Neophyte "SNL" writer Katie Rich has just learned a valuable lesson the hard way -- while comedy writers are often encouraged to take potshots at a president, poking fun of presidential progeny is strictly forbidden. On Monday, TMZ reported that Katie Rich -- a relatively inexperienced writer who has only been with SNL since the end of the 2013 season -- was suspended indefinitely by NBC after she mocked 10-year-old Barron Trump on Friday.
Rich's homeschool shooter remark
Rich was widely criticized after she sent out a tweet during the inaugural festivities declaring "Barron will be this country's first homeschool shooter." Although Rich later deleted the offending tweet and deactivated her personal Twitter account, the damage was done: Rich's name was scrubbed from the closing credits of the "Saturday Night Live" broadcast the following evening.
Rich, a Chicago native who was hired as a writer for "SNL's" Weekend Update segment after being recommended for the job by cast member Cecily Strong, could not be reached for comment. While NBC has not yet issued an official statement regarding Rich's future with "SNL" or the network, TMZ intimated that word of the comedy writer's suspension comes from a source familiar with the situation.
Writer apologizes via Twitter
On Monday afternoon Katie Rich reactivated her account and posted an apology, stating that she regretted sending out the insensitive tweet. Rich was on the receiving end of severe backlash on social media over the weekend, as the hashtag #FireKatieRich trended on Twitter within hours after the offending tweet was posted.
Contrary to Rich's tweet, Barron Trump is not homeschooled; he is presently enrolled at the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York City.
Rich is the latest name in the world of entertainment to take a shot at the 10-year-old son of President Donald Trump via Twitter. Last year, shortly after the election, comedian Rosie O'Donnell faced similar criticism after posting a tweet speculating that Barron Trump might be autistic.
