The Netflix cast stirred up some controversy, particularly Caleb McLaughlin, due to an innuendo made during an SNL Stranger Things skit.
Fans of Saturday Night Live expressed their disapproval after McLaughlin, who portrays Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things, made a NSFW joke about his character during a skit on the show.
This came after Finn Wolfhard hosted SNL, with some social media users criticizing the adult humor as ‘disgusting’.
During the skit, Wolfhard, known for playing Mike Wheeler for a decade, jokingly discussed his transition to adulthood, mentioning his newfound ability to drink alcohol and participate in other mature activities.
The segment became more controversial when he made an explicit joke regarding female anatomy, shocking viewers.
The 23-year-old commented: “My voice changed on camera, my first kiss was on camera, and I can’t actually believe I’m admitting this, but the first time I learned what a woman looks like down there – was on camera as well.”
The scene then humorously cut to a Demogorgon opening its flower-like mouth.
This skit wasn’t the only contentious one featuring Wolfhard.
Joining him in the SNL Stranger Things sketch were Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson).
Yet, McLaughlin faced the most backlash from the audience.
the max joke is genuinely making me sick to my stomach bro what the hell😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
— hris 𖦹 JONMIKE CEO (@cleradinsm) January 18, 2026
“And just like that, I was in a new Upside Down, New York, and it doesn’t take a hive mind to know that after you’ve dated an Eleven, even 10s fall short,” Wolfhard quipped, parodying Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City while reflecting in a restaurant.
McLaughlin and Matarazzo then appeared with Cosmopolitan cocktails, joining in a discussion about their characters’ romantic lives.
“Well, Max and I started off hot and heavy, right?” McLaughlin remarked. “Then, a couple of years in, she just lies there like she’s back in that coma.”
This was a nod to Sadie Sink’s character Max Mayfield, who spent most of the last season in a coma after being captured by Vecna at the conclusion of Season 4.
This joke was met with criticism, with some calling it ‘disgusting’.
“What kind of game was going on on SNL? These jokes were so flat and disgusting,” one person wrote on X.
“They made a joke about Lucas having sex with unconscious Max on SNL,” another stated. “What has this show come to?”
Another comment read: “That Max coma joke. SNL, you’re weird for that one!”
However, others saw the situation differently, viewing it as overblown.
One commenter said: “This generation gets upset over everything.”
Another user added: “That s*** was funny.”
Someone else defended the show, writing: “It’s a comedy show. Come on.”
Inquiries were made to Caleb McLaughlin’s representatives, and Finn Wolfhard’s team had previously been contacted as well.