Shane Gillis Addresses ‘SNL’ Monologue After He Promised Show “No Controversy”

Shane Gillis has discussed the backlash to his 11 October *Saturday Night Live* monologue, which drew criticism after he said women at the gym dressed “like whores”. Speaking on *The Joe Rogan Experience*, he said the show could have stopped the joke but does not normally approve or write a comedian’s set, and recalled reassuring staff that his monologue would cause no controversy.

Gillis said he deleted his social media accounts after the episode, so he does not know what people have been saying online. Several performers, including Kathy Griffin and Dan Levy, criticised him, while Dana Carvey, David Spade and Jimmy Carr supported him. Gillis was previously removed from the *SNL* cast in 2019, days after his appointment was announced, following the resurfacing of videos in which he mocked Asian accents and used ethnic and gay slurs.