Dan Levy condemns Shane Gillis’ misogynist SNL monologue
Levy’s Instagram video rebuked Gillis’s “women dress like whores” joke during the October 10 SNL episode.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Comedian Shane Gillis faced renewed criticism after describing women at the gym as “whores” during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live on 10 October 2026, prompting a rebuke from creator Dan Levy.
What happened
Gillis, who was rehired to host SNL for the third time, delivered the remark in a stand‑up opening before a Dr. Seuss‑themed sketch. He said women “dress like whores now” and added, “Look, I’m sorry there’s no other way to describe it.” The comment was followed by an accidental profanity slip that he corrected on‑air. The episode aired live on NBC and was subsequently posted to YouTube.
What the reports add
- The Independent noted that the joke was especially tone‑deaf given the national conversation around the 2024 Cornell 7 case, a gang‑rape allegation that SNL had addressed on Weekend Update the week prior.
- Dan Levy, 43, posted a video to Instagram on 12 October condemning the remark as misogynistic; his full statement was: “Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores, it makes the men calling them whores misogynists…I’m speechless that something like that can exist on live national television, and to be honest more men need to be standing up in opposition to it.” He also added, “I’ve seen more men’s nipples at the gym than I’ve ever seen women showing their bodies off.”
- Levy’s video drew supportive comments from actors and musicians, including Jewel, Kristin Chenoweth and Lisa Loeb, who praised his stance.
- Lorne Michaels, the show’s creator, was quoted in a 2019 Wall Street Journal interview saying he was “angry” about Gillis’s 2019 firing and believed the comedian “had real potential,” a sentiment that helps explain Gillis’s repeated returns.
- Gillis’s commercial success was highlighted: he is one of the most‑watched touring comedians in the U.S., has a 2023 Netflix special titled Beautiful Dogs, his 2021 debut special amassed 58 million YouTube views, and he boasts roughly 3 million Instagram followers.
- The monologue also featured an uncensored F‑word slip during the Dr. Seuss sketch, which was later incorporated into the sketch by co‑star Mikey Day.
What was said
“Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores, it makes the men calling them whores misogynists…I’m speechless that something like that can exist on live national television, and to be honest more men need to be standing up in opposition to it.” – Dan Levy, Instagram video, 12 October, The Independent
“Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores, it makes the men calling them whores misogynists. There’s a difference there.” – Dan Levy, quoted in The Independent article dated 13 October.
Shane Gillis later apologized on‑air, saying he “pushes comedic boundaries” and that he was “sorry to anyone offended.”
How it came about
Gillis was first hired to join SNL’s cast in 2019 alongside Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman, but was dismissed after resurfaced clips of anti‑Asian slurs and homophobic jokes surfaced. He returned to host in 2022, 2024, and again in 2026. His 2026 appearance followed a cold open featuring Pete Hegseth welcoming the USS Abraham Lincoln back to San Diego after a 322‑day deployment. The controversy adds to earlier coverage of Levy’s response (Dan Levy condemns Shane Gillis’ misogynist SNL monologue) and the broader criticism of Gillis’s remarks (Shane Gillis criticized for calling women ‘whores’ in SNL monologue).
Key facts
- Shane Gillis called women at the gym "whores" during his SNL monologue on 10 October 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Dan Levy posted an Instagram video condemning the remark on 12 October 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Gillis was previously fired from SNL in 2019 after racist and homophobic podcast clips resurfaced. (independent.co.uk)
Timeline
- 2019-09-XX — Shane Gillis announced as new SNL cast member and subsequently fired after offensive clips emerged.
- 2026-10-10 — Gillis hosts SNL and delivers the "women dress like whores" joke.
- 2026-10-12 — Dan Levy shares Instagram video condemning Gillis's comment.
