Comedian Shane Gillis draws backlash for sexist remarks on SNL monologue

Comedian Shane Gillis faced widespread backlash after his Saturday Night Live monologue, which included comments describing women's gym attire in derogatory terms. The remark drew minimal audience reaction and sparked hundreds of critical responses across social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, X, and Threads. This marked Gillis's third time hosting the NBC sketch comedy program.

During the monologue, Gillis commented on women wearing neon-colored athletic shorts while asserting that men are prohibited from looking at them in such clothing. Critics characterized the bit as offensive and out of touch, particularly given ongoing national discussions about sexual assault.

Actor Dan Levy posted an Instagram video criticizing the monologue. "Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists.

There's a difference there," Levy said. The creator and star of "Schitt's Creek" also expressed dismay that such content aired on live national television.

Levy emphasized the need for men to actively oppose such rhetoric. "More men need to be standing up in opposition to it because it's complacency that has created the environment with which women are sexually assaulted, and it's a 'conversation' as opposed to a crime," he stated.

Writer Jessica Valenti suggested Gillis deliberately contributed to the ongoing conversation about sexual assault. "This is him telling us what he thinks of the discourse on sexual assault. That is rape culture," she said. Writer and comedian Sophia Benoit noted the joke structure was unoriginal, stating it "has been a very common joke for at least fifteen years, and it has never once that I can recall been performed with a punchline."

Gillis's career has been marked by recurring controversies. NBC hired him as a cast member in 2019 before terminating him days later after racist jokes from his podcast resurfaced. At that time, an SNL spokesperson stated they were unaware of his prior offensive remarks but acknowledged the language was "offensive, hurtful and unacceptable."

The show later invited Gillis to host in 2024 and 2025 before Saturday's appearance. During Saturday's episode, Gillis accidentally used profanity during a sketch and apologized afterward. Social media users noted the contrast between his apology for cursing and his lack of apology for the monologue content.