Shane Gillis, a stand-up comedian, experienced a meteoric trajectory with “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) – hired and then swiftly fired in 2019 before even appearing on air. This dramatic turn of events stemmed from the resurfacing of racist remarks he had made on a podcast. His controversial past became a major point of discussion when SNL announced he would host the show on February 24, prompting many to ask: why did Shane Gillis get fired from SNL in the first place?
The controversy erupted just days after Gillis was announced as a new cast member for SNL’s 45th season in September 2019. Clips from his podcast, “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” quickly circulated online, revealing deeply offensive language. In one particularly damning segment, Gillis used an anti-Asian slur while discussing Chinatown, further imitating a Chinese accent and substituting “nooders” for noodles. “Let the f—— ch—- live there,” he stated in the podcast, remarks that ignited immediate and widespread condemnation.
The timing of Gillis’s hiring was particularly sensitive as it coincided with SNL’s addition of Bowen Yang, the show’s first Asian American cast member. The apparent contradiction was not lost on online commentators, who highlighted the irony of hiring Gillis alongside Yang amidst his history of racist remarks. In response to the outcry, a spokesperson for SNL executive producer Lorne Michaels acknowledged they were unaware of Gillis’s past comments. They stated, “The language he used is offensive, hurtful and unacceptable,” leading to the swift decision to terminate his contract.
Following the backlash and firing, Gillis offered a now-deleted apology on Twitter. He characterized himself as a comedian who “pushes boundaries” and sometimes misses the mark. While expressing his disappointment at losing the SNL opportunity, he conceded that his presence would be “too much of a distraction” and respected SNL’s decision. However, in subsequent interviews, Gillis has remained largely unapologetic about his comedic style, suggesting he wouldn’t alter his podcast content.
Despite the SNL debacle, Shane Gillis has managed to carve out a successful career in comedy. He self-released a stand-up special on YouTube in 2021 that garnered over 23 million views, demonstrating a strong and engaged fanbase. He also secured a Netflix special, “Beautiful Dogs,” in September of the previous year, further solidifying his presence in the comedy scene. Adding to his resurgence, Gillis recently announced a partnership with Bud Light for his upcoming stand-up tour, indicating a continued rise in his career despite the earlier controversy.
Beyond the anti-Asian slurs that led to his SNL firing, Gillis has faced criticism for other offensive jokes, including homophobic remarks. In another episode of “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” he used a homophobic slur while discussing a hypothetical scenario involving “hot Southern boys” during the Civil War. While he has acknowledged that homophobic slurs can be “distracting” on stage, reports indicate he has continued to use them in other contexts, such as on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Despite the controversies, some critics have lauded Gillis’s comedy for its satirical takes on American patriotism and cultural divides. One New York Times critic described him as a comedian who is “dumb and smart, cocky and self-mocking, homophobic but relentlessly self-aware.” Gillis himself, while appealing to some conservative audiences, has stated he doesn’t consider himself a “conservative guy,” highlighting the complex and often provocative nature of his comedic persona.
In conclusion, Shane Gillis was fired from Saturday Night Live due to the surfacing of racist and offensive remarks from his past podcast. These comments sparked immediate outrage and led SNL to swiftly terminate his contract before he could debut on the show. While this controversy marked a significant setback at the time, Gillis has since rebounded, establishing a successful stand-up career, demonstrating the complexities of cancel culture and the evolving landscape of comedy in the public sphere.
