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‘I’m proud of my tiny shiny penis’: Michelangelo’s cancelled David bares all on Saturday Night Live

The Art Newspaper
3 April 2023
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Michelangelo's David says he's art—not porn—on Saturday Night Live

courtesy Saturday Night Live

Michelangelo's David says he's art—not porn—on Saturday Night Live

courtesy Saturday Night Live

Everyone it seems has an opinion on the row over the Michelangelo censorship furore in Florida (c’mon, is it art or porn?). The controversy even garnered a slot on the late-night satirical US comedy show, Saturday Night Live (SNL), at the weekend which featured Florentine landmark “David” sounding off about the parents who have reportedly complained about the muscular nude Renaissance masterpiece.

Michelangelo

Florence's mayor invites Florida students and their former principal to experience the 'purity' of Michelangelo's David

Torey Akers

“Those parents are ignorant prudes… I’m the world’s greatest sculpture and I’m a very pretty boy,” exclaimed David on the SNL sketch, who went on to proclaim: “I’m proud of my tiny shiny penis and my stone pubes. I got nothing to hide.”

Michelangelo’s David has some thoughts on the controversy involving him and a Florida school pic.twitter.com/Wuwcu5PZCo

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) April 2, 2023

The living work of art argued that “all the best art is nude. Me, nude… Venus de Milo, nude…. Statue of Liberty, shows feet.” The comedy scene focuses eventually on the size of David’s famed “appendage” with the interviewer pointing out that “it’s kind of small”.

David’s response? “Well, most people see it from below.”

DiaryMichelangeloRenaissance artTelevision
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