New York State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein said he was “totally surprised” by Saturday Night Live’s “fun” skit linking his name to infamous pervs Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.
Epstein, who represents Manhattan’s East Side and is running for City Council in District 2 next year, said he’s a regular SNL viewer and was watching the show Saturday when his name popped up in a parody about his campaign.
“It was a total surprise. Imagine if you were watching SNL and there was a parody about you,” he told The Post on Sunday morning.
Epstein, 57, said he didn’t get the heads up from the show about the sketch.
People have joked about his name’s similarities with those of dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer and convicted sex offender, he said, “But not national television!”
“Your name is your name. It is what it is. Both [Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein] are horrific,” he said.
“I’m clearly living a different life trying to do good in the world.”
But Epstein said thought the skit was hilarious, even noting that actor John Mulaney wore earrings and had a clean shaven head like he does.
“John Mulaney was funny. It was a fun parody. It was ironic and sarcastic — the skit hit all the right points,” he said.
In the mock campaign, the fake Epstein says, “Listen, is my name ideal, of course not. You think I don’t know that?”
Mulaney’s Harvey Epstein even brings out placards with mugshots of Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein that read “NOT ME” and “DIFFERENT GUY,” respectively.
The mock Harvey Epstein stresses that he “loves your children, not in a creepy way.”
“I give you my word, as an Epstein,” he says in the sketch.
The real Epstein said he hopes the national exposure generates some positive buzz about his campaign for the council.
“I hope people know I’m a great candidate for the City Council. It gives me some exposure for the race,” he said.
