Chloe Fineman is finding herself at the center of online backlash following a story she shared in a recent Vanity Fair video—one that has since been partially edited by the publication.
The video, titled “‘SNL’ Cast Test How Well They Know Each Other,” featured Fineman alongside fellow cast members Mikey Day, Sarah Sherman, Ashley Padilla, Jane Wickline, and James Austin Johnson. What began as a lighthearted group segment quickly shifted tone when Fineman recounted a story from her time as a camp counselor.
“I was fired as a camp counselor. I pantsed a boy. He would lift my shirt all the time. It was a different time. He would be like, ‘Hey, could I have a hug?’ And then I’d go to hug him and he’d lift my shirt, like a dick. And then I was like, ‘I’m going to get back at you.’ And so we were on a hike and I was like, ‘Hey, Ollie, go look over there. It’s a hawk.’ He looked and then I yanked his pants down, and then I was fired.”
The anecdote drew visible shock from her co-stars in the video—and soon after, a wave of criticism online.
According to Variety, the original version of the video included additional details that were later removed. In that earlier cut, Fineman reportedly shared that she was 16 at the time, while the boy involved was 6.
“He wasn’t wearing underpants, and then a giant school bus drove by,” Chloe said in the original version, adding that the boys’ “little ding-a-ling was out.”
Another moment that has since been edited out included Ashley Padilla reacting, “Oh, honey, I think you’re on a list somewhere.”
The edits have only intensified the conversation. While some viewers have criticized Fineman for the story itself, others are calling out Vanity Fair for publishing the original version and then quietly removing portions of it after backlash began to build.
The comment section on the YouTube video reflects a mix of reactions, with many expressing discomfort over the nature of the anecdote and questioning how it was handled both in the moment and in post-production.
As of now, Fineman has not publicly addressed the criticism.
