Vice President Kamala Harris surprised audiences Sunday night on Saturday Night Live with a surprise guest appearance as the nation heads into its general election on Tuesday, generating heated reactions from left to right. Harris joined Maya Rudolph, who portrays Harris on the sketch comedy program, in a funny skit in which both declared supporters should “Keep Kamala and carry-on-ala.”

”While many on social media praised the light-hearted moment and the excellent image of the candidate, others, primarily pro-Palestinian supporters, condemned the timing.

Flippant Tone Criticized Amid Gaza Conflict

Some deemed the skit that featured Harris and Rudolph in sync as an attempt to belittle the gravity of the political situation. As the Biden-Harris administration received heavy criticism for its stand on the continued war of Israel in Gaza, many were quick to take to social media for anger venting over Vice President Harris’s appearance on SNL. “I can’t take anything seriously that she or her campaign does because she is part of a government that continues to enable and support Israel,” one user attacked. “It’s dystopian.”

Celebrity endorsements criticized

Using celebrities to polish up the political image has been a part of US campaigns for ages, but this election cycle was angry the most. A tweet claimed SNL hosting Kamala Harris was just part of a more significant financial influence. 

Comcast Corporation-owned network is dominated by investment firms, including Vanguard, Blackrock, and State Street, all of which are some of the largest asset management firms in the world. Anti-supporters believe that such celebrity endorsements and skits as Harris divert public attention from critical issues like the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon, which the US administration funds.

FCC’s Equal Time Rule Raised

Amid controversy, one commissioner with the US Federal Communications Commission points out that the appearance by Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live would violate the FCC’s “equal time” rule, which requires every political candidate be given the same time and placement when going live on air.

 The appearance has been described as an avenue to duck the requirement for equal access for candidates contesting them. However, an FCC spokesperson explained that the commission made no formal ruling about political programming, and thus far, the agency has received no complaints on the issue.

Storming of NBC Studios

Demonstrations over Harris’ appearance spilled onto the streets when the Palestinian-led community organization Within Our Lifetime mobilized a protest rally in front of NBC Studios in New York. Protesters, including some Harris supporters, chanted for an end to the Biden-Harris administration’s unconditional support of the actions of Israel in Gaza.

 The war in Gaza remains a hot election topic as the election nears: Kamala Harris told the crowd at a rally in Michigan that she would put an end to the war. At the same time, former President Donald Trump made a campaign stop in the state on the eve of the election to reach Arab and Muslim voters.

Election Season Casts a Shadow of Rising Tensions

The Gaza conflict heavily influences a US election nearing its vote day. At a time when tensions grow between the policies of Biden’s administration and its detractors, pro-Palestinian activists, the contestants continue to wrestle with how best to approach the issue, all the while trying to appeal to a diverse range of voters. Even her appearance on SNL—indeed an attempt to soften Harris’s public image—inadvertently underscored the deepening divide over US foreign policy and its impact on this election.