Shane Gillis Breaks Silence on 2019 ‘SNL’ Firing: What Did He Say?
3 min read
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Comedian Shane Gillis returned to the spotlight with his hosting gig on Saturday Night Live, using the opportunity to address his controversial 2019 firing from the show. However, his opening monologue fell flat, leaving many unimpressed.
Shane Gillis, who was let go from SNL in 2019 after the resurfacing of racially and homophobically insensitive remarks, took to the stage at NBC‘s Studio 8H with hopes of making a strong comeback. However, his attempts to address his past missteps and entertain the audience fell short.
During his monologue, Gillis joked about his firing from SNL, quipping, “I’m here. Most of you probably have no idea who I am. I was actually — I was fired from this show a while ago. But if, you know, don’t look that up, please, if you don’t know who I am. Please, don’t Google that. It’s fine. Don’t even worry about it.” Despite his efforts to lighten the mood, his jokes failed to resonate with the audience.
Comedian Shane Gillis goes on SNL after getting fired from the show in 2019 for "racist and homophobic jokes" and then says "gay", "ret*rd" and "cracker" in his opening monologue.
Comedy is back. pic.twitter.com/Vd5bvyBfut— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 25, 2024Advertisement
The comedian attempted to inject humor into various topics, including his family dynamics and experiences with Down syndrome. However, his attempts at comedy fell flat, with many viewers expressing discomfort and disappointment with his material.
Some of Shane Gillis’s jokes, particularly those concerning Down syndrome, received backlash from viewers. Despite his assertions that he was attempting to push boundaries in comedy, many found his remarks insensitive and in poor taste.
Viewers took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with Gillis’s performance, with one X user writing, “Shane Gillis hosting SNL was so cringe that I changed the channel to watch the sag awards instead no joke,” while another added, “I absolutely need to hear Shane Gillis’ SNL monologue without the laugh tracks.”
Shane Gillis’s return to SNL was highly anticipated, with reports indicating that he planned to address his firing head-on and incorporate his trademark controversial humor into his performance. However, his efforts to make a splash on the show were met with criticism and disappointment.
Since his departure from SNL, Gillis has continued to pursue his career in comedy, gaining popularity with his Netflix specials and appearances on podcasts like “The Joe Rogan Experience.” Despite his efforts to regain his footing in the industry, his SNL monologue serves as a reminder of the challenges he faces in rebuilding his reputation.
2019: @nbcSNL fired Shane Gillis @Shanemgillis for his anti-Asian racism and homophobic slurs.
— From Beige to Black 🟦 (@trcterp) February 25, 2024
2024: Gillis hosts #SNL.
He makes fun of people with #DownSyndrome and the LGBTQ.
Lesson: Bigots screw everyone over including the idiots who wanted them on the show. https://t.co/A5ZAXTccwx pic.twitter.com/4dtBonBZkP
Shane is successful because he’s authentic. There’s no virtue signaling. There’s no ideology. There’s no narrative. He’s a regular dude saying things regular dudes think.
— Nice Guy P (@RealPJPaul) February 25, 2024
When Shane was “cancelled” by SNL in 2019, he was not some rich famous person that could hide. He had to…
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
