Kenan Thompson Says He’d Have a ‘Real Chat’ With Shane Gillis If He Returns to ‘SNL’ After Monologue Backlash
Kenan Thompson is weighing in on the controversy surrounding Shane Gillis‘ recent Saturday Night Live monologue.
The longtime SNL star, 48, opened up about the backlash during Axios’ Media Trends Live summit in New York City on Tuesday (October 20), revealing what he would say to Shane if the comedian returned to host the show.
Shane, 38, sparked criticism after making a joke about women’s gym attire during the October 10 episode, referring to women at the gym as “whores.”
Speaking to Axios, Kenan made it clear that he doesn’t necessarily believe Shane is a mean person, but suggested they would need to discuss the controversial joke.
“I don’t know him to be a mean person necessarily,” Kenan said.
He explained that he would want Shane to reflect on how the monologue went and what he might have done differently.
“If he were to come back, I’m sure we would have a conversation of like, how do you think that went?” Kenan said.
Kenan said he would want to have a “real chat” with Shane about how one person’s actions can affect everyone else involved in the show.
Kenan also expressed frustration that the controversy overshadowed other moments from the episode, including performances by musical guest Rosalía and new cast member Grace Reiter.
“Grace, one of our newest cast members, had a phenomenal show and it’s sad because nobody’s even talking about it,” he explained.
Kenan also acknowledged the challenge of balancing creative freedom with the potential impact of offensive language, explaining that comedians should consider how their jokes might affect other people.
When asked whether Shane would be welcomed back as a host, Kenan emphasized that he doesn’t make those decisions.
“I can’t really say like if they’re gonna have him back or not. That’s not my decision,” he said.
The comments are the latest reaction to Shane‘s monologue, which has prompted responses from several entertainers.
Dan Levy was among the celebrities who criticized the joke, arguing that describing women that way reinforces harmful attitudes. Former SNL cast member Ego Nwodim also responded on social media, while Dana Carvey defended the monologue as comedy.
See which celebrities criticized Shane Gillis‘ SNL monologue and who defended him.
Shane was previously hired as an SNL cast member in 2019 but was dropped before appearing on the show after past offensive remarks resurfaced. He later returned as a guest host in 2024, 2025 and October 2026.
If you missed it, SNL cast member Michael Che was also recently asked about Shane‘s controversial monologue during an awkward live television interview.
Watch the monologue…
Posted To:Dan Levy Dana Carvey Ego Nwodim Grace Reiter Kenan Thompson Michael Che NBC Peacock Rosalia Saturday Night Live Shane Gillis Television
