“I am now the least popular Joker, except for Jared Leto"- Pete Davidson's Novak Djokovic impression on Saturday Night Live after deportation saga
Renowned comedian Pete Davidson featured as Novak Djokovic on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live's Cold Open. With "Unvaccinated Tennis Player" written in his bio during the show, Davidson mocked the Serb's visa fiasco, which prevented him from participating at the Australian Open.
This is us. This is where we are. https://t.co/EXtnuEV3sk
During the interaction, Davidson drew a parallel between Djokovic and actor Jared Leto, who played the role of Joker in Zack Snyder's Suicide Squad. Taking a dig at both Djokovic and Leto, Davidson claimed that the Serb is now the "least popular Joker," if one excludes Leto from the race.
Find someone who looks at you the way Kate McKinnon looks at Pete Davidson as Novak Djokovic. #SNL https://t.co/bbSIpMWcXx
He further mocked the 20-time Grand Slam champion, saying that nobody would care about his vaccine saga in the future.
“I am now the least popular Joker, except for Jared Leto... In my heart, I know that one day, people will look back on this moment in history and say who cares," said Davidson.
The show also featured James Austin Johnson playing the role of former US President Donald Trump, with Aidy Bryant making his return as US politician Ted Cruz.
On #SNL, James Austin Johnson's debut portrayal of Donald Trump tonight is SCARY good... He has the voice absolutely DOWN
@shrimpJAJ https://t.co/uB48SmPpOB
Why was Novak Djokovic deported from Australia?
Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia last week after a three-judge panel of the Federal Court upheld his visa cancelation order. The Serb's visa was revoked by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke for a second time after he exercised his "special powers."
JUST IN: Unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic is deported from Australia after losing visa battle, dashing his hopes of defending his Australian Open title cnn.it/3FyQZFK
The entire incident took place because the World No. 1 is unvaccinated and flew to Melbourne to feature at the Australian Open on a medical exemption. However, Hawke canceled the Serb's visa on "health and good order grounds," claiming that his presence could excite "anti-vax sentiment" among the Australian public.
#UPDATE Australian government cancels Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time as it seeks to deport the tennis superstar over his Covid-19 vaccine status.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said in a statement that he acted on "health and good order grounds" https://t.co/SJCtvQ5vFw
After losing his visa battle in court, Djokovic boarded a flight to Dubai and is currently subject to a three-year ban from Australia under Section 133(C)3 of the Migration Act. However, the Australian government has the power to waive the ban, opening the door to Djokovic for a possible return in 2023.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has left the door open for Novak Djokovic to compete at next year's #AusOpen despite the tennis superstar facing an automatic three-year ban from entering the country reut.rs/3KeO1dg https://t.co/ZcQbMCPpyR
Djokovic is the most successful player in the history of the Australian Open, having won the title a record nine times
Also read: "It was an unhealthy and unjust decision, based on the assumption that Novak Djokovic could do or influence something that had not yet happened" - Marian Vajda