Harvey Epstein, a Democratic assemblymember representing New York’s 74th District, recently found himself the subject of a satirical joke on NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) during a sketch hosted by comedian John Mulaney.
In the bit, John Mulaney plays Harvey Epstein as a person campaigning for votes from the New York City City Council.
In the parody campaign ad, Mulaney, portraying Epstein, humorously admits that his name isn’t exactly favorable, given its unfortunate association with 'two of the most notorious sex perverts of all time,' — Jeffery Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.
All this while emphasizing to viewers that he is a different guy. The ad hilariously continues with Mulaney (as Harvey) saying:
“I won’t lie; the name has become a bit of an issue... Harvey, I could almost deal with, but Epstein—this thing is like an albatross.”
The parody wraps up with a humorously misguided slogan —
"Together we can make this city Epstein's island" followed by Mulaney quickly advising people to "not call it that."
How did the real Harvey Epstein respond?
Harvey Epstein took the joke in good stride and posted the ad parody on his X account, captioning it:
"I agree with John@mulaney… let’s not call it Epstein’s Island."
Following the SNL sketch, Harvey Epstein took to social media to use the buzz for a good cause, urging his new followers to support the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). He posted:
"All joking aside, I hope my newfound followers will consider donating to @RAINN, who do extremely valuable work supporting survivors,"
In an interview with City & State, Harvey described watching Mulaney portray him as “a little freaky” but added that the sketch might help raise his profile.
“It’s really critical that I take the joy out of the joke and also be serious about issues of domestic violence,”
He also noted that Mulaney’s costume felt spot-on and added:
"John Mulaney was wearing earrings, he had a bald head, he was wearing the clothes I wear a lot — so I think he did those pieces right,”
Who is Harvey Epstein?
Harvey Epstein is a Democratic Assembly Member representing Manhattan's East Side, covering areas such as the Lower East Side, East Village, Stuyvesant Town, and the United Nations neighborhood.
With a career in community leadership spanning over 20 years, Epstein has dedicated himself to tenant rights, public education, and social justice.
He previously served on Manhattan’s Community Board 3 and was a tenant representative on the Rent Guidelines Board, where he led efforts to implement rent freezes, providing relief to renters in New York City.
A progressive advocate, Epstein has pushed legislation that expands protections for LGBTQIA and non-binary individuals, promotes environmental sustainability, and reforms criminal justice.
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He co-authored the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act, a landmark law aimed at preserving affordable housing, and has backed laws that support public transit funding, voting rights, and reproductive rights.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Epstein’s district office became a hub for meal and PPE distribution. He also introduced relief measures for struggling small businesses, securing over $1 billion in support.
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