Comedian Shane Gillis faces backlash for sexist remarks during SNL monologue
Shane Gillis drew criticism after describing women’s gym attire as “whores” during his Saturday Night Live monologue, prompting condemnation from viewers and public figures.
Comedian Shane Gillis sparked controversy during his Saturday Night Live monologue on Saturday after stating he "didn't know women just dress like whores now" while referring to gym clothing. The comment, delivered after Gillis joked about needing to lose weight, was met with little laughter from the studio audience and prompted a wave of negative reactions on social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, X and Threads.
The remark was criticized as tone-deaf, especially in the context of recent reports about a former Cornell University student who alleged she was gang-raped at an on-campus fraternity house in 2024. Actor Dan Levy posted an Instagram video condemning the comment, saying, "Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists," and called for more men to speak out against such language.
Other commentators, including writer Jessica Valenti, linked the joke to the broader national conversation about sexual assault, describing it as contributing to "rape culture." Comedian Sophia Benoit noted that the joke has been repeated for years without a comedic punchline. Gillis, who has a history of controversial material, was previously dismissed from SNL in 2019 after racist jokes from his podcast resurfaced. He was later invited back to host in 2024 and 2025 before the recent appearance.
Representatives for SNL and Gillis did not respond to requests for comment. During the same episode, Gillis inadvertently used an expletive in a sketch and later apologized for the profanity, though some observers pointed out that he had not apologized for the offensive monologue remarks.