Kenan Thompson stated that he would have a direct conversation with Shane Gillis if the comedian returns to host "Saturday Night Live" for a fourth time. Speaking at the Axios Media Trends Live summit on Tuesday, Thompson described the hypothetical meeting as a moment to discuss how Gillis's recent monologue was received and what could be improved. He compared the approach to sitting down with a child to review their actions.
Thompson, who is in his 24th season on the show, did not condemn the routine but emphasized the need for performers to balance creative freedom with caution regarding harmful language. He noted that intense focus on specific words in Gillis's monologue often overshadows the rest of the performance. Gillis drew criticism earlier this month for joking that women at gyms "just dress like whores now" during his third hosting stint on the NBC series.
Range Media Partners CEO Peter Micelli, who appeared alongside Thompson on the panel, defended Gillis by arguing that fear of offending audiences stifles comedy. Micelli described Gillis as a "lovely human being" and "wonderful man" who spent much of his monologue poking fun at himself. He argued that comedians need space to take risks without fear of backlash, warning that shutting down comedy every time it steps too far limits creative expression.
Reactions from other entertainers have been mixed. "Schitt's Creek" co-creator Dan Levy posted a video condemning Gillis's remarks, stating that calling women who wear short shorts "whores" makes the men using the label misogynists. Conversely, fellow "SNL" cast member Michael Che told NBC's "Today" show that jokes do not always land with audiences. Che said he has experienced missing with jokes himself while co-anchoring "Weekend Update" with Colin Jost, which keeps him from criticizing others for similar missteps.
Former "SNL" cast member Dana Carvey questioned the level of criticism on his "Fly on the Wall" podcast with David Spade. Carvey said he did not understand the "kerfuffle," noting that when comedians make jokes, they are not literally stating facts. Comedian and media analyst Tim Young told Fox News Digital that the controversy reflects a divide between comedy fans and traditional network television audiences. Young argued that comedy is a bastion of free speech and that comedians should not feel pressured to apologize in response to social media criticism.
Fox News Digital reached out to Thompson's representatives for comment but did not receive a response. Gillis's team declined to comment.