Shane Gillis Jokes Women 'Dress Like Whores' on SNL, Then Apologises for Swearing in a Dr Seuss Sketch

Shane Gillis ended his latest Saturday Night Live appearance with an apology after accidentally swearing during a Dr Seuss sketch, but his comments about women's gym clothing were drawing criticism of their own. The comedian hosted the 10 October episode alongside musical guest Rosalía. During his opening monologue, he joked that women at the gym 'dress like whores.'

Later, an unintended expletive interrupted his performance in a Green Eggs & Ham parody. His closing words, 'Sorry about earlier,' were reported as an acknowledgement of the swearing incident. They did not explicitly address his remarks about women, a distinction some viewers highlighted while discussing the episode online.

Gym-Clothes Joke Draws Groans

Gillis' monologue began with material about his weight, exercise and the discomfort of returning to a public gym. He then turned to women's workout clothes, describing brightly coloured, tightly fitted shorts and joking about being caught looking at people filming themselves.

The remark about women's clothing prompted groans from the studio audience, according to Variety. Gillis continued the routine, insisting he could think of no other description before elaborating on the shorts' appearance.

He also joked that his own face would now be visible in the background of gym-goers' TikTok videos, shifting the routine towards his anxiety about being recorded.

Criticism subsequently circulated on X, where viewers objected to the language used about women exercising. Some described the routine as slut-shaming, while another said they had stopped watching partway through the monologue. These responses reflected individual viewers' reactions rather than the opinion of the entire audience.

Dr Seuss Sketch Goes Off Script

The later mishap occurred in a parody built around Sam-I-Am's persistent attempts to persuade someone to eat green eggs and ham.

Andrew Dismukes played Sam-I-Am, while Mikey Day portrayed the reluctant recipient. Gillis appeared as the man's protective son, repeatedly telling Sam to leave his father alone. While insisting that his father did not like the food, Gillis accidentally inserted the F-word into his dialogue. He caught himself, laughed and raised an arm in acknowledgement of the mistake.

Day stayed in character and worked a reference to his son's 'bad word' into the scene, allowing the performers to continue with the sketch. The exchange became part of the performance rather than bringing it to a halt.

At the end of the programme, Gillis offered his brief apology during the customary goodnights. He also thanked the audience and said he had enjoyed the evening.

Third Hosting Appearance After 2019 Firing

The episode marked Gillis' third turn as host, continuing a relationship with SNL that began with a hiring announcement followed by his removal before he ever appeared as a cast member.

In September 2019, the programme announced him alongside new recruits Bowen Yang and Chloe Fineman. Gillis was subsequently dropped after podcast recordings containing racist and homophobic remarks resurfaced.

He went on to build a successful career through stand-up, podcasting and the Netflix comedy Tires, which he co-created and stars in. His later invitations to host brought him back to the programme despite the circumstances of his original departure.