Lorne Michaels, the creator and producer of Saturday Night Live, revealed he was angry with NBCs decision to fire comedian Shane Gillis over past racist remarks.
As the iconic sketch comedy show celebrates its 50th season, Michaels told to the Wall Street Journal that he had no control over the decision to remove Gillis from the cast.
Gillis, 36, was fired from the show days after his 2019 hiring, following the resurfacing of videos where he made racist and homophobic comments. At the time, SNL issued an apology for their vetting process and condemned Gilliss offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable remarks.
However, Michaels has now disclosed that he personally advocated for Gillis, believing the situation had been overblown.
He said something stupid, but it got blown up into the end of the world, Michaels stated. I was angry. I thought, "You havent seen what were going to do, and what Im going to try to bring out in him, because I thought he was the real thing."
Lorne Michaels, the creator and producer of Saturday Night Live, revealed he was angry with NBCs decision to fire comedian Shane Gillis over past racist remarks
Shane Gillis, then 36, was fired from the show days after his 2019 hiring, following the resurfacing of videos where he made racist and homophobic comments. He would eventually return to host the show five years later
But NBC went forward with their decision despite Michaels dissent.
That was very strong from the people in charge. And obviously I was not on that side, but I understood it, he said.
Michaels revealed he had stayed in contact with Gillis, who returned to host the very show he was ousted from in February.
During Shanes opening monologue to kick off the episode, he briefly addressed the past incident but then went on to his signature dark humor, shocking audience members with jokes about Down syndrome and race.
Gilliss uncanny impression of presidential hopeful Donald Trump seemingly absolving him from his past remarks and earning him an invitation to return to SNL, an offer he said he initially declined.
Despite his controversial past, Gillis has made a name for himself as Americas leading touring comic, having just finished his arena tour in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Gilliss uncanny impression of presidential hopeful Donald Trump seemingly absolving him from his past remarks and earning him an invitation to return to SNL, an offer he said he declined
Gillis first Netflix comedy special, Beautiful Dogs, was the fourth most streamed of the year at 6.1 million views, beating legacy comedians including Ricky Gervais, Jo Koy, Taylor Tomlinson and Pete Davidson.
Tires, Shane Gillis self-funded comedy series, has earned a huge 9.1 million views, and was renewed for a second season before the pilot even aired.
He also cohosts the worlds number one Patreon podcast, Matt and Shanes Secret Podcast, with Matt McCusker.