Comedian Shane Gillis is speaking out for the first time regarding the widespread criticism of his recent Saturday Night Live hosting appearance. During the November 13, 2026 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Gillis addressed the fallout from his October 10 opening monologue, in which he remarked that women at the gym "dress like whores now." Speaking 34 days after the live NBC broadcast, the 38-year-old comic revealed that the audience and industry backlash caught him off guard—especially since he had assured the show's staff beforehand that his set would be completely free of controversy.

Behind the Scenes of a 'C Minus' Monologue

During his conversation with Rogan, Gillis pulled back the curtain on how stand-up comedians prepare their opening remarks at Studio 8H compared to traditional celebrity hosts.

According to Deadline, Gillis absolved the long-running sketch series of blame for the material making it to air, explaining that stand-up comics do not hand over written scripts for line-by-line review.

"Not to defend SNL, they don't approve it. I mean, they could shut it down," Gillis said on the podcast. "They could, but you don't write your set and give it to them. Unless you're not a comedian. I'm sure non-comics, they write the set for them. They have writers that write the monologue for them."

Industry reports frame the backstage vetting process prior to the October 10 broadcast in slightly different ways. According to Variety, Gillis stated that Saturday Night Live offered no feedback on the joke ahead of time, while Vulture notes that the staff asked Gillis for the general gist of his remarks without formally approving the set.

When producers asked how the monologue was shaping up, Gillis downplayed the material.

"The funniest part was, they were like, 'What's going on with the monologue?' And I was like, 'It's not great, but I don't say anything bad,'" Gillis recalled. "The whole time, I was like, 'Fellas, I'm giving you a solid C minus of a monologue, but I promise there's no controversy. I'm calling myself fat for fucking 10 minutes. That's it.'"

The Joke That Sparked Industry Fallout

Despite his assurances to the production team, the October 10 monologue quickly generated debate across social media and within the entertainment industry. As recounted by E! Online, Gillis used part of his opening set to talk about feeling intimidated while working out in New York City, focusing specifically on modern activewear.

"I haven't been to the gym in so long, I didn't know women just dress like whores now?"

Gillis said during the broadcast. "Look, I'm sorry, there's no other way to describe it. Have you seen it? I've seen it. The shorts. Have you seen the shorts? Those neon, they're like artificial bait-colored. And the wrinkles go around the cheeks and all combined at the butthole. And don't look, you're not allowed to look. For real, don't look because they are filming. I'm in the background of like 10 TikToks right now."

While Gillis told Rogan he believed the intense public reaction "obviously had a lot to do with the climate" and added that, "for the record, [I] don't have a problem with it" regarding how women dress to work out, critics and peers took issue with the bit. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the joke drew pointed criticism from actor and comedian Dan Levy, former SNL cast member Ego Nwodim, and Kathy Griffin.

The remarks even became fodder on the show itself when Obsession star Inde Navarrette took a dig at Gillis's joke during her own opening monologue on the subsequent Halloween episode, while Ania Magliano also referenced it during the "Weekend Update" segment on SNL UK.

Not everyone in the comedy community condemned the set. Veterans including Dana Carvey, David Spade, and Jimmy Carr publicly voiced their support for Gillis in the weeks following the broadcast. On the podcast, Gillis joked that his agent had suggested bumping the comedians who criticized him from upcoming tour dates, though Gillis dismissed the idea, noting that actively touring comics rarely criticize one another in that manner.

A Complicated History at Studio 8H

The October episode marked Gillis's third time hosting the late-night franchise, following previous hosting stints in 2024 and 2025. However, his relationship with the NBC program has long been defined by public friction.

In 2019, Gillis was announced as a new featured cast member on Saturday Night Live, only to be fired days later before ever appearing on screen after past podcast clips resurfaced in which he mocked Asian accents and used ethnic and gay slurs.

Reflecting on the difference between his 2019 firing and the 2026 monologue fallout, Gillis noted that his approach to online criticism has changed drastically. During the initial controversy seven years ago, he kept his social media accounts active and tracked who spoke out against him. This time around, he deleted his social media apps immediately, leaving him largely insulated from the day-to-day online reaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SNL producers approve Shane Gillis's gym joke before the live broadcast?

No. According to Gillis, Saturday Night Live does not formally approve or write monologues for stand-up comedians as they do for non-comic hosts.

While the show has the power to cut material, Gillis noted that he did not submit a written set beforehand, and he had assured staffers when asked about the monologue's general theme that it contained "no controversy."

How did Shane Gillis explain his remarks about women's gym attire?

On the November 13 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Gillis stated that he personally does not have a problem with how women dress at the gym. He graded his overall monologue performance as a "solid C minus" and attributed much of the negative reaction to the current cultural climate.

Who responded publicly to the October 10 monologue?

The joke drew criticism from several entertainment figures, including Dan Levy, Kathy Griffin, former SNL cast member Ego Nwodim, and SNL UK's Ania Magliano. Actress Inde Navarrette also mocked the bit while hosting the show's Halloween episode.

Conversely, comedians Dana Carvey, David Spade, and Jimmy Carr defended Gillis.

Sources