NEW YORK — Comedian and digital entertainer Druski will make television history next month when he takes the stage at Studio 8H as the first internet content creator to host “Saturday Night Live.”
Druski, whose legal name is Drew Desbordes, will helm the broadcast on Nov. 7, according to a report from Variety cited by ComingSoon.net. The 32-year-old comic rose to prominence through viral short-form videos and his satirical music venture Coulda Been Records, later collaborating with high-profile artists such as Drake, Jack Harlow and Lil Yachty.
Fallout from Shane Gillis’ monologue
The landmark booking comes as the long-running NBC sketch institution navigates the fallout from another host’s recent appearance. Stand-up comic Shane Gillis, who hosted for the third time during the ongoing 52nd season, drew widespread online condemnation for jokes regarding women’s athletic attire.
During his six-minute monologue, Gillis joked that he had not visited a public gym in years and claimed women now “just dressed like whores,” describing bright workout shorts as looking “like artificial bait color,” Page Six reported. The routine drew mixed reactions from the studio audience and sparked immediate condemnation on social media platforms.
Actor Dan Levy publicly rebuked the comic in a video posted to Instagram, stating, “Women wearing short shorts to the gym does not make them whores,” and adding that calling them such makes the speaker a misogynist. Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Ego Nwodim satirized the monologue by sharing a workout photo on Instagram Stories with the caption “whore reporting for duty,” while country singer Maren Morris posted an online clip criticizing the jokes. Conversely, radio host Bobby Bones defended Gillis on his podcast, praising him for taking comedic chances on live television, Page Six reported.
The controversy expanded when Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce reportedly liked an Instagram post of Gillis’ performance shared by the official show account. The interaction ignited swift backlash among fans of Kelce’s wife, Taylor Swift, according to the Daily Mail. An insider told Page Six that Kelce, who previously hosted the show in 2023 and appeared alongside Gillis at a summer sports camp, simply wanted to back a friend. OutKick on Fox News noted that the like appeared to have been removed or was no longer visible on the post shortly after the outcry escalated.
Season 52 shifts and upcoming schedule
NBC launched the 52nd season of “Saturday Night Live” on Sept. 26. The roster saw significant backstage turnover following the departures of long-standing cast members Bowen Yang, Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy, ComingSoon.net reported.
The current cycle has featured a diverse lineup of hosts, including actress Dakota Johnson and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. Johnson’s episode generated substantial buzz when Swift made an unannounced cameo during the opening monologue to support the actress, her recent music video collaborator.
Before Druski makes his historic hosting debut in November, “Obsession” actress Inde Navarrette will anchor the show’s annual Halloween special alongside musical guest Gracie Abrams, with future musical performers and hosts for the remainder of the autumn slate expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
