New SNL cast member Shane Gillis' defensive statement about his use of offensive slurs went over very poorly

Shane Gillis.
(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/Comedy Central Stand-Up)

New Saturday Night Live cast member Shane Gillis' response to the controversy over his use of racist and homophobic slurs hasn't, it seems, remotely helped his situation.

Shortly after the NBC sketch show announced Gillis' hiring Thursday, examples of his use of racist and homophobic slurs spread online, including a video from September 2018 in which he uses an anti-Asian slur. He also used homophobic slurs in another instance, Variety reports. This controversy came on the same day SNL hired its first cast member of East Asian descent: Bowen Yang, who is also openly gay.

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.