Comedian Shane Gillis, who was fired from Saturday Night Live in 2019 for making racist and homophobic jokes on a podcast, has been announced as the host of the show's upcoming episode on February 10, 2024.
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The decision to bring back Gillis, who never got to appear on SNL as a cast member, has sparked mixed reactions from fans and critics. Some have praised the show for giving Gillis a second chance and showing forgiveness, while others have condemned the show for rewarding Gillis for his offensive remarks and ignoring the hurt he caused to marginalized communities.
Gillis, who has since apologized for his jokes and claimed to have grown as a person and a comedian, said he was grateful for the opportunity to host SNL and hoped to make people laugh. He also said he was looking forward to working with the cast and crew, some of whom had publicly criticized him when he was fired.
SNL's executive producer Lorne Michaels, who had initially hired Gillis as part of a bid to appeal to more conservative viewers, said he was impressed by Gillis' recent work and believed he deserved another shot. Michaels also said he hoped Gillis would use his platform to address his past mistakes and show his comedic talent.
The episode featuring Gillis as the host will also have pop star Billie Eilish as the musical guest. It will be the 13th episode of SNL's 49th season, which has featured hosts such as Tom Hanks, Zendaya, and Barack Obama.
