During a Saturday Night Live broadcast on October 10, 2026, comedian Shane Gillis drew intense criticism for describing women's gym clothing in derogatory terms. Canadian actor Dan Levy responded via Instagram, calling for men to reject such misogyny.
The "artificial bait" comments that ignited Instagram
Shane Gillis used his recent Saturday Night Live monologue to chaacterize women wearing short shors at the gym as being dressed like "whores." The comedian further escalated the rhetoric by comparing the bright colors of women's athletic wear to "artificial bait," according to a report by Tori Fitzpatrick for The Canadian Press.
The remarks immediately triggered a massive reaction on social media. Following the broadcast,the official Saturday Night Live Instagram post drew more than 8,000 comments from viewers. While some audience members engaged with the comedy, a significant porttion of the digital discourse labeled the segment as tone-deaf and characterized Gillis as a misogynist.
Dan Levy’s demand for male accountability
Canadian actor and Schitt's Creek co-creator Dan Levy used an Instagram video to issue a direct condemnation of the comedian's performance. Levy argued that the language used by Gillis was not merely a joke, but a reflection of a deeper cultural issue, stating, "It makes the men calling them whores misogynists."
Levy’s critique extended beyond the specific words used in the monologue to address the broader social implications of such humor. he expressed shock that these comments were permitted on live national television and argued that male complacency in the face of such rhetoric helps foster an environment where sexual assault can occur. levy emphasized that this is "not a women's issue, it's an everybody issue," calling on men to defend women more actively.
From 2019 racial slurs to the 2026 monologue
This latest controversy marks a recurring tension between Shane Gillis and the standards of Saturday Night Live. In 2019,the show famously rescinded an invitation for Gillis to join the cast after a video surfaced showing him using racial slurs regarding Chinese people and deriding Asians learning English. At that time, SNL issued an apology, citing a failure in their vetting process.
The current backlash highlights a shift in how audiences react to Gillis's return to the platform. While he has hosted the show multiple times since the 2019 incident, the discourse surrounding his October 2026 monologue has been heavily linked by commenters to real-world legal battles, including a recent lawsuit involving the "Cornell 7" and allegations of sexual assalt at Chi Phi fraternity.
The unanswered response from NBC and Gillis
Despite the significant public outcry and the high-profile intervention by Dan Levy, the primary parties involved have remained silent. As reported by The Canadian Press, neither NBC, the network that airs Saturday Night Live, nor representatives for Shane Gillis were immediately available for comment regarding the backlash.
This silence leaves several questions regarding the network's editorial oversight. It remains unclear whether NBC intends to address the concerns raised by Levy or if the network views the monologue as within the bounds of its comedic programming. As the conversation continues to circulate on social media, the pressure on the network to define its stance on such content continues to mount.
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