Dana Carvey is pushing back against the backlash surrounding Shane Gillis’ controversial Saturday Night Live monologue, arguing that the comedian’s remarks were intended as a joke, even if the audience was not the right fit for the material.

The former SNL star shared his thoughts on the latest episode of Fly on the Wall, the podcast he co-hosts with fellow comedian David Spade. While Carvey questioned why the joke had sparked such a strong reaction, he also acknowledged that Gillis might have chosen the wrong setting to deliver it.

Gillis hosted the long-running NBC sketch comedy show on Saturday, October 17, drawing criticism for a monologue segment in which he described women at the gym as “whores.”

“I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now?” Gillis said.

He went on to describe neon-colored workout shorts and their tight fit, before joking that people were not allowed to look at the women wearing them.

The remarks quickly became a talking point, prompting criticism from several entertainers and former SNL figures.

Dana Carvey Questions the Backlash

Discussing the controversy on Fly on the Wall, Carvey said he struggled to understand why Gillis’ joke had generated so much outrage.

“I just didn’t understand the kerfuffle… only because to me, I just saw it as what we call, I’ll just say it, a joke,” Carvey explained.

He argued that a comedian making an exaggerated or provocative remark does not necessarily mean they believe it literally.

“When you say jokes, you’re not literally saying ‘women are whores,’ you are literally joking,” he added.

Carvey then questioned whether the reaction itself was at odds with the purpose of comedy, jokingly asking, “Did I just get canceled?”

The comedian, who was part of the SNL cast from 1986 to 1993, nevertheless recognized that the same material might not work equally well in every environment.

Why ‘SNL’ May Not Have Been the Right Audience

Carvey suggested that Gillis’ joke would probably have received a much stronger response at comedy clubs, where audiences may be more accustomed to his style of humor.

He speculated that the material had likely “destroyed” at the 10 comedy clubs Gillis performed at that week. However, he questioned whether a live broadcast of Saturday Night Live was the appropriate place for the joke.

“Most of the audience is young women,” Carvey said, pointing out that the show’s audience largely consists of young women who dress up for the occasion.

His comments offered a distinction between defending a comedian’s intention and recognizing that a joke may not land well with a particular audience.

Gillis’ monologue has drawn criticism from SNL alum Ego Nwodim and Schitt’s Creek creator and star Dan Levy, among others.

‘SNL UK’ Also Takes Aim at Gillis

The controversy has also become material for other comedians. On a recent SNL UK Weekend Update segment, comedian Ania Magliano referenced a report about a ride operator at Munich Oktoberfest offering free cycling shorts to female riders.

The shorts were intended to help protect women from being photographed from beneath their clothing. Magliano used the story to take a swipe at Gillis, whose gym-shorts joke had recently attracted widespread attention.

“Wearing the gym shorts will protect women from being up-skirted, but it does make them vulnerable to something much worse,” she said as a photograph of Gillis appeared on screen.

Magliano also mocked Gillis for dropping an F-bomb during his recent SNL appearance. The incident had generated its own controversy, with Gillis facing criticism for using explicit language during the broadcast.

In contrast, Magliano delivered her own uncensored profanity during the SNL UK segment, highlighting the difference between the two shows’ broadcasting environments.

David Spade Says People Should ‘Relax’

Carvey was not alone in questioning the reaction to Gillis’ monologue. His podcast co-host, David Spade, also suggested that the criticism surrounding the joke had become excessive.

Spade pointed to what he saw as conflicting public reactions to jokes about sex work and the people involved in it.

“It’s almost comical that there’s people that say, ‘Oh, don’t make fun of Onlyfans. Don’t make fun of strippers. These are sex workers, they need to be respected.’ And everyone hates Sydney Sweeney,” Spade said.

He questioned why people appeared to apply different standards to different subjects, arguing that not every joke or public controversy needed to provoke a response.

“And it’s like, what? Which one is it?” Spade continued. “Let’s all decide what we hate and don’t. How about we just relax? Sometimes people just need to mind their biz. We don’t need a comment on everything.”

The debate surrounding Gillis’ monologue highlights the ongoing tension between provocative comedy, audience expectations and the standards viewers hold performers to on mainstream television.

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

Source: Compiled from various sources