Kathy Griffin Calls Shane Gillis a 'Hack,' Defends His 'SNL' Right to Joke
The comedian also criticized a perceived trend of male comics making outdated jokes about women.
Kathy Griffin has voiced her criticism of Shane Gillis, the recently reinstated host of "Saturday Night Live," labeling him a "hack" and part of a group of comedians she feels rely on outdated humor.
Griffin, speaking to Page Six, expressed a defense of Gillis's First Amendment rights to make potentially offensive jokes, even as she disapproved of the content. "I think as a comic I’m always going to fight for the First Amendment and his right to say it and yet I don’t have to like it," Griffin stated. "So, I defend his right to say it, and I also defend everyone else’s right to think less of him."
Griffin's comments came after Gillis's "SNL" monologue, which included remarks about women's gym attire. Gillis joked that women wearing short shorts at the gym were "dress[ing] like whores" and commented on men's reactions to them. He also mentioned being filmed for TikTok in the background of such moments.
Beyond her critique of Gillis's specific jokes, Griffin broadened her criticism to a perceived archetype of male comedians emerging from podcast and online platforms. "There are so many; they all look alike to me. They all look like they can’t get laid; they all sound alike to me; they all tell the same jokes…and they tell these jokes about women that are from like 100 years ago, like women should be in the kitchen and shut up and all this other stuff," she said.
Gillis, who was previously fired from "SNL" in 2019 shortly after being hired due to past racist and homophobic remarks, has faced renewed scrutiny for his recent hosting appearance. Comedians like Ego Nwodim and Dan Levy have publicly criticized Gillis's monologue, with Levy asserting that calling women "whores" for their gym attire is misogynistic.
Griffin, who has herself faced controversy for her outspokenness and past jokes, acknowledged that her own comedic material has evolved. "I used many words that horrify me (now), but I don’t use them now. I want to think that I’m still learning," she told Page Six, emphasizing the importance of comedians adapting to changing social norms.
Griffin is currently on tour and is scheduled to perform at The Town Hall in New York City on Friday.