapped” Sinead O’Connor on Saturday Night Live, after she tore up a photo of the pope. O’Connor had performed a cover version of Bob Marley song "War” on an episode hosted by Tim Robbins, following which she controversially ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II, and stated to the camera: “Fight the real enemy.” The move, which was a protest against the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church, led to a huge and lengthy backlash – something O’Connor herself reflected on in her 2021 memoir, Rememberings. “That’s not how I feel about it I feel that having a No 1 record derailed my career and my tearing the photo put me back on the right track.” The moment on TV was met with silence from the audience after producer Lorne Michaels ordered the crew to turn off the “applause” lights. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Sharing the video on Twitter, @DamJef wrote: “F*** Joe Pesci and everyone who was involved with this.” Joe Pesci says he ‘would have given’ Sinead O’Connor ‘such a slap’ on ‘SNL’ “I never saw this clip in response to Sinead at the time.