What Happened to Shane Gillis? Why is Shane Gillis Hosting SNL?
by M Nishali
Updated Feb 26, 2024
What Happened to Shane Gillis?
Shane Gillis is a comedian who faced backlash and was fired from the popular comedy show "Saturday Night Live" nearly five years ago. The controversy erupted because of racist and homophobic remarks he made during his podcast. Gillis's offensive comments caused a stir on the internet, leading to his dismissal from SNL before he even appeared on the show.
However, in a surprising turn of events, he made a comeback to host SNL after almost half a decade. During his return to SNL, Gillis addressed his past and the circumstances of his firing in his opening monologue. He humorously acknowledged being fired from the show and even joked about not wanting people to look up the details of his dismissal.
Gillis attempted to move past the controversy by making self-deprecating jokes and steering the conversation toward lighter topics. Despite his efforts to downplay the seriousness of his past actions, Gillis's return to SNL sparked mixed reactions from viewers. Some praised his performance and appreciated his attempt to make a comeback, while others criticized SNL for allowing him back on the show, citing the offensive nature of his previous comments.
While some welcomed Shane Gillis's return as a second chance, others remained skeptical and questioned the appropriateness of his reinstatement.
Who is Shane Gillis?
Shane Gillis is an American comedian known for his stand-up comedy, acting, and podcasting. Born on December 11, 1987, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Gillis gained fame for co-hosting the podcast "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast" with Matt McCusker, which has a large following on Patreon. In 2019, he was recognized as one of the "New Faces" at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal.
Gillis's career took a major turn when he was hired as a cast member on the popular TV show "Saturday Night Live" in 2019. However, controversy arose just days later when offensive comments he made in a 2018 podcast episode surfaced, leading to his dismissal from SNL. Despite this setback, Gillis continued to pursue comedy, releasing his comedy specials and collaborating on online sketch series.
He attended Trinity High School in Pennsylvania before briefly attending West Point and later graduating from West Chester University. Gillis is known for his observational humor and often touches on topics like everyday life, current events, and pop culture in his comedy routines. Despite facing criticism for his controversial style, Gillis remains active in the comedy scene and continues to build his fanbase.
Full Name
Shane Michael Gillis
Date of Birth
December 11, 1987
Birthplace
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Medium
Stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, radio, podcasting
Education
United States Military Academy, Elon University, West Chester University (BA)
Shane Gillis Career
Shane Gillis is a comedian who started his career in 2012. He began performing comedy in his hometown of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, before moving to Philadelphia to further his career. Gillis gained recognition by winning comedy competitions like Helium Comedy Club's "Philly's Phunniest" tournament.
In 2016, Gillis co-founded the podcast "Matt and Shane's Secret Podcast" with Matt McCusker, which became very popular and garnered a large following. Despite his success, Gillis faced controversy in 2019 when he was hired as a featured cast member on Saturday Night Live. Shortly after the announcement, clips from his podcast resurfaced, containing offensive language and racial slurs.
This led to his dismissal from SNL before he even appeared on the show. Despite the setback, Gillis continued to pursue his comedy career. He released his first comedy special, "Shane Gillis: Live in Austin," on YouTube in 2021, which received positive reviews. Gillis also collaborated with comedian John McKeever on the web series "Gilly and Keeves," featuring comedy sketches.
In 2023, Gillis released his second comedy special, "Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs," on Netflix, further establishing himself as a stand-up comedian. He also had a recurring role on the Peacock series "Bupkis," starring Pete Davidson. In February 2024, Gillis made headlines again when it was announced that he would host an episode of SNL, marking his return to the show after nearly five years.
Despite his controversial past, Gillis continues to pursue his passion for comedy and expand his career in the entertainment industry.
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Shane Gillis Net Worth
Shane Gillis, an American comedian, YouTuber, and podcaster, has a net worth of $2 million. He earned this through his various ventures in comedy, including stand-up performances, podcasting, and online content creation. Gillis gained recognition for his appearances on Comedy Central Radio, Sirius XM, and podcasts like "The Doug Stanhope Podcast."
Despite facing setbacks, such as being fired from "Saturday Night Live" shortly after being hired due to controversy over past remarks, Gillis has persevered in his career. He bounced back with successful projects like his comedy special "Shane Gillis: Live in Austin," released on YouTube, which garnered millions of views and critical acclaim.
Gillis also launched the web series "Gilly and Keeves" with comedian John McKeever, further expanding his audience and influence. His comedic style, characterized by a friendly demeanor and insightful humor, has endeared him to fans and contributed to his continued success in the entertainment industry. Additionally, Gillis signed an endorsement deal with Bud Light in February 2024, indicating ongoing opportunities for growth and financial success.
Why is Shane Gillis Hosting SNL?
Shane Gillis is hosting SNL because he was given a second chance. Nearly five years ago, he got fired from the show because he made some bad comments that hurt people. But now, the SNL bosses decided to let him come back and be on the show again. They thought maybe he learned from his mistakes and deserved another shot. Some people are happy to see him back.
They think everyone makes mistakes, and as long as he learns from them, it's okay to give him another chance. They want to see him make people laugh again. But not everyone is happy about it. Some people are still upset about the bad things he said before.
They think he should not be allowed back on the show because of what he did in the past. So, Shane Gillis is hosting SNL again because the people in charge of the show believe in giving second chances. Whether everyone agrees with that decision or not, it's up to each person to decide.
What Happened to Shane Gillis - FAQs
Shane Gillis is known for being a comedian, YouTuber, and podcaster.
Shane Gillis was fired from SNL in 2019 shortly after being hired as a featured cast member.
Shane Gillis was dismissed from SNL due to controversy surrounding offensive comments he made in past podcast episodes.
Shane Gillis's net worth is estimated to be $2 million.
Shane Gillis is hosting SNL again because he was given a second chance by the show's producers, who believed he deserved an opportunity to return despite his past controversies.