Jenna Bush Hager Criticizes Shane Gillis' 'SNL' Monologue on Women's Attire

Jenna Bush Hager has publicly criticized comedian Shane Gillis for his controversial remarks about women's attire at the gym during his recent "Saturday Night Live" monologue. Speaking on Tuesday's episode of "Today with Jenna & Sheinelle," Hager stated that Gillis' comments, where he described women who wear short shorts to the gym as dressed like "whores," are unacceptable.

"Who is he to comment on women’s bodies?" Hager questioned on the show. "This perpetuates what is happening in our culture where people are commenting on women’s looks ad nauseam... and it’s not OK."

Hager, 44, emphasized the importance of setting a positive example for children, adding, "If we want to be good role models for our children, stop talking about the way women look, period." She also noted that she would find it "disgusted" if her husband, Henry Chase Hager, made similar comments, which she stated he would not.

Co-host Sheinelle Jones, 48, echoed Hager's sentiments, explaining that while she is generally more lenient with comedians, the specific word choice used by Gillis was problematic. "I think when you say the word ‘whores,’ I think it feels almost derogatory... it feels mean," Jones said. She drew a parallel to men being comfortable without shirts at the gym and suggested that women should have the same freedom to be proud of their bodies in their chosen attire.

Gillis, 38, made the remarks during his "SNL" appearance over the weekend, commenting on the length of gym shorts and jokingly adding, "And don’t look, you’re not allowed to look... they are filming. I’m in the background of about 10 TikToks right now."

The monologue has drawn criticism from various figures, including fellow comedian Dan Levy, who stated on Instagram that "Women wearing short shorts to the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists. There’s a difference there."

Former "SNL" cast member Ego Nwodim also responded via Instagram Stories, humorously identifying herself as a "whore reporting for duty" while in workout gear.

Despite the backlash, the monologue received a "like" on Instagram from Travis Kelce and was described as "pretty funny" by Bobby Bones.