NEW YORK — Longtime “Saturday Night Live” cast member Michael Che shrugged off the public outcry surrounding Shane Gillis’ recent hosting monologue during an appearance Thursday on NBC’s “Today” show, describing the polarized reaction as an ordinary part of the comedy world.
Gillis, who hosted the sketch series for the third time on Saturday, sparked widespread criticism for material targeting women’s workout clothing at fitness centers. During his opening routine, the 38-year-old comedian joked that women at gyms “dress like whores now,” commenting on tight, colorful shorts and joking about being caught in the background of social media videos.
Che Addresses the Blowback on ‘Today’
Che appeared on “Today” to promote his upcoming Netflix stand-up special, “Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota.” Before the interview, the 43-year-old comedian had vented on an Instagram Story about having to field questions regarding Gillis rather than his own work during his promotional press tour, writing, “Thanks a lot shane.”
When questioned on air by co-anchor Laura Jarrett about the controversy, Che remained largely indifferent to the criticism.
“That’s comedy,” Che said during the broadcast. “It’s like, you think it’s funny and then some people don’t.”
Asked whether he laughed when he heard the material, Che explained that he was focused on his own responsibilities during the live broadcast and did not watch Gillis deliver the monologue. He noted that he was reviewing cue cards for “Weekend Update,” the weekly satirical news segment he co-anchors alongside Colin Jost.
“I didn’t think about it honestly,” Che added when asked about his reaction upon eventually seeing the performance the following day. Che emphasized that he avoids judging other stand-ups for jokes that miss the mark, pointing to his own missteps during live comedy broadcasts.
“That’s why I can’t criticize anybody for swinging and missing, because I’ve definitely swung and missed, too,” Che said, according to Fox News. “I try to keep that heat off of me.”
Divided Reactions Across the Industry
Gillis’ comments have generated sharp rebukes from several public figures and former colleagues from “Saturday Night Live.”
Former cast member Ego Nwodim satirized the remarks on Instagram by sharing a gym photograph alongside the caption “Whore reporting for duty,” followed by a breakfast photo referencing the routine. Fellow alumna Cecily Strong, who appeared on the series from 2012 to 2022, also mocked the routine by posting about her brightly colored athletic footwear and socks.
Actor Dan Levy denounced the monologue on social media, arguing that derogatory language directed at female gymgoers reflects misogyny rather than humor. “Today” co-host Jenna Bush Hager stated on Tuesday’s broadcast that she would feel disgusted if her husband ever spoke about women in such terms.
Other comics offered differing perspectives. Stand-up Kathy Griffin told Page Six that while she found Gillis’ routine poor in quality, she defended his freedom to make jokes as well as the public’s right to criticize him.
A Complicated History With the Show
Gillis was originally hired as a featured cast member for “Saturday Night Live” in 2019. NBC dismissed him five days later following the public circulation of past podcast recordings that included racial and homophobic slurs.
Despite his early firing, Gillis returned to host the program. According to Nielsen figures cited by Late Nighter, Saturday’s broadcast averaged 4.4 million viewers, marking the highest live audience across his three hosting stints.
Representatives for Gillis declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Fox News Digital, while NBC did not immediately issue a public statement regarding the routine.
