Shane Gillis Returns to 'SNL' With Controversial Monologue After Firing
Shane Gillis, a stand-up comedian known for his contentious style, recently hosted an episode of "Saturday Night Live" and has once again become a topic of debate. Gillis, who was previously fired from the show in 2019 before he could make his debut, due to the emergence of a podcast clip where he used an anti-Asian slur and made homophobic remarks, used the SNL platform to address several provocative topics, including his past dismissal and jokes about his family, which included a reference to a relative with Down syndrome.
During his monologue, Gillis's humor sparked a range of reactions. His return to SNL came after he had made a name for himself in the comedy circuit, and his set included portrayals of various political figures. The episode also featured a commercial for a new sports betting app. While some praised his impersonations, others criticized the overall performance as lackluster. A viral video capturing the SNL band's reaction to his monologue, showing them with unamused expressions, further underscored the polarized response, gathering over 300,000 views on social media.
The choice to have Gillis host the show has been met with criticism due to his history of making offensive comments, as highlighted by the 2018 episode of "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast." Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of SNL, had previously expressed regret over the initial hiring, stating he was unaware of Gillis's remarks and found the language "offensive, hurtful and unacceptable." Despite the controversy, Gillis's appearance on the show has reignited the conversation around the boundaries of comedy and the extent to which provocative humor is acceptable on mainstream platforms like SNL.
