Reba McEntire was the butt of the joke on a recent Saturday Night Live skit featuring Heidi Gardner as her on the “Weekend Update” segment. Heidi wore a wig just like Reba’s signature red curls and a sparkly white suit over a matching camisole to depict the country music icon.
Heidi said the line, “When I’m on The Voice, I don’t know if the person singing is a Republican or a Democrat. All I care is they’re Team Reba,” and Reba’s fans went berserk on social media, calling out Heidi and the show for being disrespectful to their idol.
Fans react to Reba McEntire ‘SNL’ skit
The two-minute clip of the scene on YouTube received hundreds of comments slamming the idea and the cast member selected for the part. “If you’re going to do a skit, at least make it funny. This was just disrespectful,” someone protested, while another asked if Heidi even knew who she was portraying at all.
Some were upset that Kenan did not get to play Reba as they considered him a better fit due to a past skit. “I really wish SNL would commit to the bit from that one digital short and send Kenan out with a wig every time they needed someone to play Reba,” a second person suggested.
Some fans loved the controversial ‘SNL’ skit
While many considered the joke offensive, a good number of viewers thought it was witty and praised Heidi. “Heidi has really become a top-tier cast member. I remember way back when she was a featured player,” an impressed fan applauded, and another called it the best they had seen in a while.
Reba is currently playing Bobbie in Happy’s Place, which also features her Reba co-star and friend Mellissa Peterman. Her boyfriend Rex Linn is also a part of the sitcom as cook Emmett; meanwhile, Reba is still doing her best as a coach on The Voice.