Shane Gillis Returns to Host SNL: Addressing Past Controversy

Comedian Shane Gillis has resumed hosting “SNL” following his departure from the cast in 2019 due to racist, homophobic, and sexist sentiments. In the February 24 broadcast, Gillis publicly addressed his dismissal in his opening remarks. “I am present,” he stated. “Most of you likely do not know my identity. I got discharged from this program some time ago. However, please prevent Googling for that information. Do not search for my identity if you are uninformed of who I am. It is okay. Please do not trouble yourself with it. Gillis was booted from the program barely one week after it was believed that he would join the SNL cast. Lorne Michaels, the seasoned executive producer, said: “We aim for diverse voices and perspectives on ‘SNL within the show, and we hired Shane on the strength of his talent as a comedian and his impressive audition for ‘SNL.’ “We were ignorant of his past beliefs that have just come to light. The rhetoric he used was rude, nasty, and inappropriate. We are sorry that we did not see this video sooner, and that our vetting approach was not up to our standard.” Gillis also replied to his termination on social media: “It feels ridiculous for comedians to be making serious public statements but here we are. I’m a comic who was entertaining enough to get SNL. That can’t be taken away. Of course, I wanted an opportunity to establish myself at SNL, but I understood it would be too much of a distraction. I admire the option they chose. I’m honestly glad for the chance. I was always a passionate tv [sic] man anyway.” Since his termination in 2019, Gillis has co-hosted the popular podcast “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” and landed a Netflix comedy special “Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs,” released in 2023. You may like: Ellie Goulding and Caspar Jopling Announce Separation: A Closer Look at Their Journey