Comedian Shane Gillis faced renewed criticism following his recent appearance as host of "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), a week after his controversial monologue drew backlash for derogatory remarks about women and the use of explicit language. The British version of the show, "Saturday Night Live U.K.," aired a segment targeting Gillis during its “Weekend Update” portion, highlighting the widespread response to his comments.

During the “Weekend Update” on SNL U.K., cast member Ania Magliano referenced a news report in which women attending Munich’s Oktoberfest were provided cycling shorts to prevent up-skirt exposure while on a carnival ride. Magliano suggested that despite these measures, the women were still vulnerable to “something much worse,” displaying an image of Gillis on the screen. She proceeded to mock Gillis’s recent use of profanity on SNL, delivering a scathing critique laced with expletives. SNL U.K. is permitted to broadcast stronger language owing to its post-9 p.m. airtime.

The British adaptation of SNL, executive produced by Lorne Michaels—who also oversees the American original—premiered in March and recently launched its second season, with episodes streaming in the United States via Peacock on Sundays. Efforts to obtain comment from a representative of Michaels were unsuccessful.

Gillis’s contentious monologue on the October 11 broadcast included labeling women who wear shorts to the gym as “whores” and incorporating explicit language during a sketch. He apologized during the show’s final curtain call, but criticism quickly mounted from both viewers and prominent public figures. Canadian actor Dan Levy condemned the remarks in an Instagram video, describing them as misogynistic and expressing disbelief they aired on live national television. Several celebrities, including Viola Davis, Elizabeth Banks, and Sarah Michelle Gellar, publicly echoed Levy’s sentiment.

Comedian Phoebe Robinson posted a question on social media addressing broader frustrations with perceived misogyny in comedy, calling it “lazy” and “mediocre.” Michael Che, co-anchor of SNL’s “Weekend Update” in New York, addressed the controversy on the “Today” show, describing the situation as “comedy” that can be seen as funny by some and offensive by others. He later posted on Instagram that he did not find Gillis’s jokes funny, clarifying that any apparent laughter was out of courtesy rather than genuine amusement.

Shane Gillis has a history of controversy. He was initially hired as a featured player on SNL in 2019 but was dismissed days later after past remarks, including offensive comments about Chinese people, surfaced. Despite this, he has since hosted the show in 2024 and 2025. The ongoing debate surrounding his recent performance underscores continued tensions over comedic boundaries and social sensitivity on live television.