John Mulaney’s SNL 50 Joke Highlights Hosts with Murder Charges

During SNL's 50th anniversary special, John Mulaney joked about two past hosts who faced murder charges, sparking discussions about O.J. Simpson and Robert Blake.

John Mulaney, during the SNL 50th anniversary special, joked about the show's history, noting that out of 894 hosts, only two had been charged with murder.
The two individuals widely interpreted as the targets of the joke were O.J. Simpson, who hosted in 1978, and Robert Blake, who hosted in 1982, both of whom were acquitted in their respective murder trials but found liable in civil courts.
Mulaney’s joke drew laughter and speculation online, with some also mentioning Alec Baldwin, who faced involuntary manslaughter charges in the 2021 Rust shooting incident, though his case was dismissed in 2024.
O.J. Simpson’s estate executor, Malcolm LaVergne, found the joke humorous, stating Simpson would have been indifferent if he were alive to hear it.
The joke has reignited public interest in the controversial histories of former SNL hosts, including Simpson, Blake, Baldwin, and others associated with high-profile legal cases.