Shane Gillis Branded A ‘Hack’ Who ‘Looks Like He Can’t Get Laid’ By Kathy Griffin Amid Backlash Over ‘SNL’ Joke About Women

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Kathy Griffin has taken aim at Shane Gillis following his controversial monologue on “Saturday Night Live,” criticizing the comedian for jokes about women and what she sees as outdated material from male comics.

The 65-year-old comedian spoke out after Gillis sparked backlash during his October 10 appearance on the NBC sketch comedy show, where he made disparaging remarks about women’s gym attire.

Kathy Griffin, however, made it clear that while she disagrees with the material, she still believes comedians like Shane Gillis have the right to express themselves.

Kathy Griffin Calls Shane Gillis A ‘Hack’ Over ‘SNL’ Monologue

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Griffin shared her views in an interview with Page Six on Tuesday, October 13, following Gillis’ October 10 appearance as host of “Saturday Night Live.”

The comedian took issue with Gillis’ opening monologue, particularly his remarks about women wearing revealing shorts while exercising. She also criticized what she considers a wider trend among male comedians whose popularity has grown through podcasts and social media.

“There are a lot of hacks who are doing very well, and they come from TikTok or the podcast world,” Griffin said.

She referenced Joe Rogan while discussing the influence of podcasting on the comedy industry, suggesting that Gillis was not the only comedian whose style reflected that scene.

“He’s not the only guy to break out from Joe Rogan’s influence,” she noted about Gillis.

“There are so many; they all look alike to me,” Griffin continued. “They all look like they can’t get laid; they all sound alike to me; they all tell the same jokes, and they tell these jokes about women that are from like 100 years ago, like women should be in the kitchen and shut up and all this other stuff.”

Shane Gillis’ Gym Joke On ‘SNL’ That Sparked Backlash

Gillis’ monologue included a bit about returning to the gym and being surprised by the clothing some women wear while exercising.

“I haven’t been to the gym in so long I didn’t know women just dress like whores now?” he said, prompting a mixture of laughter and groans from the audience.

He continued by describing brightly colored, tight-fitting workout shorts and joking that men were not supposed to look at women wearing them because they might be filming videos for social media.

The comments quickly drew criticism online, with viewers questioning why women’s gym clothing had become the target of the joke.

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‘Schitt’s Creek’ Star Dan Levy Blasted The Comedian As A ‘Misogynist’

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Actor Dan Levy was among those who responded publicly to Gillis’ “SNL” jokes about women.

In a video shared on social media, the “Schitt’s Creek” star objected to his use of the word “whores” to describe women wearing short shorts at the gym.

“Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores,” Levy said. “It makes the men calling them whores misogynists. There’s a difference there.”

Former “SNL” cast member Ego Nwodim also responded with an apparent sarcastic reference to Gillis’ remarks.

She posted a gym photo with the caption “whore reporting for duty,” followed by another post about her post-workout meal.

Kathy Griffin Defends Shane Gillis’ Right To Make Offensive Jokes

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Despite her sharp criticism, Griffin made clear that she does not believe Gillis should be prevented from expressing himself onstage.

“I think as a comic I’m always going to fight for the First Amendment and his right to say it and yet I don’t have to like it,” she told Page Six.

She continued, “So, I defend his right to say it, and I also defend everyone else’s right to think less of him.”

Griffin argued that audiences should remain free to criticize jokes they consider offensive, just as comedians should be allowed to perform them.

The debate is familiar territory for Griffin, whose own career has included controversy over provocative comedy. She has faced backlash for jokes and public performances throughout her career, including a 2017 photo shoot involving a fake severed-head image resembling then-President Donald Trump.

Kathy Griffin Says Comedians Should Learn and Evolve With The Times

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Although Griffin criticized Gillis’ material, she also acknowledged that comedians can make mistakes and change their approach over time.

The comedian, who has built a career on provocative humor, said she does not consider herself “woke,” but stressed the importance of recognizing when language or jokes have become harmful, per Page Six.

“I think it’s important that comedians evolve and change with the times,” she explained, adding that this can mean reconsidering words they once used without thinking about their impact.

Griffin also reflected on her own past, admitting: “I used many words that horrify me now, but I don’t use them now. I want to think that I’m still learning.”