CNN Star Exposes MAGA-Friendly Host’s Biggest ‘SNL’ Mistake

Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC Shane Gillis’ ill-fated joke had a very specific audience, former CNN host W.

Kamau Bell explains in a new episode of his podcast.

On Who’s With Me?, Bell said Gillis’ monologue, including the controversial joke about women’s gym attire that has drawn scathing criticism from other comedians and Hollywood at large, was directed at the “Rogan-sphere,” which is why it fell flat.

“Shane likes to sort of pretend like he’s not in the Rogan-sphere, but he’s in the Rogan-sphere,” Bell said, referring to Joe Rogan’s specific brand of anti “woke” humor and the comedians who’ve emerged to capitalize on it.

That group’s rise has been blamed for Trump’s 2024 win , though Gillis has said that he didn’t vote for him in the last election.

He did, however, attend Trump’s UFC-themed birthday party at the White House this past summer.

During Gillis’ third time hosting Saturday Night Live on Saturday, he said in his monologue, “I haven’t been to the gym in so long I didn’t know women just dress like wh---s now? I’m sorry, there’s no other way to describe it.” He went on, “Have you seen it? I’ve seen it.

The shorts.

Have you seen the shorts? Those neon, they’re like artificial bait-colored.

And the wrinkles go around the cheeks and all combined at the butthole.

And don’t look; you’re not allowed to look.

For real, don’t look because they are filming.

I’m in the background of like 10 TikToks right now.” SNL alums, including Cecily Strong and Ego Nwodim , and other celebrities, like Grammy-winning musician Marren Morris and Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy , spoke out to condemn the joke.

Others turned their ire towards show boss Lorne Michaels for OK-ing it in the first place.