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In May 2021, Elon Musk appeared on the NBC program Saturday Night Live dressed as the Nintendo character Wario. While the Japanese company did not issue an official public statement regarding the incident, former Nintendo marketing employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang have confirmed that the portrayal was poorly received by the organization.
The sketch, which involved a murder-themed narrative, was described by Ellis as appearing out of nowhere without any commercial connection to Nintendo. The former employees noted that the content touched upon themes uncomfortable for the brand, leading to an atmosphere of irritation and confusion within the company at the time of the broadcast.
Ellis and Yang contrasted this experience with more recent parodies on the show, such as those involving The Legend of Zelda. They suggested that while some sketches might be viewed as beneficial free promotion, the presence of a controversial figure like Musk, combined with the nature of the specific joke, prevented a positive reception from the company.
Although no specific internal reactions from executives were detailed, the former staff members maintained that the company as a whole did not appreciate the unauthorized use of their intellectual property in that context.
