SNL UK lampoons American host Shane Gillis over controversial jokes
The British edition of Saturday Night Live used its uncensored format to criticize host Shane Gillis for remarks about women that sparked backlash in the United States.
The UK version of Saturday Night Live targeted last week’s American host Shane Gillis during its "Weekend Update" segment, referencing a recent controversy over his jokes about women. Co-anchor Ania Magliano introduced the bit with a story about a Munich Oktoberfest ride operator distributing shorts to deter upskirting, then pivoted to a clip of Gillis’s monologue in which he suggested women dress like "wh---s".
Magliano highlighted the difference in broadcast standards, noting that the American show is subject to FCC indecency rules while SNL UK airs after 10 p.m. and is not bound by the same restrictions. She also recalled Gillis’s accidental use of an F-word during a Dr. Seuss-themed sketch.
"Oh Shane, you’re not allowed to say that, you stupid f---ing c---," Magliano said, drawing cheers from the studio audience.
The segment underscored the contrasting regulatory environments for the two shows, allowing the UK version to deliver a more explicit critique of the American host’s language.