Saturday Night Live host Shane Gillis sparked a firestorm of criticism on Oct. 10 when, during his opening monologue, he remarked that women now dress like “whores” at the gym. The comment, made while describing his own challenges as a larger‑bodied man working out in New York, was widely condemned as misogynistic.
Reaction from the entertainment community
Several high‑profile entertainers quickly responded. Emmy‑winning actor Dan Levy called the joke “misogynist” in an Instagram Reel, stating, “Women wearing shorts at the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists.” Actress Phoebe Robinson posted a video asking, “Women are dressed like whores? What is the joke?” Both emphasized that the language was unacceptable on a national platform.
Social‑media backlash
Twitter (now X) users flooded the platform with criticism. One commentator described the segment as “very awkward,” while another wrote, “I don’t know what turns my stomach more, the fact that Shane Gillis was on Saturday Night Live tonight and said women at the gym ‘dress like whores’ or that there were people in the audience who found his disgusting bit of so‑called humor funny.” Others urged consideration of how women feel when repeatedly labeled in such a manner.
Broader cultural context
Feminist writer Jessica Valenti linked the joke to ongoing national conversations about sexual assault, noting that Gillis seemed aware of the timing. Valenti said, “Shane Gillis knows that there is a major national conversation happening right now about sexual assault,” and added that she would not accept a simple apology as sufficient.
Gillis’s career background
Gillis’s comedy career has risen sharply in recent years. In July, he set a Guinness World Record for the most tickets sold for a solo comedy show, and he has starred in the Netflix series “Tires” as well as headlined his own special, “Beautiful Dogs.” He has also appeared in multiple Bud Light commercials.
However, controversy has followed him before. In 2019, he was removed from the SNL cast after resurfaced podcast clips revealed racist slurs and homophobic jokes. Despite that setback, he returned to host the show in 2024 and again in 2025.
Gillis’s own response
When asked about the backlash, Gillis did not immediately comment. A TODAY.com request for comment to both SNL representatives and Gillis’s team went unanswered at the time of publication.
Impact on the show
SNL has faced criticism in the past for giving a platform to controversial comedians. This latest incident adds to ongoing debates about the responsibilities of live‑television comedy programs to avoid language that demeans or marginalizes groups, particularly women.
As the conversation continues, many are calling for greater sensitivity and accountability from comedians and network producers alike.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
