Why Was Shane Gillis Fired From SNL?

Recently, many have grown curious about why Shane Gillis was fired from SNL. His sudden dismissal from the iconic comedy show in 2019, just days after being announced as a new cast member, sparked widespread debate. The incident fueled conversations around comedy and cancel culture. So, what happened?

Here is more about why Shane Gillis was fired from SNL.

Why did Shane Gillis get fired from SNL?

Shane Gillis was fired from Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 2019 after past offensive remarks surfaced. This sparked widespread controversy before he even made his debut. Hired as one of three new cast members for SNL’s 45th season, Gillis’ addition was quickly overshadowed by viral clips from his podcast, Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, where he used racist and homophobic slurs. In the clips, Gillis mocked Chinese accents and used derogatory language towards LGBTQ+ comedians.

The backlash led to an official statement from SNL, which announced Gillis’ firing, citing the offensive nature of his remarks and acknowledging the failure of their vetting process. SNL further emphasized that they hired Gillis due to his comedic talent. The statement further read, “We want SNL to have a variety of voices and points of view within the show… The language he used is offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable. We are sorry that we did not see these clips earlier and that our vetting process was not up to our standard.” (via NPR)

Following his firing, Gillis took to social media to share his thoughts. The comedian expressed that he understood the decision and respected it. However, he also believed that comedians should not have to make serious public apologies for their work.

In a surprising twist, Shane Gillis returned to SNL in 2024 as a host. During his opening monologue, he joked about his previous firing, saying, “I was fired from this show a while ago, but don’t look that up, please.” (via The Daily Beast)

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