David Spade Urges Calm Amid Backlash Over Shane Gillis’s SNL Joke

WHO:

Fox News - Kenan Thompson, a longtime *Saturday Night Live* cast member in his 24th season, discussed Shane Gillis’s monologue and a possible return to host the show for a fourth time.

Fox News - Gillis hosted NBC’s *Saturday Night Live* for the third time; his opening monologue drew criticism from entertainment figures.

Fox News - Range Media Partners CEO Peter Micelli called Gillis a “lovely human being” and a “wonderful man,” and defended comedians’ ability to take risks.

Fox News - *Schitt’s Creek* co-creator and star Dan Levy criticized Gillis’s remarks in a social-media video. Michael Che, a fellow *SNL* cast member, and former cast member Dana Carvey also commented on the controversy.

NY Post - Comedian David Spade told critics to “relax” as Gillis faced backlash over an *SNL* joke.

WHAT:

Fox News - Thompson said he would sit Gillis down “like a little kid” and ask, “How do you think that went?” and “what do you think you could have done?” if Gillis returned to host.

Fox News - Thompson said comedy requires balancing “creative liberties” with avoiding “harmful words,” and that attention to one word or part of the monologue was overshadowing the rest of the monologue and show.

Fox News - Gillis joked that women at gyms “just dress like whores now,” then described women’s shorts and said, “And don’t look! You’re not allowed to look.”

Fox News - Levy said, “Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores. It makes the men calling them whores misogynists.”

Fox News - Che said some people find a joke funny and others do not; he said he had “swung and missed” with jokes and could not criticize comics for doing the same.

Fox News - Carvey said he did not “understand the kerfuffle” and that comedians are joking rather than literally making the statements in their jokes.

Fox News - Micelli said fear of offending audiences stifles comedy and argued comedians need space to make people laugh.

NY Post - The article says Gillis sparked backlash after mocking women at the gym during his *SNL* monologue.

WHERE:

Fox News - Thompson spoke at the Axios Media Trends Live summit.

Fox News - Gillis delivered the monologue while hosting NBC’s *Saturday Night Live*.

WHY:

Fox News - Thompson said a conversation would be needed if Gillis returned, so the cast could discuss the monologue and how to handle it.

Fox News - Micelli argued that comedians should be able to take risks without fear of audience backlash.

HOW:

Fox News - Thompson said the decision to invite Gillis back was not his to make; he said he would speak with Gillis if Gillis returned.

Fox News - Fox News said it contacted Thompson’s representatives for comment and received no response; Gillis’s team declined to comment.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 11:07 UTC)

Kenan Thompson says he would speak with Shane Gillis about the comedian’s controversial “Saturday Night Live” monologue if Gillis returns to host. Gillis, who hosted for the third time, drew backlash for joking that women at gyms “just dress like whores now.” Speaking at the Axios Media Trends Live summit, Thompson said he would ask Gillis how he thought the monologue went and what he might have done differently. Thompson added that comedy involves balancing creative freedom with avoiding harmful language, and said attention to one part of the monologue was overshadowing the rest of the show. Dan Levy condemned the joke, while fellow cast member Michael Che said comedians sometimes miss with jokes and should not be criticized for trying. Former cast member Dana Carvey said comedians are joking, and media executive Peter Micelli defended their right to take risks. David Spade urged critics to relax.