Brief
Michael Che says “that’s comedy” after Shane Gillis’ gym‑women monologue on SNL
Che told Today the joke was comedy and said he hadn’t seen the monologue until the next day.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Michael Che, co‑anchor of SNL’s “Weekend Update,” told the Today show on Thursday that Shane Gillis’ recent monologue about women at the gym was "that’s comedy," after Gillis faced backlash for describing women’s workout shorts as “whores.”
What happened
During Saturday Night Live’s October 10 episode, Gillis delivered a monologue that included the line, “I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now,” followed by a description of the shorts. The joke sparked criticism from fellow cast members, celebrities and media outlets. The next day, Che was asked about the controversy on the Today show.
What the reports add
The Hollywood Reporter notes that Che had posted on Instagram earlier in the week about promoting his Netflix special, Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota, and expressed uncertainty about the questions he would face. When pressed on the Gillis joke, Che said, “That’s comedy. It’s like, you think it’s funny and some people don’t.” He added that he only saw the monologue the following day because he was at cue cards preparing his own material.
What was said
Che told the Today host, “That’s comedy,” and later explained, “I was at cue cards actually, thinking about what I was gonna say that was gonna make people upset. I didn’t even see it until the next day.” He also referenced his past criticism of Kanye West, saying he prefers to address issues privately rather than on television.
How it came about
Che’s comments follow a series of reactions to Gillis’ monologue, including Dan Levy’s Instagram condemnation and other SNL alumni’s responses. Felo News previously covered Gillis’ remarks and the ensuing backlash in several articles (see Shane Gillis criticized for calling women ‘whores’ in SNL monologue and related pieces). Che’s remarks add another perspective from a current SNL anchor, highlighting the ongoing debate over comedic boundaries on live television.
Key facts
- Shane Gillis called women at the gym "whores" during his October 10 SNL monologue. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Michael Che said the joke was "that’s comedy" during a Thursday interview on the Today show. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Che said he only saw Gillis’ monologue the next day because he was preparing his own material. (hollywoodreporter.com)
- Che promoted his Netflix special "Michael Che: Shot in Minnesota" on Instagram earlier in the week. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Sources
- [1] hollywoodreporter.com — originally reported as “‘SNL’ Star Michael Che Reacts to Shane Gillis’ Controversial Monologue: “That’s Comedy””
