An Ohio political blogger’s legal trouble over an explicit Shrek image has reached the "Saturday Night Live" news desk.
The case involving Columbus blogger D.J. Byrnes, best known as The Rooster, appeared in a "Weekend Update" video posted to the show’s official YouTube channel following its Oct. 10 episode.
During the segment, co-anchor Michael Che appeared beside a graphic reading "Man imprisoned for texting pic of Shrek’s penis," with an image of the animated ogre over a map of Ohio.
The reference comes after a jury found Byrnes guilty Oct. 9 of telecommunications harassment in Willoughby Municipal Court. His case stemmed from texts sent to Republican state Sen. Jerry Cirino of Kirtland.
Byrnes later posted his reaction to SNL's coverage to social
media.
"Nothing like waking up to 500 text messages and learning from Saturday Night Live, of all places, that I got sent to prison for free speech," Byrnes said in the post. "But at this point, I wouldn't be surprised."
Why was The Rooster arrested?
As The Dispatch reported, Byrnes texted Cirino a sexually explicit image of Shrek. The senator filed a police report describing the messages as pornographic and harassing.
The exchange followed Cirino’s withdrawal from a bid to become Ohio Senate president, a race Byrnes had covered critically. Byrnes’ attorneys argued that the messages were protected political speech. Cirino maintained that they constituted harassment.
Four Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers arrested Byrnes at the Statehouse June 1, and he was held in jail overnight, even after posting bail, according to The Dispatch’s earlier reporting.
A jury convicted Byrnes following an Oct. 8-9 trial. The court’s docket records a $200 fine plus costs and a stay of sentencing pending appeal.
Where can you watch the SNL mention?
The reference appears about nine minutes into the official YouTube video titled "Weekend Update ft. James Austin Johnson and Ashley Padilla – SNL."
Trending reporter Amani Bayo can be reached at abayo@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: SNL Weekend Update host jokes about Ohio blogger’s explicit Shrek text to senator
