Michael Che Faces Press Scrutiny Over Shane Gillis SNL Joke
Weekend Update host Michael Che was questioned on the Today show about the backlash to Shane Gillis's controversial monologue joke, offering vague responses and later clarifying his position on social media.
Michael Che appeared on the Today show and was pressed about the criticism surrounding Shane Gillis's recent Saturday Night Live monologue. When host Laura Jarrett asked whether he had seen the backlash to Gillis’s joke, Che responded, "That’s comedy. It’s like, you think it’s funny and then some people don’t." He added that he had been focused on his cue cards and did not watch the joke until the following day.
Jarrett followed up, asking if Che had laughed at the joke. Che said he was thinking about material that might upset viewers and did not recall the joke until later, stating, "I didn’t think about it, honestly." He also noted that he concentrates on his "Weekend Update" segment because he does not consider himself naturally adept at that part of the show.
Gillis’s monologue on October 10 included a remark about women’s clothing that sparked the controversy. After the interview, Che posted on Threads to emphasize that he did not laugh at the joke and denied accusations of misogyny, writing that he has not laughed at comedy in about 11 years and that he does not find the material funny.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions within the SNL cast regarding the handling of controversial content and the public’s reaction to it.