We spoke to the real Harvey Epstein about this SNL sketch

Have you heard of MP Harvey Epstein? There you have it if you were one of the millions who tuned in to Saturday Night Live this weekend. And yes, he is a real politician who really bears that name – and he took the harassment calmly. “I think it's been very well received, and I'm glad that we can all make fun of ourselves in a way that brings joy to the world,” Epstein told City & State.

On the eve of the presidential election, SNL took time to look at the 2025 New York City Council elections with a neatly niche sketch about Epstein, a state legislator from East Manhattan who is running for a seat on the City Council. While roasting Big Apple mayors like Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio is nothing new for the New York City-based SNL team, they don't typically engage in local political content.

In the sketch, framed as a satirical campaign ad and featuring his real campaign logo, Epstein is played with a bald head by comedian John Mulaney. The point of the fake ad? Convince voters that he is not Harvey Weinstein or Jeffrey Epstein. “I’m not going to lie, the name thing has become a problem,” says Mulaney’s Epstein. “I can almost handle 'Harvey' – but 'Epstein'? This thing is an albatross.” In another scene, he points to pictures of Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein while telling voters that they are different people. “And they certainly didn’t come together as one person and make me,” says Mulaney’s Epstein.

The real Epstein told City & State that it was “a little crazy” to see himself played by Mulaney on screen, but that overall he found the skit funny. “It's really important that I take the joy of the joke and also take the issue of domestic violence seriously,” Epstein said, calling Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein “two terrible people.” He added that the joke was a surprise, but said SNL should give him a call if they're interested in having him appear in a follow-up sketch. “I would definitely do that,” he said.

Epstein welcomed the spotlight the sketch provided his campaign, even if it wasn't focused on policy. “I think it definitely makes more people aware of who I am,” he said. “But fortunately I already have a high profile in my district.” As for names, Epstein said that people on the campaign trail at times confused his name with Weinstein or Jeffrey Epstein and he was occasionally asked if he was related to the notorious sex offenders . But he said no one ever thought he was actually Weinstein or Jeffrey Epstein.

The comedian's portrayal of Epstein was, based on reality, spot-on. “John Mulaney wore earrings, he was bald, he wore the clothes I wear a lot – so I think he got those pieces right,” he said. Although Epstein was never “on the side of the Mohawk Valley miners” (not minors) as the sketch claims, the MP did fight for the rights of tenants in the chamber, which was mentioned in the satirical ad. “That’s a great part of the sketch,” he said.

Epstein publicly acknowledged the sketch on Sunday morning, writing on He then added a link where he could donate to his council campaign. Epstein also urged all “newfound followers” to donate to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network to support sexual assault survivors.

After the skit aired, many non-New Yorkers — and even some New Yorkers who were understandably unfamiliar with a particular state legislator — took to social media to express their surprise that Harvey Epstein was actually a real one is a politician. “Even when John Mulaney said to the camera, 'This is a real thing,' I refused to believe him,” one X user wrote. “Anyway, it turns out it's a real thing.” Another user wrote: “Oh god, Harvey Epstein is a real guy.” “Not being from New York, I wasn't sure about Harvey Epstein is real, but knowing he is makes the whole thing 1000 times funnier,” reads another post on X about the skit.

Mulaney, who lives in Manhattan's West Village, is known for his niche New York City sketches when he hosts SNL. In 2019, he performed a musical number about bodega bathrooms. It was a follow-up to 2018's viral skit about ordering lobster at a restaurant that, while not entirely specific to the city, New Yorkers care deeply about the well-being of their guests. He has also done musical pieces about Times Square, LaGuardia Airport and most recently the Duane Reade at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

If you missed it, you can watch the Saturday Night Live skit spoofing Epstein below: