Michael Che Wipes Instagram Account After Backlash to Simone Biles Jokes

UPDATE: Michael Che returned to Instagram Friday after receiving backlash for posting jokes about Olympic gymnast Simone Biles on Thursday.

The “Saturday Night Live” head writer and comedian posted on his Instagram story about news articles publicizing his jokes about Biles. Some of his comments read, “im fucking ruined,” “im a goddamn martyr” and “theres still a yahoo?! how long was i asleep?!”

Che cleared his posts Thursday night after receiving backlash for posting jokes about Biles, who withdrew withdrew from Tokyo Olympics gymnastics team finals and all-around individual finals due to concerns about her mental well-being. Her decision has sparked an outpouring of support from athletes and Hollywood for being vocal about her mental health and prioritizing it.

On Thursday, Che posted to his since-deleted Instagram story “man, i wanna make fun of simone biles,” followed by “i got like 3 mins of simone biles jokes in my head. im going to the cellar tonight to say them into a microphone. as the dorky kids say, im choosing violence.”

Che then shared two jokes from Instagram users to his story and rated the jokes out of 10, seen below in screenshot captured by a Twitter account. “Larry Nassar understands Simone Biles better than anyone. He too had to quit doing what he loved at the pinnacle of his career because of mounting pressure,” wrote one follower. To which Che wrote, “goddamn, thats rough. absolutely tasteless. 9/10.”

Another Instagram user wrote to Che, “Who said black don’t crack?,” and Che responded with “now thats a good joke. economical. referential. balanced. good job. 8/10.”

He later claimed on his Instagram story that his account was hacked.

“maaannnn, i got hacked today. cant believe they got me. yall kno i only do jokes about whites and cops. s’all good now, i changed my password and everything..anyway, ya’ll hear about dababy tho..? thats crazy..iight. see yall at church. imma get there early,” he wrote, referencing the homophobic comments that rapper DaBaby made at the Rolling Loud music festival last week.

Che is known for his controversial jokes on social media and as co-anchor of Weekend Update on “SNL” alongside Colin Jost. He’s used his Instagram account several times in the past to respond to critics, and the Biles jokes are the latest to spur backlash from fans and people in Hollywood.

A rep for Che did not immediately respond to Variety’s request for comment.