Lorne Michaels Discusses Shane Gillis Firing

Lorne Michaels, the creator of 'Saturday Night Live' (SNL), has clarified that NBC, not he, made the decision to fire Shane Gillis in 2019 due to resurfaced offensive comments, including racist slurs against Asians. Michaels expressed his anger over the situation, stating he believed Gillis had potential that was overlooked due to a public outcry fueled by threats from advertisers. Although Gillis never officially joined the cast, he returned to host SNL in February 2024, a move that sparked controversy given his past. Michaels noted that the backlash against Gillis was disproportionate and criticized the culture of cancellation at the time. Despite the initial fallout, Gillis has thrived in his stand-up career, with successful specials and renewed projects on Netflix. Michaels maintains that SNL does not take political sides, despite perceptions of bias.