New Saturday Night Live cast member Shane Gillis apologises for as racist jokes resurface
Shane Gillis performs onstage at the 2019 Clusterfest in San Francisco in June (Picture: Jeff Kravit..
Shane Gillis, a new cast member on Saturday Night Live, has apologised for past racist jokes.
Shane was revealed as one of three new additions to SNL on Thursday.
Footage of the comic making the offensive comments resurfaced on social media immediately after.
In the first clip, Gillis makes anti-Asian remarks such as ch*nks to his podcast co-host Matt McCusker, while adding: Chinatowns f***ing nuts.
WARNING: The below videos contain racist and offensive language.
today SNL announced the hiring of its first cast member of East Asian descent, and also this guy pic.twitter.com/0FAGJZJUkK
— Seth Simons (@sasimons) September 12, 2019
The episode of Matt and Shanes Secret Podcast in question was recorded in 26 September 2018, according to Variety. It also features the pair imitating Asian accents and mocking Asian people and Chinese food.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Other footage shows Gillis making sexist, Islamophobic and homophobic comments, such as f****t.
Taking to Twitter, Shane said: Im a comedian who pushes boundaries. I sometimes miss.
this, again, is from September 2018 pic.twitter.com/inYFT22zjl
— Seth Simons (@sasimons) September 12, 2019
If you go through my 10 years of comedy, most of it bad, youre going to find a lot of bad misses.
He furthermore added: Im happy to apologise to anyone whos actually offended by anything Ive said.
— Shane Gillis (@Shanemgillis) September 13, 2019
My intention is never to hurt anyone but I am trying to be the best comedian I can be and sometimes that requires risks.
Chloe Fineman and Bowen Yang were also revealed as new cast members of the hit US TV show on Thursday.
Yang, who is Chinese American, is said to be SNLs first Asian cast member.
SNL did not immediately respond to Metro when approached for comment.
The 46th season of the show hits US screens on 28 September.
Actor Woody Harrelson, known for hit films like Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri will be on hosting duties. Meanwhile singer Billie Eilish, whose songs include Tough Guy and When the Partys Over, will be performing.