Kenan Thompson Says He’d Have a “Real Chat” with Shane Gillis Before Next SNL Appearance

Kenan Thompson says that if Shane Gillis were to return as host of SNL, he “would have a conversation” with him to ensure that his “actions don’t wave pool the rest of us.”

The veteran SNL cast member was asked about Gillis’ controversial monologue during an appearance at Axios’ Media Trends Live on Tuesday. While hosting SNL earlier this month, Gillis delivered an opening monologue in which he described going to the gym and observing that “women just dress like whores now.” The remarks drew rebuke from several prominent members of the Hollywood community.

“I know Shane. I don’t know him to be a mean person necessarily, but if he were to come back, I’m sure we would have a conversation like, ‘How do you think that went?’ and ‘What do you think you could have done differently?'” Thompson responded. “You know, like talking to a little kid—I would just sit him down and be like, ‘Yeah, so what do you think we could change there, pal?’ and just figure it out.”

“I guess it’s just finding the balance between both things: allowing creative liberties, but also watching your step where harmful words are concerned,” he continued. “Because everybody is focusing on one specific word or one specific part of the monologue, and the rest of the monologue—or even the rest of the show—is getting overshadowed.”

To that point, Thompson lamented that the controversy surrounding Gillis’ remarks had overshadowed the performances of other cast members and guests. Grace Reiter, “one of our newest cast members, had a phenomenal show, and it’s sad nobody is even talking about it. Even Rosalía [the episode’s musical guest] is getting overshadowed because everyone wants to go back and forth arguing over what’s offensive and what’s not.”

“So yeah, I can’t say whether they’re going to have him back or not — that’s not my decision. But if he were to come back, we’d have to have a real chat about people’s actions don’t wave pool the rest of us,” Thompson concluded.

If Shane Gillis were to come back to SNL, “I’m sure we would have a conversation … like a little kid” about what he could have done differently, @nbcsnl cast member @KenanThompson tells @sarafischer at #MediaTrendsLive. pic.twitter.com/Y6wFcpC9dH

— Axios (@axios) October 20, 2026