Comedian Shane Gillis has sparked widespread controversy following a recent Saturday Night Live monologue centered on women's gym attire. While figures like Joe Rogan have defended the comedian, NBC became the first major network to publicly denounce his remarks, according to a new report.
The "artificial vape-colored" joke that ignited the monologue
The controversy centers on a specific joke regarding women's gym clothing that Gillis delivered durig his opening monologue. Gillis used provocative language to describe neon-colored athletic wear, specifically referrnig to it as "artificial vape-colored" and making disparaging comments about how the clothing fits.
Critics have targeted the specific brand of humor Gillis employed during the monologue. For instance, author Jessica Valenti suggested the comments were an extension of "rape culture," arguing that the joke contributes to a broader discourse on sexual assault.
Joe Rogan’s defense against Jessica Valenti’s "rape culture" claim
Podcaster Joe Rogan has emerged as a prominent defender of the comedian against critics like Jessica Valenti.. Rogan argued that Gillis was simply joking about the perceived contradiction of women wearing skimpy gym clothes while simultaneously being upset when men look at them.
Morning news programs have also weighed in on the debate surrounding the comedian's remarks. NBC's Today show featured co-host Jenna Bush Hager,who described the monologue as "mean," while co-host Sheinelle Jones expressed similar agreement during the Tuesday broadcast.
A trajectory from 2019 cancellation to a 74,000-person record
Shane Gillis's career has been defined by both sudden cancellations and massive commercial success. After being removed from the SNL cast in 2019 due to controversial jokes about Asian people, Gillis has since rebuilt his following to a massive scale.
A recent milestone in Gillis's career includes breaking a Guinness World Record. The report notes that he drew nearly 74 ,000 audience members to a single comedy show, demonstrating a level of popularity that contrasts with his previous professional setbacks.
The View's resurfaced mockery of Katie Zacharia
The media reaction to the monologue has highlighted potential double standards in how women are discussed on television.. During a discussion on The View, co-host Sara Haines addressed the "rape culture" angle but also pointed to the network's own history of objectification.
The discussion on The View also brought up past instances of media objectification. As the report highlights, the program resurfaced an old clip in which a host mocked former White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia, using her physical attributes as a punchline regarding her qualifications.
The suspicion that NBC is manufacturing its own controversy
NBC's rapid response to the monologue has led to speculation about the network's underlying motives. It remains unverified whether the network's decision to be the first to denounce Gillis was a genuine moral stance or a strategic attempt to drive engagement for its comedy brand.
Internal questions remain regarding the culture of Saturday Night Live and its response to pushback. While Michael Che defended the monologue as "just comedy," the report suggests that the network's quick condemnation might be a way to control the narrative surrounding its own controversial programming.
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