Michael Che Sidesteps Questions on Shane Gillis' Controversial SNL Monologue

Michael Che, a prominent figure at "Saturday Night Live," found himself in a tight spot during a "Today Show" interview when asked about recent comments made by guest host Shane Gillis. Gillis, who hosted the latest episode of the NBC sketch show, drew significant online backlash for a monologue that included a remark about female gymgoers appearing to 'dress like w****s now.'

When confronted with the criticism on Thursday morning by anchor Laura Jarrett, Che responded with a groan, stating, "That's comedy. You think it's funny and then some people don't." He appeared to downplay the controversy, adding, "I can't criticize anybody for swinging and missing 'cause I've definitely swung and missed too. I try to keep that heat off of it."

Che, who was promoting his own upcoming stand-up special, had previously alluded to the situation on Instagram, writing, "wonder what every f***ing questions gonna be about. thanks a lot shane." During the interview, when asked if he saw Gillis' set, Che claimed he was focused on his own material and didn't see it until the following day.

Jarrett pressed further, asking Che for his reaction after hearing the joke. After a noticeable pause, Che stated he "didn't think about it honestly." He also sidestepped a question about whether writers see opening monologues in advance, attributing his lack of attention to being busy and not being "good at my job."

Gillis' monologue, which aired recently, targeted activewear worn by women in gyms. He described the clothing as "neon" and "artificial bait-colored," with shorts that have wrinkles converging at the backside. He then made the remark that led to the controversy, saying, "I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like w****s now."

The comments sparked immediate criticism online. Dan Levy, star of "Schitt's Creek," posted an Instagram video denouncing Gillis' remarks as misogynistic and emphasizing that women wearing athletic shorts does not equate to them being prostitutes. Levy also pointed out that men are often more visibly scantily clad in gyms.

NFL player Travis Kelce also faced repercussions after liking a post of Gillis' monologue on "Saturday Night Live's" official Instagram page. The action drew condemnation on social media platforms, with some users criticizing Kelce for supporting what they deemed a misogynistic joke. Even Kelce's partner, Taylor Swift, was indirectly mentioned by some critics.

In related developments, "Saturday Night Live" alumna Ego Nwodim responded to Gillis' joke with her own posts on Instagram. She shared a gym selfie captioned, "w**** reporting for duty," followed by a picture of food with the caption, "getting my 30 grams of protein in after heuxing."

Gillis has a history of controversy with "Saturday Night Live." He was hired as a cast member in 2019 but was fired shortly after due to resurfaced clips from a podcast where he used offensive language, including an ethnic slur against Asian people. At the time, he was hired alongside Bowen Yang, "SNL's" first Asian cast member, which amplified the scrutiny of his remarks.

Following his firing, Gillis issued a statement acknowledging himself as a "comedian who pushes boundaries" and offered apologies to those genuinely offended. He was publicly supported by "SNL" veteran Norm Macdonald, who had himself been fired from the show for controversial material.

Gillis has since achieved renewed success, releasing a stand-up special in 2023 that reached the Netflix Top 10 in multiple countries. Meanwhile, "SNL" has seen departures from its cast in recent years, including Nwodim, who left last year, and Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman, who departed after the 51st season.