Martha Plimpton Criticizes Shane Gillis' SNL Monologue, Calls for 'Spanking'
Actress also questions Lorne Michaels' hiring decisions, citing a lack of diversity in SNL leadership.
Actress Martha Plimpton has joined a chorus of criticism against comedian Shane Gillis following his recent Saturday Night Live monologue. Plimpton, 55, described Gillis's controversial opening joke about women's gym attire as "stupid" in an Instagram video on Tuesday.
Gillis, 38, who was a controversial hire for SNL, made a joke about women "dressing like w*****s" at the gym, describing their activewear as "neon" and "artificial bait-colored." He quipped about the attire and the expectation that others should not look.
Plimpton also directed criticism at SNL creator Lorne Michaels, 81, questioning the diversity within the show's leadership. She recalled watching a documentary that depicted a meeting in Michaels's office between rehearsal and the live show, noting that it appeared to be "all white men."
"He needs more women around him making decisions," Plimpton stated, adding that the documentary, though not recent, showed a room of "all white men. No women, no people of color." She acknowledged that her observations were based on the documentary and that she could be mistaken.
Gillis previously made headlines in 2019 when he was hired as an SNL cast member but was subsequently fired due to resurfaced podcast clips containing offensive remarks, including racial slurs. He later released a statement calling himself a "comedian who pushes boundaries" and offered to apologize to those genuinely offended.
Since his departure from SNL, Gillis has achieved renewed success, with a stand-up special released in 2023 that reached the Top 10 in multiple countries. His appearance on SNL as host marked a return to the show after his earlier dismissal.
Plimpton's remarks follow similar criticisms from other celebrities, including actor Dan Levy, who called Gillis's comments "misogynistic." SNL alumna Ego Nwodim also responded with her own humorous take on the situation. NFL player Travis Kelce also faced backlash for liking a post of Gillis's monologue on social media.