Dan Levy slams Shane Gillis’ SNL remarks: "I’m stunned something like this aired live on national TV

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —

Dan Levy, the creator and star of the acclaimed series Schitt’s Creek, has publicly condemned comedian Shane Gillis for remarks made during his hosting stint on Saturday Night Live, stating he was left “speechless” that such language could “exist on live national television.” The controversy erupted following the broadcast of the latest episode of the long-running US sketch show over the weekend, where Gillis’s opening monologue drew sharp criticism for its characterization of women at the gym.

In his monologue, Gillis described women at the gym as looking like “whores,” a description he claimed was unavoidable. “I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now?” Gillis said on air. “Look, I’m sorry, there’s no other way to describe it. Have you seen it? I’ve seen it.” He further elaborated on his visual description, stating, “You’ve seen the shorts?

They’re those neon, like, artificial bait-colored shorts, and the wrinkles go around the cheeks and all combine at the butthole. And don’t look! You’re not allowed to look.”

Levy’s response on social media was direct and unapologetic. He shared a post hitting out at both Gillis and SNL for allowing the monologue to air live. “Women wearing short shorts at the gym does not make them whores,” Levy wrote. “It makes the men calling them whores misogynists. There’s a difference there.” He expressed his shock at the broadcast, adding, “I’m speechless that something like that can exist on live national television.”

Levy went on to address the role of male audiences and peers in perpetuating such narratives. “And to be perfectly honest, more men need to be standing up in opposition to it because it’s complacency that has created the environment in which women are sexually assaulted and it’s a ‘conversation’ as opposed to a ‘crime,’” he stated.

He concluded his post with a firm declaration: “This is not a women’s issue, this is an everybody issue. Because the more that men objectify women in the media, the more that other men see them as objects and treat them as objects… I’m sorry if this gets me in trouble with the internet, but fuck.”

The controversy places Gillis in a contentious light, given his history with the network. This slot marked his third time hosting SNL, following appearances in February 2024 and March 2025. However, his tenure has been marred by past controversies; in 2019, he was fired just days after being hired for the show when footage re-emerged of him making homophobic and racist comments on a podcast, according to Variety.

Levy, by contrast, hosted the show in 2021, shortly after wrapping his work on Schitt’s Creek, a role that cemented his status as a leading figure in contemporary television.

The latest episode of SNL featured musical guest Rosalía, who performed “Reliquia” and “Magnolias.” Her performance of “Reliquia” was notable for her almost entirely motionless stance, standing en pointe for the duration of the four-minute song. This was her second appearance as an SNL musical guest, having previously performed “Chicken Teriyaki” and “La Fama” on the show in March 2022.

Other guests on the show this season have included KATSEYE, who performed “Animal” and “Hootie Frutti” during their debut appearance, and Turnstile, who met Taylor Swift on the show. While the musical and celebrity segments proceeded as scheduled, the focus of public discourse has shifted to the implications of Gillis’s monologue.

Levy’s intervention highlights a growing trend of public figures using their platforms to challenge perceived slurs or dehumanizing language in live entertainment, asserting that such content carries real-world consequences beyond the realm of comedy. The episode underscores the ongoing tension between creative freedom in sketch comedy and the evolving social expectations regarding respect and representation in national broadcasting.