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Shane Gillis Explains 'SNL' Monologue Backlash
· Confirmed
In Short: Shane Gillis is breaking his silence on the backlash over his controversial 'Saturday Night Live' monologue, where he made derogatory comments about women's gym attire.
Shane Gillis (Wikidata P18).
Shane Gillis Breaks Silence on SNL Monologue Backlash. Naijahotstars TV
In a recent interview with Joe Rogan, Gillis explained that he did not receive feedback from 'SNL' producers before delivering the monologue.
Gillis said, 'This time, I just deleted everything immediately,' indicating his awareness of the potential controversy.
Gillis told Rogan, 'Not to defend SNL, they don’t approve it. I mean, they could shut it down,' suggesting that the monologue was not vetted by the show's producers.
When producers asked for an update about the monologue, Gillis recalled telling them, 'It's not great but I don't say anything bad.'
Gillis' monologue drew significant backlash from audiences and fellow comedians, with many criticizing the misogynistic tone.
Actor Inde Navarrette took a swipe at Gillis during her own SNL monologue, joking that she regularly wears a 'little whore outfit' for gym training.
Dan Levy, a cast member of 'SNL,' called the remarks misogynistic, while Kenan Thompson said he would want to have a 'real chat' with Gillis before another hosting appearance.
Gillis' latest hosting gig came seven years after he was fired from 'SNL' just days after being announced as a new cast member in 2019.
Gillis acknowledged that the monologue was unremarkable and believed it would attract little attention, but the backlash was significant.
Gillis' ex-girlfriend, Grace Brassel, claimed in an Instagram reel that she was 'stripped' of her autonomy during their relationship, adding to the controversy.
Gillis' monologue included a politically-minded joke, wherein he said that 'no matter who wins' the election, certain things about life will continue to be the same, including economic depression, drug addiction, and children leaving sleepovers early because their stomachs hurt.
What this adds
Gillis' monologue was his third time hosting the show since being fired in 2019.
What's confirmed
- Shane Gillis is breaking his silence on the backlash over his controversial “Saturday Night Live” monologue.
- “Not to defend SNL, they don’t approve it. I mean, they could shut it down,” he explained.
- “The funniest part was, they were like, ‘What’s going on with the monologue?’ And I was like, ‘It’s not great, but I don’t say anything bad,'” Gillis continued.
- “I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now?” Gillis said in the monologue.
- “The first time I got fired, I kept social media and in my head I was like, ‘That guy talked s--t,'" he explained.
- On the Friday (November 13) episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the comedian spoke about the backlash for the first time.
- “Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores,” Levy said.
What's still developing
- On a Friday episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Gillis explained that SNL didn’t give him feedback on the material beforehand.
- In 2019, Gillis was announced as a new SNL castmember but was fired before making his debut after past podcast comments resurfaced.
- His opening monologue, to many, missed the mark — and as he explained on an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, that includes Mulaney himself.
- A backlash occurred, many online folks lambasting Mulaney for discouraging voter turnout when it mattered most.
- I should have said, 'I very much want one to win over the other, and there will be improvements if one wins.' And I flat-out deserve the backlash.
- The “Tires” star also addressed the joke that sparked the backlash, clarifying that he doesn’t actually have a problem with women’s revealing gym attire.
- Around the 1:25:00 mark of the video below, Gillis confirmed that SNL producers "don’t approve" monologues written by guest hosts.
- The show fired Gillis in September 2019, days after naming him a cast member in Season 45, when podcast clips of him using racist and homophobic slurs resurfaced.
- Shane Gillis Walked Off 'SNL' Stage Early Amid Ongoing Controversy Unseen footage captured the comedian leaving during the traditional goodnights after an uncensored F-bomb and a divisive opening monologue.
- One month later, Shane Gillis is addressing the fallout from his Saturday Night Live opening monologue.
- The actress called out Lorne Michaels and opined that Gillis “deserves a spanking” for the “really f---in’ stupid s--- ” he said while hosting the show.
- Reiter also shared a couple of sketches with Gillis, playing his elderly mother as a hospice nurse (Sarah Sherman) tells him she only has a few days, which conflicts with his plans to see Jelly Roll in Vegas.