Shane Gillis’s controversial comedy style was on display during his Saturday Night Live monologue, reigniting debates around cancel culture and the boundaries of offensive humor.
Gillis was fired from SNL in 2019 over past offensive comments but hosted despite that. His monologue included jokes about sensitive topics like his firing, family members, and past controversies.
“Yeah, I’m here,” Gillis said in the beginning of his latest monologue. “I was fired from this show a while ago, but don’t look that up, please.”
“If you don’t know who I am, please don’t Google that. It’s fine. Don’t even worry about it,” Gillis joked.
During the monologue, Gillis made questionable jokes about having family members with Down syndrome.
“It almost got me,” Gillis said in regards to the disability. “I dodged it, but it nicked me. It nicked me.”
“Look, I don’t have any material that can be on TV, all right? I’m trying my best. Also, this place is extremely well-lit. I can see everyone not enjoying it. This is the most nervous I’ve ever been,” Gillis said.
While some saw the monologue as a way of insulating himself from criticism, others felt it highlighted the absurdities of cancel culture in silencing uncomfortable truths.
Gillis’s appearance shed light on the tensions surrounding the pushing of boundaries through provocation versus risk of alienation.
