NBC broadcast and digital outlets led a wave of criticism against comedian Shane Gillis following his opening monologue on "Saturday Night Live." The controversy centers on Gillis' jokes about women's clothing, which several commentators linked to a 2024 allegation of a gang rape at a Cornell University fraternity house.
Gillis, who was announced as an incoming cast member in 2019 before being dropped for anti-Asian jokes, joked in his monologue that he had not been to the gym in so long that he did not know women dressed "like whores." He described seeing "neon, artificial vape-colored" shorts and apologized for his choice of words while continuing to mock the attire. In the second half of the bit, he mocked men's behavior, stating that men are not allowed to look at women because they are filming TikToks.
NBCNews.com reporter Rebecca Cohen criticized the monologue, noting Gillis' history of placing women and marginalized groups at the center of jokes. Cohen stated that many people found the comments tone-deaf given the recent reports surrounding the Cornell rape allegation. Feminist author Jessica Valenti called the joke "rape culture," arguing it reflected Gillis' views on sexual assault discourse.
The network's "Today" show addressed the controversy on air. Co-host Jenna Bush Hager said she would not want her children to hear the comments, while co-host Sheinelle Jones described them as "mean" and suggested this energy upset viewers. During a segment promoting his Netflix special, "Weekend Update" anchor Michael Che defended the monologue as comedy, stating that some people find it funny while others do not. Che denied laughing during the broadcast, explaining he was preparing for his skit.
NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben posted on Bluesky that she was surprised the incident did not dominate social media feeds, questioning if no one watches "SNL" or if it is considered normal misogyny. On ABC's "The View," co-host Sara Haines argued that using the word "whore" under the guise of a joke makes it easier to objectify humans, particularly in the context of the Cornell incident.
In contrast, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" host Jimmy Kimmel mocked then-White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia by displaying a picture of her in skin-tight gym clothes. Kimmel joked about her qualifications, stating she had blonde hair and could do a thumbs up, and asked if her face was stamped on by a machine.
CBS Mornings discussed the controversy on October 14. Co-host Nate Burleson framed the issue as a debate over whether Gillis was being unfairly targeted by cancel culture or deserved the criticism. Co-host Adriana Diaz noted that Gillis recently broke a Guinness World Record for the largest attendance at a comedy show with nearly 74,000 audience members. Fitness coach Sophie Carpenter expressed concern that such jokes could discourage women from working out.