A Return to Controversy on the SNL Stage
Shane Gillis’s recent Saturday Night Live monologue has ignited a firestorm of criticism, centering on his characterization of women’s gym attire. During the broadcast, Gillis claimed he was unaware that women now “dress like whores” at the gym, specifically critiquing neon-colored, tight-fitting shorts. He described the garments as “artificial bait,” arguing they were designed to draw attention while women filmed content for social media.
The Independent noted that Gillis, who was fired from the sketch show in 2019 following the surfacing of racist and homophobic remarks, framed his comments as “boundary-pushing” comedy. The backlash was swift, with critics connecting his rhetoric to broader concerns regarding misogyny and recent high-profile sexual assault allegations in the United States. In a country where the president once famously spoke of grabbing women “by the p****,” where Pete Hegseth has expressed opposition to promoting female army members, and where the Supreme Court ended the federal right to abortion, critics argue such remarks are merely lazy pandering rather than a challenge to established boundaries.
Public Rebukes from Industry Peers
Former Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy took to Instagram on Sunday to condemn the remarks, as reported by CBC and CTV News. Levy, who hosted SNL in 2021, rejected the premise that the bit was comedy. He expressed that he was “speechless” that a joke of that nature would be broadcast on live television.
“Women wearing short shorts to the gym does not make them whores,” Levy stated. “It makes the men calling them whores misogynists.”
Levy argued that male silence on such issues fosters an environment where women face sexual violence, urging men to oppose such rhetoric rather than treating it as a standard subject for humor. He added, “This is not a women’s issue, it’s an everybody issue.” Former SNL cast member Ego Nwodim also pushed back, as noted by NBC News and The Hollywood Reporter. Nwodim, a mainstay on the show for seven seasons from 2018 to 2025, posted images to her Instagram story wearing gym clothes with the captions “Whore reporting for duty” and “Getting my 30 grams of protein in after heauxing.”
Viewers Criticize Tone of Monologue Online
The monologue, now hosted on the SNL Instagram account, has drawn thousands of critical comments. Many viewers pointed to the poor timing of the segment, citing the ongoing public outcry over an alleged sexual assault involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity at Cornell University, according to CTV News. Some users labeled the segment “tone-deaf,” while others argued that airing the material enabled a culture of objectification. Others referenced the current climate of news, noting that women regularly read reports regarding incidents such as ICE agents shooting parents in front of their children, gang-rapes at Ivy League colleges, and family annihilators in mass shootings.
Gillis’s set also included remarks about his own hairline and public persona, at one point stating, “You’re either gay or Hitler, and isn’t that where we’re at as a country?” During the monologue, he also referenced his friend Joe Rogan’s private gym in Texas, though The Independent noted the audience did not cheer for the mention, marking a contrast to other parts of his performance.
Performer Apologizes After Using Live Profanity
Beyond the monologue, Gillis faced technical difficulties during a later sketch parodying a Dr. Seuss story. CBC reported that he accidentally used an expletive on live television, forcing him to apologize twice—once at the conclusion of the sketch and again during the show’s final sign-off. Despite the profanity, the controversy surrounding his comments on women remained the dominant focus of public discourse.
The scrutiny follows Gillis’s 2019 firing from Saturday Night Live, which occurred after video clips surfaced showing him using a racial slur directed at Asian people and mocking the way Asians attempt to learn English. The show rescinded his hiring shortly after those clips gained public attention. Saturday Night Live airs on CTV and Crave in Canada. This report was first published Oct. 12, 2026.