American television show demonises Hindu deities and religious mantra in a “comic” satanic skit
United States 
7 March, 2025
Case Summary
American broadcaster NBC came under fire for demonising Hindu deities in a so-called “comic” skit on its popular Saturday Night Live (SNL) show, which featured a mock Satanic ritual. A clip from the show, intended as a satire on Satanic cults, has been circulating online, sparking outrage, especially among Hindus, due to its unwarranted references to Hindu Gods and the sacred chant “Om Namah Shivaay,” revered by millions worldwide. The controversy erupted on March 8 when American singer Lady Gaga made her hosting debut on SNL and participated in a skit titled Friendly’s Birthday Gone Wrong. The segment staged a mock Satanic ritual over a fabricated birthday celebration, incorporating red-cloaked figures, fake blood, and a gruesome heart-ripping scene reminiscent of Indiana Jones. Marketed as a theatrical parody to promote her new album Mayhem, the skit featured a character named ‘Mola Ram’ attempting to intimidate the protagonist. This was followed by another character chanting “Om Namah Shivaay,” further aggravating the offensive nature of the performance. What was seemingly intended as campy satire instead drew widespread condemnation, with many criticising SNL for its blatant Hinduphobia.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime under two prime categories. The first is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses. An icon is a symbol of someone or something that is revered, or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Any iconoclastic representation of these symbols, images and murtis is an affront to the religious beliefs and faith of the Hindu community itself since the symbols and icons are deeply religious in nature. In this sub-category of crime, we would record hate crimes and iconoclastic representations, in words, art, or any other form of representations of symbols that hold religious significance for the Hindu community. Since these symbols, icons and murtis are central to the Hindu faith, any iconoclastic representation of these symbols is born out of animosity towards the faith itself, manifesting itself through these symbols and therefore, these representations would be considered religiously motivated hated crimes. The second category under which this case has been placed is- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. The Saturday Night Live (SNL) skit featuring a mock Satanic ritual with unwarranted references to Hindu deities and the sacred chant “Om Namah Shivaay” exemplifies a blatant act of Hinduphobia. The deliberate invocation of Hindu religious symbols in a grotesque, sacrilegious context aligns with the category of Iconoclastic representation of Hindu Gods/Goddesses. The skit’s use of Hindu iconography alongside dark occultist themes projects Hinduism in a manner meant to evoke fear, ridicule, and disrespect, reinforcing negative stereotypes. By associating Hindu sacred elements with Satanic rituals, SNL has not only distorted but also vilified a faith revered by over a billion people worldwide. Such portrayals contribute to a pattern of cultural denigration, where Hinduism is misrepresented and reduced to an object of mockery. Additionally, the skit’s use of the Hindu chant “Om Namah Shivaay” in a perverse, irreverent setting falls under anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. The chant, which holds deep spiritual significance for Hindus, was uttered in a context that trivialised and disrespected its sanctity. Given the clear intent to mock and malign the Hindu faith, this case has been added to the tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
